Intel 80386 - Page 6

PREFACE
The Intel 80386 is a high-performance 32-bit microprocessor. This manual provides complete
hardware reference information for
80386 system designs. It is written for system engineers
and hardware designers
who understand the operating principles of microprocessors and
microcomputer systems. Readers of this manual should be familiar with the information
in
the Introduction to the 80386 (Intel publication Order Number 231252).
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
In this manual, the 80386 is presented from a hardware perspective. Information on the
software architecture, instruction set, and programming of the
80386 can be found in these
related Intel publications:
• 80386 Programmer's Reference Manual, Order Number 230985
• 80386 System Software Writer's Guide, Order Number 231499
• 80386 Data Sheet, Order Number 231630
The 80386 Data Sheet contains device specifications for the 80386. Always consult the most
recent version of this publication for specific
80386 parameter values.
Together with the
80386 Hardware Reference Manual, these publications provide a complete
description of the
80386 system for hardware designers, software engineers, and all users of
80386 systems.
ORGANIZATION OF THIS MANUAL
The information in this manual is divided into 12 chapters and three appendices. The material
begins with a description of the
80386 microprocessor and continues with discussions of
hardware design information needed to implement
80386 system designs.
• Chapter 1, "System Overview." This chapter provides an overview of the 80386 and its
supporting devices.
• Chapter 2, "Internal Architecture." This chapter describes the internal architecture of
the
80386.
•
Chapter 3, "Local Bus Interface." This chapter discusses the 80386 local bus interface.
This chapter includes
80386 signal descriptions, memory and I/O organization, and local
bus interface guidelines.
• Chapter 4, "Performance Considerations." This chapter explores the factors that affect
the performance of an
80386 system.
• Chapter 5, "Coprocessor Hardware Interface." This chapter describes the interface
between the
80386 and the 80287 and 80387 Numeric Coprocessors. Each of these copro-
cessors expands the floating-point numerical processing capabilities of the
80386.
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