Re: [newbie] i386 vs. i586

[Brian & Heather]

i586 takes avantage of instructions that exist on a Pentium class machine, that the 
i386 didn't have.  
If you have a pentium, you want the i386 (however, AMD K6 II, K6-III and Athlons are 
also 586 class 
machines).

>What's the difference between the i386 & i586 versions of Linux?
>
>Does i586 refer to a P3 system?

No.  It refers to all Pentium class machines.  New instructions where added to the 
Pentium chip, 
and that allowed for faster running of applications if the code was put there to use 
it.  Pentium to a 
Pentium II was a big change in features, construction and the lot.  Pentium II  to 
Pentium III is the 
same chip with a little more cache and 57 new instructions (like Pentium vs Pentium 
w/MMX 
change).

Sorry if I offend the really knowledgeable, but this should give you the info you're 
looking for.