Am386DX-40 Computer System Overview

Around the time that the 386 was fading into the sunset, AMD started to diverge their microprocessor products and make them more than just clones of Intel x86 chips. Their 40MHz 386DX processor proved to be an excellent performer once it finally became available for sale after a legal battle with Intel. It was extremely attractive as the heart of a budget-conscious computer system due to the high level of performance. Perhaps more importantly than that, this video outlines a silent killer of certain vintage PCs. After real-time clocks became standard with the AT and later systems, some manufacturers started using soldered batteries, some of which were rechargeable. These batteries fail and then they start leaking. It is this leakage which eats motherboard traces and components. These batteries MUST be removed. Even if they work now, even if you're using the system...it would be a very good idea to remove the battery (and replace it with a new one, if desired) before something bad happens. This system is a great example. A few months ago, there was no damage to the motherboard tray and the battery still held a charge. I probably got there just in time. Systems with CR2032 and similar lithium batteries can suffer the same fate. I've seen button cell batteries start leaking, at which point they would destroy the very sockets in which they were installed--or even damage motherboard traces! The moral of the story here is simple: take action and remove a troublesome battery before it ruins a computer you care about! It's rumored that a 50MHz version of the Am386 may have been considered for production. Whether or not it ever reached production is unclear, though it seems unlikely. AMD later produced high speed 486 compatible processors with clock speeds of up to 133MHz. There is evidence to suggest that 150MHz and possibly faster versions of those processors were considered for production. Some of the 133MHz variants can be successfully overclocked to 150MHz or greater.