4 ms·
My parents were architects and they used AutoCAD. A very early version, maybe 3? So our PC had a math coprocessor... on a 286!!! Yes, the 80287 was a thing.
by ggambetta 3y ago
My parents were architects and they used AutoCAD. A very early version, maybe 3? So our PC had a math coprocessor... on a 286!!! Yes, the 80287 was a thing.
- NikkiA 3y agoIn the 286 era there were even different types of co-processor, the Weitek implementation (2167) absolutely trounced the official 80287 (and it's second source versions) at CAD, that's most likely what your parents had.
- saltcured 3y agoI searched the comments page to find you were the only one who mentioned them. I think we had a 20 MHz 286 with a Weitek coprocessor when I was a kid. It seems Weitek also had a coprocessor to go with 386.
- NikkiA 3y agoThey had one (4167) for the 486 too, I have no idea if it only worked with 486SX systems, or if it could work alongside a DX (but then who'd have a co-processor socket on a DX board anyway, co-processor sockets had already become scarce in the 386 period). By that era they appear to have mostly pivotted to their own 486 clones and VGA chipsets though. edit: I just realised, it could have been like the Cyrix 487S which installed as a PCB carrier that plugged into the 486DX socket, and then had a socket on the carrier for the CPU itself, alongside the 487S chip.
- lproven 3y agoYep. http://www.weitek.com/textual/products/wtl3167.html http://www.weitek.com/textual/products/wtl3167.html
- selcuka 3y agoI had an 8086 PS/2 clone (Multitech, then rebranded themselves as Acer) with a coprocessor, so yeah, even 8087 was a thing.