Computers have Architecture??

[net_benjo]

I get a sense that I should really know the answer to this question, but I dont. I've even googled it too...no luck...

What is my computer architecture: i386 i586 i686? How do I know this anyway? Does anybody know a good link which discussed the differences...
my system is:

a7v8x-x Asus motherboard
athlon-xp 2200+ processor (socket A, im not sure if this is needed)

I believe any other info is irrelevant in determining architecture...

thanks,

b

[UnderScore]

Simplified, computer architecture comes down to the type of processor. This link http://www.freehackers.org/gentoo/gccflags/flag_gcc3.html should help you to understand it.

I hope this helps.
James

[robwelch100]

Your computer with an athlon xp 2200 is a i686. you can also run any of the ix86 (x= 3, 4, 5,) distros. Basically ix86 is IBM compatible, (not totally but for the purposes of this discussion we will say so) macs are powerpc archetecture. The difference in i386 and i686 is that the the i686 is optomized for faster processors, but both use the same basic archetecture (that being how they process the data).

[firebyrd10]

Your computer with an athlon xp 2200 is a i686. you can also run any of the ix86 (x= 3, 4, 5,) distros. Basically ix86 is IBM compatible, (not totally but for the purposes of this discussion we will say so) macs are powerpc archetecture. The difference in i386 and i686 is that the the i686 is optomized for faster processors, but both use the same basic archetecture (that being how they process the data).

Right, anything ix86(or x86) will work, if you have a choose between 386, 586, 686 pick the one that best matchs your processor, it will give the best proformence.