Perhaps it is time to send your 37-year-old Intel 486 system into retirement, as far as modern Linux goes, as OS kernel developers appear to have started to dismantle support for this legendary CPU. Phoronix reports that the change seems to have been confirmed in patches destined for the Linux 7.1 kernel. So, those still cherishing their 486 PCs and using them to run a modern version of Linux should probably now make sure they run one of the existing Linux LTS kernels to squeeze a few more years from the platform. Alternatively, they could upgrade to a Pentium or even one of the best CPUs available in 2026.
The patching out of 486 support isn’t really a surprise. Firstly, it is ancient, with the first examples released in 1989, and modern Linux distros continue to grow more resource-hungry. Secondly, Linux creator Linus Torvalds hinted not long ago that 486 support may get the axe. The Linux mogul said that there was “zero real reason” to continue support for the 486 CPU. In fact, he indicated that continuing support for it was detrimental to upstream Linux kernel development efforts.
Developer Ingo Molnar will probably go down in history as the gallowsman, though. Molnar has authored a patch “that initially gets rid of the CONFIG_M486SX, CONFIG_M486, and CONFIG_MELAN Kconfig build option,” says Phoronix. Which is basically signaling in code that the 486 is on borrowed time.
“In the x86 architecture we have various complicated hardware emulation facilities on x86-32 to support ancient 32-bit CPUs that very very few people are using with modern kernels,” commented Molnar in a note accompanying the patch. “This compatibility glue is sometimes even causing problems that people spend time to resolve, which time could be spent on other things.” Then he repeated some of Torvald’s remarks to remind readers of who signed the 486's death warrant.
Phronix notes that the patch should be merged in Linux 7.1, meaning users won’t be able to build an i486 kernel image. Then, barring an unexpected level of public uproar, the rest of the 486 support can be safely gutted.
We are sure that this isn’t the end of having fun or even being productive with old Intel 486 systems. For example, earlier this year, we covered the news of an open-source 486 motherboard being built from scratch and passing Linux, DOS, and Doom compatibility tests (and more).
