If a 186 embedded design requires either more addressibility or higher performance, the Intel386 EX processor is the upgrade choice. The EX provides 26 address bits for a total of 4 Gbytes. Also, given the same clock rate, the Intel386 EX processor performs up to three times the performance of a 186-base processor. Since the EX has an 80386 core, it is code compatible with 186 processors, making it a logical upgrade processor to run your existing software. Additionally, software can be modified to take advantage of the 80386 features, including memory protection and multitasking.
Memory protection can provide a safety net to software problems.
This can become very important if your customer ever modifies the software run on your application. The Intel386 EX processor is designed to be ideal for portable applications. Low power consumption is critical for these designs. Low-voltage operation offers numerous benefits to the system designer including decreased power consumption, lower heat dissipation and reduced noise generation. Intel386 microprocessor voltage tolerances and operating frequencies.