Obsolescence

Obsolescence

Windows 95 signaled the end of the 486 era due to its high memory requirements (16 MB to perform as well as Windows 3.x with just 8 MB). Many 486 users at that time were running eight 1 MB 30-pin SIMMs on a motherboard with as many SIMM sockets, leaving no available room for expansion (without replacing existing memory with larger SIMMs, which was expensive and not always supported by the motherboard.) As 4-Meg 30-pin SIMMs were still very expensive at that time, it usually made more sense to buy a Pentium than to spend a premium on upgrading a system that was nearing the end of its service life. In the general purpose desktop computer role, the 486s were used as budget machines for people who could not afford the latest computers, until around 2001, when Windows 95 support ended and Windows 98, ME, NT 4.0, 2000, NT 4.0 and XP required more powerful computers. A small proportion of 486s stayed in service much longer in dedicated roles off the desktop as servers, network hosts, routers, terminal emulators, process control systems, etc., running various operating systems other than Microsoft Windows 98 and later. Some people also kept 486-based PCs for playing classic games under MS-DOS, as to those people having the additional old computer taking up some physical space alongside their newer system was worth the benefit of being able to run their favorite old games perfectly and not having to accept the limitations (to fidelity and authenticity) of running those games in an emulator or the hassles of getting each game to work with the emulator.