Linux kernel maintainers remove Intel 486 support

Linux kernel maintainers are removing Intel 486 support, which will prevent original 386/486-era PCs from booting modern kernels.

Most modern consumer Linux distributions already require far more RAM and CPU capability than 486 hardware provides; Ubuntu raised its minimum RAM to 6GB for 26.04 LTS.

Tiny Core Linux and Micro Core Linux still support 486 chips with very low RAM, but even some maintained packages no longer compile for i486.

Users who want to keep running 486 machines can use older kernels or vintage OSes, or non-Linux projects like FreeDOS for very old PCs.