A patch proposed by Linux kernel developer Ingo Molnar aims to remove support for 80486 generation processors during the Linux kernel 7.1 merge window. If accepted, this patch is expected to remove the M486, M486SX, and MELAN configuration options from Kconfig, meaning that new upstream kernels will not be configurable for 486-class systems.

This will be the first processor architecture removed from the Linux kernel since the removal of 80386 support in 2012. Linux 7.0 is expected to be released in the coming months, while version 7.1 is likely to arrive in mid-2026. It has not yet been confirmed whether the patch will pass through the merge window.

Why Do Linux Kernel Maintainers Want to Remove i486 Support?

Molnar first proposed the removal of support for the 486 processor in April 2025, citing the maintenance costs of hardware emulation code that is no longer used with modern kernels. In the notes for the patch, Molnar explained, "We have various complex hardware emulation features in x86-32 to support very old 32-bit CPUs that very few users are still running with current kernels."

This compatibility layer sometimes leads to issues that need to be resolved, and he noted that these efforts could be spent on other developments. Linus Torvalds shared a similar view when the idea of removing support was first discussed in 2022.

"I really don’t think i486 class hardware is still relevant," Torvalds said at the time. "They are mostly kept as museum pieces and can be run with museum kernels."

What Changes Does the Linux 7.1 Patch Bring for i486 CPUs?

The current proposal removes Kconfig options that allow the kernel to be built specifically for 486-class systems. Molnar's earlier proposals required support for the Timestamp Counter and CMPXCHG8B instruction, which are not available on 80486 family chips or some 586 derivatives; this approach has been revised over the past year with a series of changes.

Impact on Users Still Using i486 Hardware

Molnar states that practically no current Linux kernel package supports 486 chips, so it is unlikely that active users will be affected by the upstream change.

Those using hardware from the 486 era will need to continue with older kernel versions. Legacy users can continue to use older kernels, Molnar said in the merge request. The patch has been queued but it has not yet been confirmed whether it will be included in Linux 7.1.