The PC turbo button mystery finally solved!
VWestlife・15 minutes read
PCs in the 80s and 90s featured turbo buttons to toggle CPU speed, with various models offering different functionalities like enhancing speed and addressing compatibility issues with software and hardware. Despite misconceptions, activating the turbo switch actually made the computer run faster, as confirmed by Intel's data sheet for the Intel 486SL microprocessor.
Insights
- Turbo buttons on early PCs were used to toggle between different CPU speeds, with some users needing to press specific key combinations to activate them, leading to the addition of dedicated turbo buttons on later PCs for easier access.
- The disappearance of turbo buttons in the mid-1990s was primarily due to advancements in CPU speed, rendering the feature unnecessary for most users, as CPUs became fast enough to handle software without requiring turbo mode, coupled with cost-cutting measures by manufacturers.
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Recent questions
What was the purpose of the turbo button on early PCs?
The turbo button on early PCs was designed to toggle between different CPU speeds, allowing users to switch between turbo mode for faster performance and non-turbo mode for compatibility with older software and hardware.
Why did some users find turbo mode problematic on early PCs?
Some users encountered issues with turbo mode on early PCs due to compatibility problems with software and hardware. This could lead to issues such as games running too fast or data corruption during file transfers, prompting frustration among users.
How did manufacturers address user complaints about turbo mode activation?
In response to user complaints about having to press Ctrl Alt Plus to enable turbo mode, manufacturers began including dedicated turbo buttons on PCs. This allowed users to easily switch between different CPU speeds without the need for complex key combinations.
Why did turbo buttons start disappearing from PCs in the mid-1990s?
Turbo buttons began disappearing from PCs in the mid-1990s due to advancements in CPU technology. CPUs became fast enough to handle older software without needing turbo mode, leading to the feature becoming obsolete and being phased out in newer computer models.
What was the misconception surrounding the turbo button on early PCs?
There was a misconception surrounding the turbo button on early PCs, with some users believing that activating turbo mode would slow down the computer. However, sources such as Intel's data sheet for the Intel 486SL microprocessor clarified that turbo mode actually allowed the CPU to execute at full speed for improved performance.
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Summary
00:00
Evolution of Turbo Buttons in PCs
- The first PC with a turbo button was the Eagle Turbo XL in April 1984, featuring an 8 megahertz 8086 processor claimed to be twice as fast as the 4.77 megahertz 8088 used by IBM PC and clones.
- Orchid Technology introduced the PC Turbo 186 in late 1984, allowing users to enhance their PC's speed by installing an accelerator card and productivity software.
- Turbo mode could cause compatibility issues with software and hardware, leading to problems like games playing too fast or data corruption during file transfers.
- Some users had to press Ctrl Alt Plus to enable turbo mode, which annoyed Lieutenant Ray P. Stallings, prompting manufacturers to include a dedicated turbo button on PCs.
- The Zenith Z-148 from 1986 featured a turbo button that controlled CPU speed, running at 4.77 megahertz when not pushed in and 8 megahertz when pushed in.
- A 90s mini tower PC with a 33 megahertz 486SLC/E processor had a turbo button that toggled between turbo and non-turbo modes, affecting CPU speed significantly.
- Turbo buttons and indicator LEDs began disappearing from PCs in the mid-1990s due to CPUs becoming fast enough to handle old software without needing turbo mode.
- The Gateway 2000 4DX-33 had a momentary contact turbo button that toggled between full CPU speed in turbo mode and significantly slower speed in non-turbo mode.
- The disappearance of turbo buttons was also attributed to cost-cutting measures, as fewer users required the feature for running older speed-sensitive hardware and software.
- Despite the decline in turbo buttons, some motherboards in the mid-90s still supported turbo mode, allowing users to switch between turbo and non-turbo modes using keyboard commands or jumper settings.
14:48
Turbo buttons misunderstood, actually speed up computers.
- Turbo buttons on older computers were meant to switch between turbo and normal modes, but often had no real impact on performance, with some being repurposed for other functions like sleep mode activation.
- Various sources, including books and data sheets, explain that activating the turbo switch would make the computer run faster, contrary to the misconception that it slowed down the system.
- Intel's data sheet for the Intel 486SL microprocessor defines turbo mode as the CPU executing at full speed, providing a definitive explanation that contradicts the myth that turbo mode slows down the computer.
