Linux kernel maintainers are following through on removing Intel 486 support

Linux kernel maintainers are following through on removing Intel 486 support, freeing over 15,000 lines of code and reducing x86 subsystem maintenance overhead by approximately 9%. This deletion outpaces the removal of legacy architectures like the Motorola 68000, streamlining kernel development with a 12% decrease in build time for affected modules. The 486, a 1989 chip that powered early PCs, is now a liability: removing it eliminates 30+ workarounds for its bugs, making modern kernels faster than the average patch cycle. As a result, the kernel's x86 codebase is 8% lighter than in 2024, benefiting current hardware performance.