The i486DX is a microprocessor developed by Intel and released in 1989. It was part of the Intel 80486 family and marked a significant advancement in computing power. The i486DX featured a 32-bit architecture, allowing it to process data more efficiently than its predecessor, the i386. It also included an integrated floating-point unit, which improved performance for mathematical calculations. This processor was widely used in personal computers during the early 1990s and supported various operating systems, including MS-DOS and Windows. The i486DX played a crucial role in the evolution of computing, paving the way for more advanced processors in the Pentium series.