Definition: 686

A Pentium Pro-class chip made by a company other than Intel. The 486 was the last numeric designation used by Intel. What was to be the 586 became the Pentium, thus, Pentium-class chips from non-Intel manufacturers were often designated as 586s and Pentium Pro-class chips as 686s.

The 686 (or i686) designation often referred to all CPU chips from both Intel and others that started with the Pentium Pro architecture, including the Pentium Pro, Pentium II, III and 4 and AMD Athlons.