> With the introduction of CPUs which ran faster than the original 4.77 MHz Intel 8088 used in the IBM Personal Computer, programs which relied on the CPU's frequency for timing were executing faster than intended. Games in particular were often rendered unplayable. To provide some compatibility, the "turbo" button was added. Engaging turbo mode slows the system down to a state compatible with original 8086/8088 chips.
I never had such a button in my PCs (first one was a 386SX) but I did see it on other PCs and always wondered what it did... => today I finally found that out :P
The one I had I believe was a 386. The problem was that it was easy to accidentally bump the button and my Mom would complain the computer was running slow.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbo_button
> With the introduction of CPUs which ran faster than the original 4.77 MHz Intel 8088 used in the IBM Personal Computer, programs which relied on the CPU's frequency for timing were executing faster than intended. Games in particular were often rendered unplayable. To provide some compatibility, the "turbo" button was added. Engaging turbo mode slows the system down to a state compatible with original 8086/8088 chips.
I never had such a button in my PCs (first one was a 386SX) but I did see it on other PCs and always wondered what it did... => today I finally found that out :P