GoKawiilFRANK 386 firmware turns RP2350 boards into full i386 PC emulator
Developers have released FRANK 386, a firmware project built on Tiny386 that emulates an i386 (with partial i486/i586 and optional x87 FPU) PC on Raspberry Pi Pico 2-based RP2350 boards. It supports VGA/HDMI video, SD card storage, PS/2 and USB input, NES gamepads, and multiple sound cards including AdLib and Sound Blaster 16, letting it boot DOS, Windows 3.x/95, and Linux.
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This shows how far cheap microcontroller hardware has advanced, letting a $5-class RP2350 chip run software originally built for 1990s-era PCs with real multimedia support. It's a boon for retro-computing hobbyists and embedded developers who want a compact, low-power way to run legacy operating systems and games without dedicated PC hardware.
- FRANK 386 emulates a full i386 PC, including graphics, sound, and storage, on RP2350 microcontrollers.
- It supports multiple boards like FRANK, Murmulator, Olimex PICO-PC, and Waveshare RP2350-PiZero.
- The project can boot DOS, Windows 3.x/95, and Linux using SD-card-based disk images.
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B — The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B is the perfect companion for your retro computing projects like the FRANK 386. Its powerful hardware and versatile connectivity options make it ideal for running emulators, supporting VGA/HDMI output, and handling multiple storage and input devices. Bring your vintage computing dreams to life with this compact and capable device!
See Raspberry Pi 4 Model B on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: github.com, 2026-09-14
Published there as: “A 386 PC for Your RP2350”
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