Ordania-DM@cup.portal.com (Charles K Hughes) (05/30/90)
This has probably been discussed repeatedly here but I'm new to this group so I'm going to ask for the discussion again. :) I am planning on buying a 386 IBM-compatible computer. I can put it together myself so buying it in pieces is no big deal. My question is 'what should I get?'. I want the capability to run a decent UNIX. I don't give a damn about OS/2 :). I want to be able to use the various disk utilities out there for optimizing a hard drive. Things I would like in my system - 3.5" & 5.25" HD drives, a hard drive 65 or 80 MB, a VGA card (that supports the lower modes also but nothing above 800x600 is needed), a Multisync color monitor (that supports 800x600), a standard port card (2 serial, 1 para), and some sort of game card for games. My general uses are text processing, telecommunications, and (of course) games. CAD, Animation, MIDI, Drawing, etc are of no real use to me. I do program - C, Assembly, etc - but I don't think this has a whole lot of bearing on exactly what I buy. Given that and a budget of $2000 (preferably a LOT less) what mistakes have I made above, in assuming what I want/need/can afford? A more specific question is - what would be the difference to me, apart from speed, of buying a 386SX-16MHz compared to buying a 386-20MHz. I do not intend to buy a co-processor (unless they get as cheap as a surplus ram chip :). Thanks Charles_Hughes@cup.portal.com Email is fine, but I think others in a situation like mine would prefer you to post.
ted@helios.ucsc.edu (Ted Cantrall) (05/31/90)
In article <30299@cup.portal.com> Ordania-DM@cup.portal.com (Charles K Hughes) writes: > I am planning on buying a 386 IBM-compatible computer. I can put it >from speed, of buying a 386SX-16MHz compared to buying a 386-20MHz. I > The price of SX support cards will be much cheaper due to the narrower bus. I think you may also be able to use off-the-shelf AT cards until SX-specific cards are made. -ted- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ted@helios.ucsc.edu | "If I get any phone calls while I'm gone, (408)459-2110 | just don't answer them." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
wallwey@snoopy.Colorado.EDU (WALLWEY DEAN WILLIAM) (05/31/90)
In article <3920@darkstar.ucsc.edu> ted@helios.ucsc.edu (Ted Cantrall) writes: >The price of SX support cards will be much cheaper due to the narrower bus. >I think you may also be able to use off-the-shelf AT cards until SX-specific >cards are made. -ted- > >------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >ted@helios.ucsc.edu | "If I get any phone calls while I'm gone, >(408)459-2110 | just don't answer them." >------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are no (as far as I know) any such thing as 386SX specific cards---all the 386SX computers that I have seen use the AT ISA bus. The whole reason intel designed the 386SX was so that 386 computers could be built easily and use AT equipment, memory, etc, and to keep the price real low!\ The other two buses are the Micro-Chanel and the new but AT compatible EISA bus. -Dean Wallwey
stevek@hpfcmgw.HP.COM (Steve Kauder) (05/31/90)
20mz 386sx's are just being announced now, so that may be a better choice than a 20mz 386. sk
shwake@raysnec.UUCP (Ray Shwake) (06/04/90)
In article <3920@darkstar.ucsc.edu> ted@helios.ucsc.edu (Ted Cantrall) writes: >The price of SX support cards will be much cheaper due to the narrower bus. >I think you may also be able to use off-the-shelf AT cards until SX-specific >cards are made. -ted- The second point noted is true in nearly all cases, and holds true for true 80386 systems as well. I'm running a ZOOM 2400 XL in the 8-bit slot of my NEC Powermate in addition to an Intel Above Board 286 (sic). The NEC is no great shakes as a system, particularly due to its appalling approach to memory upgrades, but it's given me no compatibility problems to date. And, since the SX uses the 16-bit AT bus, what would make something SX-specific?