root@conexch.UUCP (Larry Dighera) (10/18/88)
>Subject: Re: Erratum 21 >In-reply-to: your article <9220@conexch.UUCP> > > All currently available 386's have errata 21. It is not a matter of >testing to find what percentage does not experience the symptoms. There is >a bug in the current microcode inside the chip that will always hang the >floating point instruction under certain external conditions. The next >revision of 386 (D step) solves this problem, it's already been tested. >Unfortunately, these ar not generally available yet. > > There are the add in boards available that solve errata 21 problems. >We sell one, other companies do also. Be careful when you buy one though. >Ours will work in any 386 system that it mechanically fits in (and that does >not have electrical problems). The other product we have seen will only work in >clones that do not decode the A31 through A24, I guess they figure that it >is an acceptable tradeoff for saving $5 and a square inch of daughter board. > > -Jim Wall > Bell Technologies Inc. > (415)659-9097 Jim: I'm sure you are aware that SCO's Xenix 386 product will detect systems with Erratum 21 type errors, and boot a Kernel that refuses to recognize the '387 chip. Everex is shipping a 386/20 system that passes this test, and recognizes the '387 coporcessor. Therefore, '386 chips with the Erratum 21 problem are available now. The question still stands: How can I deturmine which '386 chips don't have the Erratum 21 bug. Larry Dighera -- USPS: The Consultants' Exchange, PO Box 12100, Santa Ana, CA 92712 TELE: (714) 842-6348: BBS (N81); (714) 842-5851: Xenix guest account (E71) UUCP: conexch Any ACU 2400 17148425851 ogin:-""-ogin:-""-ogin: nuucp UUCP: ...!uunet!turnkey!conexch!root || ...!trwrb!ucla-an!conexch!root