MBF@CMU-CS-C.ARPA (03/31/84)
Some notes on IC availability: - the SSI 263 phonemic speech synthesizer chip is available from Hall-Mark; we received a half-dozen two days ago after placing an order two weeks ago. Cost in small quantities is about $39. - the 8kx8 cmos static rams, now manufactured by hitachi (as the 6264P-15,12 and 6264LP-15,12) and toshiba (as the TC5565-P15,12 and the TC5565-LP15,12) are available through hitachi and toshiba distributors if you are willing to wait. Six months ago, both parts were readily available in quantities of 50 or so from distributors - the big guys had not quite caugt (make that caught - oh, to be in emacs...) on. Now, however, availability is a different story. Both Hitachi and Toshiba have recently raised their distributor prices, but claim to be ramping up production massively to support the tremendously increased demand of the past six months. This should result in (according to our local Hitachi rep) "price parity with 6116's in 3 to 6 months." That is, 4*$(6116) ~= $(6264). If you can't wait, or want just a few, Microprocessors Unlimited and Jameco (both advertise in Byte) have the 6264P-15 for about $40 in singles. Be warned, however: our hitachi rep also asserts that many of the really small mail-order places are selling substandard parts labeled as good ones. I have yet to hear first hand of this happening however, and I have heard manufacturer's reps and distributors tell such "stories" before! A few notes: the chips are currently available with 120nS and 150nS access times; the LP parts are about $10 more expensive than the P parts, but have significantly lower quiescent (non-CS'ed) power consumption. happy hardware hacking, Mark Dzmura Sentient Systems Technology via mbf@cmu-cs-c -------