jthomas@nmsu.edu (James Thomas) (11/17/90)
Continuing the investigation of the possibility of a cheaper price memory upgrade for the original, special bus Z386-16, has anyone looked in to solving the problem via a motherboard upgrade to the newer Zenith systems that do use SIMM's? We'd lose the existing motherboard, the processor board, the I/O board, and any current memory boards. (Gee, it sounds as if it would be cheaper to trash the whole thing :-( Jim
johnm@tasman.cc.utas.edu.au (John B. Miezitis) (11/19/90)
jthomas@nmsu.edu (James Thomas) writes: >Continuing the investigation of the possibility of a cheaper price memory >upgrade for the original, special bus Z386-16, has anyone looked in to >solving the problem via a motherboard upgrade to the newer Zenith systems >that do use SIMM's? We'd lose the existing motherboard, the processor >board, the I/O board, and any current memory boards. (Gee, it sounds as if >it would be cheaper to trash the whole thing :-( >Jim I have a Zenith Z-386/20 sitting on my desk. It uses SIMM's but the SIMM's are incompatible with most other common SIMM's. I was told by our service company that the SIMM's are the same as those used in the IBM PS/2 machines however after ordering some which were labeled IBM I could not get any of them to work. I tried them all in the first position because I knew the configuration should work. Zenith 1Mb SIMM's are *NOT* cheap. If anybody can clear up this mess *PLEASE* let us know. Thanks.. _______________________________________________________________________________ John. B. Miezitis. University of Tasmania Computing Centre email: johnm@diemen.cc.utas.edu.au | Belgium man Belgium!!! _______________________________________________________________________________
djo7613@hardy.u.washington.edu (Dick O'Connor) (11/20/90)
In article <johnm.658973712@tasman> johnm@tasman.cc.utas.edu.au (John B. Miezitis) writes: > >I have a Zenith Z-386/20 sitting on my desk. It uses SIMM's but the SIMM's >are incompatible with most other common SIMM's. I was told by our service >company that the SIMM's are the same as those used in the IBM PS/2 machines >however after ordering some which were labeled IBM I could not get any of >them to work. I tried them all in the first position because I knew the >configuration should work. Zenith 1Mb SIMM's are *NOT* cheap. > > If anybody can clear up this mess *PLEASE* let us know. > Maybe. When I went shopping for SIMMs for my Z248/12, the Chip Merchant folks in (San Diego?) that I called asked what model Zenith I had and verbally confirmed that their pieces would work. They did. You might try asking, as even some of these mail-order memory shops know enough about systems to know this could be a problem. Also, I just got a catalog in the mail from some PC mailorder place with a familiar sounding name (it's at home now) that offered Zenith 386/20,25,33 compatible SIMMs for pretty fair prices (80 ns 1 MB for something like $80). They had a separate ad for IBM SIMMs (PS/2) and another ad for "generic" SIMMs, so I think this place knows that differences exist. Want a pointer on the company and a phone number? "Moby" Dick O'Connor djo7613@u.washington.edu Washington Department of Fisheries *I brake for salmonids*
johnm@tasman.cc.utas.edu.au (John B. Miezitis) (11/20/90)
djo7613@hardy.u.washington.edu (Dick O'Connor) writes: >Also, I just got a catalog in the mail from some PC mailorder place with a >familiar sounding name (it's at home now) that offered Zenith 386/20,25,33 >compatible SIMMs for pretty fair prices (80 ns 1 MB for something like $80). >They had a separate ad for IBM SIMMs (PS/2) and another ad for "generic" >SIMMs, so I think this place knows that differences exist. Want a pointer >on the company and a phone number? Thanks for clearing things up a bit. I have since found out that Zenith use 36 bit SIMMs (4 bit parity) whereas IBM use 32 bit. I would be interested in the company if they have a branch in Australia or if there are any other Aussies reading this perhaps they can suggest a supplier. Thanks all.. _______________________________________________________________________________ John. B. Miezitis. University of Tasmania Computing Centre email: johnm@diemen.cc.utas.edu.au | Belgium man Belgium!!! _______________________________________________________________________________
djo7613@hardy.u.washington.edu (Dick O'Connor) (11/21/90)
In article <11383@milton.u.washington.edu> djo7613@hardy.acs.washington.edu (Dick O'Connor) writes: > >Also, I just got a catalog in the mail from some PC mailorder place with a >familiar sounding name (it's at home now) that offered Zenith 386/20,25,33 >compatible SIMMs for pretty fair prices (80 ns 1 MB for something like $80). >They had a separate ad for IBM SIMMs (PS/2) and another ad for "generic" >SIMMs, so I think this place knows that differences exist. Want a pointer >on the company and a phone number? Rats. ALWAYS check your facts. $80, I wish! The company is Tenex Computer Express, they just mailed out their Winter 1990 catalog to about 3 million of you folks, and the REAL prices are: Z386/20,25,33 32-bit modules 1MB...$129 2MB...$199 4MB...$529 Standard 1MB 1X9 80 ns simms (like we use in our Z248/12 machines) are $69.95, which is $4.95 more than I paid for the same pieces in August from Chip Merchant in San Diego. So these folks are right in the ballpark. Their number is 1-800-776-6781. No sales tax outside of Indiana, they handle foreign orderd, etc. etc. Usual disclaimers... "Moby" Dick O'Connor djo7613@u.washington.edu Washington Department of Fisheries *I brake for salmonids*