rose@malibu.sedd.trw.com (02/21/91)
I have three questions: 1) I have seen a lot of recent price drops in 486/25 machines. For example in the last 6 months Gateway 2000 has dropped there 486/25 with 4 MB and 150 MB HD from $5295 to $3995 and increased the ram to 8MB and HD to 200 MB. Also there are several unknowns for as low as $3100 for a 486/25 w/ 4MB and 200 MB HD, super VGA, 1MB on board, etc. Is there any specific reason that prices have dropped so drastically recently? And any opinion on whether these prices will continue down or start back up? 2) This has probably been asked before but I missed it so here goes. Does the 486 machine truly contain a built in math co-processor? Will "any" software that requires or can use a co-processor be able to run on the 486? If the above is true: then why does Tri-Star advertise a "CAD" system which contains an 80387? This was in the computer shopper. The system contains a digitizer in addition to the basic computer. 3) Is there any specific software and methods for testing the true compatability and speed of a 486 machine? Thanks for any info in advance. Marc
ganter@urz.unibas.ch (02/21/91)
In article <708.27c232c6@malibu.sedd.trw.com>, rose@malibu.sedd.trw.com writes: > 1) I have seen a lot of recent price drops in 486/25 machines. ..stuff deleted... > Is there any specific > reason that prices have dropped so drastically recently? And > any opinion on whether these prices will continue down or start > back up? I think, there are still some 486/25 with B9 mask around. These are told to have bugs, that prohibit multiprocessor use without external logic (delivered by Intel with the processor). The main problem wouldn't be the actual processor, but an eventual newer one (connect pin x with ground ..., etc). I don't think, that a C1 or higher would run in such an environement. Because of these bugs, the machines containing them are sometimes much cheaper. If You are kind with Your B9-486 all that stuff perhaps doesn't matter for You. But I'd be carefull. Another reason is certainly the 486/33 entering the market now. > Does the 486 machine truly contain a built in math co-processor? > Will "any" software that requires or can use a co-processor > be able to run on the 486? If the above is true: then why does > Tri-Star advertise a "CAD" system which contains an 80387? > This was in the computer shopper. The system contains a digitizer > in addition to the basic computer. Yes, the 486 contains a full 387 coprocessor. The 486 built in FPU is faster (i.e. fever clock counts for some instructions) and has the same parallel facilites as the 386/387 processors have. Perhaps the 387 is meant as the built in 387 (Or do they use a second one only for the digitizer part ?). Most 486 boards have a second socket for the Weitek 4167 FPU (not compatible to the 387, but faster). Robert Robert Ganter University of Basel Switzerland ganter@urz.unibas.ch
wk0x+@andrew.cmu.edu (William Stephen Kish) (02/22/91)
Yes, the i486 does have a numeric coprocessor built in. It is basically a '387, but FP performance is somewhat enhanced since it is on the same chip as the rest of the processor. Bill Kish Carnegie Mellon University wk0x+@andrew.cmu.edu
gw1e+@andrew.cmu.edu (Gabriel M. Wachob) (02/22/91)
It is true that the 387 is built into the 486. I just bought one of those oh-so-cheap 486/25's. I think the reason they are getting cheaper is becuase the 486/33's are starting to come out and because (maybe) the 486/50's (yeah, that's right, 50Mhz!!) will start being produced or shipped or somthing soon... I have no idea whether the price will drop or go up.. But, from past experience, it shouldn't go up much if at all. -gmw
davidh@garfield.cs.mun.ca (David Hansen) (03/12/91)
I just obtained a good grant. Should I buy a 486?? I use huge spreadsheets and I need the speed. I need complete compatibility with all DOS applications, however. Any advice?