fmgst@unix.cis.pitt.edu (Filip Gieszczykiewicz) (02/15/91)
Greetings. Well, after doing my homework with the Computer Shopper (more posts to follow :-), I have come to the conclusion that it's not worth buying a 386 when you can get a 486 for ~$400 or so more. I think that I know the following ;-) : 1) 486/25 is about as fast/faster then a 386/33 **************************************************************************** Could use more comments on the above. **************************************************************************** 2) more on-motherboard memory is possible on a 486 then 386 3) ROM shadowing and other "cute" features make a 486 even faster **************************************************************************** Is "shadow"ing of BIOS a STANDARD in a 486 or do I have to specificly look for it? **************************************************************************** 4) no need to buy a 387 **************************************************************************** On the other hand, a Weitek is still _the_ way to go. So, whether or not a 387 is in the system will not make much difference. **************************************************************************** Now, what I don't know is: 1) Cyrix and ITT claim that their 387-clones are "up to 80%" faster then the Intel 80387. Is that true of the 486 also? (ie. is the 387 on-board of the 486 200% SLOWER than a clone) **************************************************************************** It seems that the Intel competition is using the old 387 for comparison. The new 387/20, 387/25, and 387/33 all have new, faster, design (masks). Note, however, that it still seems that the other companies' chips are lower power - hence less heat - hence better reliablity - hence happier customer. Am I correct? **************************************************************************** 2) I have heard that I can take an AT card (16-bit) and plug it into the EISA buss. True? If so, will it slow down the other EISA cards? (Like plugging in a MDA into a 16-bit-VGA system) **************************************************************************** I have been told that if one plugs in a 16-bit AT buss (ISA) card into an EISA systems, the overall performance will not drop. Given, however, that the card does not hog down the DMA and such. (There has been discussion that if one plugs in a MDA card into a 16-bit VGA system, the VGA card would fall back to 8-bit operation, slowing down the display. That does not seem to be true of #2) **************************************************************************** 3) Are there any EISA VGA cards out there? (Like an EISA version of the ProDesigner II, or others) If so, are they faster? **************************************************************************** General answer: "I think I've seen blah blah", ie. no definite answer. Some people have suggested that there are 340x0 and i860- based boards out there - not really what I was after. I was thinking of your standard SVGA card except with an EISA buss and, hopefully, performance. No such luck. Solution: plug in your 16-bit VGA ISA card and get to work :-) **************************************************************************** 4) Is there an EISA IDE hard disk controller? I have some IDE drives and I want to use them in my new system. Yes? Also, if I have to get a new drive, should I stick with SCSI-2 or ESDI? (I heard that SCSI-s sucks) **************************************************************************** Note really. What I have been told is that IDE is not a hard disk controller. It seems to be one of those "embedded" (sp?) controllers. (like SCSI). The (real cheap) card that you plug into the ISA socket is just a simple interface (like a printer card - it's the printer that does all of the work). So: plug in your IDE interface card into the EISA and, again, get to work. One will not see an increase in performance, not yet, anyways. For SCSI, see below. **************************************************************************** 5) How would I, say, add a tape backup? I realize that there are 2 types, one that hooks up to a floppy drive controller and one that comes with its own card. (#2 applies to the second). Will the EISA floppy/hard controller allow for this? (I want 1.2MB and 1.44MB as a base) does it have more connectors? If I get the type with a card, will I be able to use it with my system? (see #2) **************************************************************************** Well, since one can use ISA cards in an EISA machine, the above kind of explains itself... ;-) I have been told, however, to stick to SCSI as the main "scheme" (for a lack of a better word). Sice devices may be "daisy-chained" one onto another, the above need not occur. I would like to know, however, which SCSI should I get (if I do), SCSI or SCSI-s (or is it SCSI-2)? **************************************************************************** That's all, for now. I will archive any responses because, I have a feeling, more people will be asking these question later this year or the next. Please reply via e-mail. Take care. P.S. Thank you's go to: davidsen@sixhub.UUCP (Wm E. Davidsen Jr) gp310ad@prism.gatech.edu AVP100@PSUVM.PSU.EDU uudell!hotwheel.dell.com!timd@cs.utexas.edu -- _______________________________________________________________________________ "The Force will be with you, always." It _is_ with me and has been for 10 years Filip Gieszczykiewicz "... a Jedi does it with a mind trick... " ;-) FMGST@PITTVMS or fmgst@unix.cis.pitt.edu "My ideas. ALL MINE!!"