abs0@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Kelvin Leung) (05/03/91)
I have heard that Intel might release 486SX. If C= is still going to release a 386 Bridgecard, I think they should forget the idea and start developing a 486SX BB NOW! Don't you agree? (after all, if they start now, they might be able to release it before 586SX machines floods in the market... 8^> ) -- Kelvin Leung ======================================================= Kelvin / Internet: abs0@eleazar.dartmouth.edu Leung/ or : kelvin.leung@dartmouth.edu =======================================================
Charlie_Gibbs@mindlink.bc.ca (Charlie Gibbs) (05/03/91)
In article <3645@borg.cs.unc.edu> cullip@sargent.cs.unc.edu (Timothy Cullip) writes: >To me, it sounds like the marketing people at Intel have gone off the >deep end. Or maybe they are just laughing all the way to the bank. Actually, it's kind of shrewd from a marketroid's viewpoint. Now that AMD, by producing a legal 386 work-alike, has broken Intel's monopoly (why do you think 386s were so expensive?) Intel desperately needs a way to bump them out of the market. By selling the 486SX, they can satisfy the status-seekers who want that magic 486 number (whether they actually need it or not), while still soaking them for the bucks later then they want to upgrade to a real 486. Then AMD can start all over again with the 486. Ah, competition - ain't it grand? Charlie_Gibbs@mindlink.UUCP If your nose runs and your feet smell, you're built upside-down.
cullip@sargent.cs.unc.edu (Timothy Cullip) (05/03/91)
In article <1991May2.212247.12525@dartvax.dartmouth.edu> abs0@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Kelvin Leung) writes: > > I have heard that Intel might release 486SX. If C= is still going to >release a 386 Bridgecard, I think they should forget the idea and start >developing a 486SX BB NOW! > >Don't you agree? > >(after all, if they start now, they might be able to release it before >586SX machines floods in the market... 8^> ) > >-- Kelvin Leung >======================================================= >Kelvin / Internet: abs0@eleazar.dartmouth.edu > Leung/ or : kelvin.leung@dartmouth.edu >======================================================= I don't want to start an "I hate Intel thread" here, but I just can't resist giving my impressions of the 486SX. Intel sells the standard 486DX chip for about $500. The SX is in fact a DX, but with the floating point unit turned off (i.e. it's on the chip, but disabled so it's just as expensive to produce) but sells it for about $250. Kind of gives you an idea of the profit margin on the DX. Also, Intel produces a 487SX so that if later on you decide you need floating point you can have it. But the 487SX retails for about $800, so the combination 486SX and 487SX is twice as expensive as the 486DX. But do you know what's in the 487SX: an entire 486DX. When installed it disables (can you believe this) the 486SX and acts just like a 486DX. So without the 487SX you have a crippled 486, with the 487SX you have two 486's but one is completely disabled. To me, it sounds like the marketing people at Intel have gone off the deep end. Or maybe they are just laughing all the way to the bank. Tim Cullip cullip@cs.unc.edu -- Tim Cullip cullip@cs.unc.edu
chucks@pnet51.orb.mn.org (Erik Funkenbusch) (05/04/91)
abs0@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Kelvin Leung) writes: > > I have heard that Intel might release 486SX. If C= is still going to >release a 386 Bridgecard, I think they should forget the idea and start >developing a 486SX BB NOW! > >Don't you agree? > >(after all, if they start now, they might be able to release it before >586SX machines floods in the market... 8^> ) > >-- Kelvin Leung Well, it's not an SX in the traditional 386sx sense. it's still a full 32 bit chip, it's missing the math co-processor. i certainly wouldn't pay for a system with one. .--------------------------------------------------------------------------. | UUCP: {amdahl!tcnet, crash}!orbit!pnet51!chucks | "I know he's come back | | ARPA: crash!orbit!pnet51!chucks@nosc.mil | from the dead, but do | | INET: chucks@pnet51.orb.mn.org | you really think he's | |-------------------------------------------------| moved back in?" | | Amiga programmer at large, employment options | Lou Diamond Philips in | | welcome, inquire within. | "The First Power". | `--------------------------------------------------------------------------'