From: walk@mrcnext.cso.uiuc.edu (Todd Walk) Subject: Re: 486SXs as Unix Iron? Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 19:38:16 GMT
mramsell@gandalf.ca (Mark Ramsell) writes:
>The 486sx chip, in it's original form, is not half the size of a 486dx!
I know this, but I was talking about NOW, not 3 years ago.
Right NOW the sx takes up less than half the chip space than the dx
does (loses the coprocessor and a smaller line width).
>The sx included the math coprocessor but had it disabled. The sx was
>a marketing ploy by Intel. I have no idea why they did it but that's
>what happened. Recently Intel has finally pulled the coprocessor out
>and is NOW seing the cost savings you are referring to above. They
>are able to put the new 486sx chips in a plastic package because of
Oops... I forgot about the dx's being in a ceramic pack.
However this gives another reason for the sx being a good buy.
>the reduced heat they don't generate. That also makes the packaging
>cheaper, ie not _constant_. The sx might be a deal if it is priced at
Packaging is a constant in the price of the chip. It's just a
different constant for the sx and dx.
>less than half of the dx.
>What I want to know is why? Why did Intel do such a silly thing? Didn't
>they realize that people would see through this ploy? Maybe they were
>trying to see how many new customers would fall for this new _deal_.
>One final note.. Watch out for the systems that let you expand your 486sx cpu.
>This requires you to put a whole new processor in. Why didn't you just
>purchase the better processor in the first place? And btw, you don't
>get to take the old processor out and sell it to recoupe the cost of the
>new one. The old cpu ends up being a space heater. What a _deal_. I
>hope some day Intel will let me pay even more money for less features.
>>The SX is a bargain, the 487DX is a rip-off.
>If you think so then buy it. I'll buy the dx.
Right now I'm buying a 486SX/25 board for only $220. It puts the sx in
a ZIF socket so you can remove it easily. By changing some jumpers on
the board, you can insert in up to a 486DX2/66. I get an initial low
cost and expandibility later if I need it.
Todd Walk
walk@mrcnext.cso.uiuc.edu