Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!apple!voder!pyramid!hplabs!hp-pcd!hpsgpa!plim
From: plim@hpsgpa.HP.COM (Peter Lim)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: How good are these 386 mail order companies??
Message-ID: <340014@hpsgpa.HP.COM>
Date: 8 Nov 89 09:09:58 GMT
References: <48@bucsb.UUCP>
Organization: HP Singapore IC Design Ctr
Lines: 44

Don't know anything about the mail order companies you listed.
I write just to say "Beware when people claim true 25 mhz". A few
days ago I just bought a 386-25 Mhz motherboard (true 25 mhz) for
about the same price. After I wrote them the check, I got a receipt
with the system item list printed. One of the lines said "25 mhz
system board (20 Mhz CPU)". What happened was: the 386 CPU is a 20 mhz
rated unit, but the chipset is 25 mhz rated. And they wanted a few
more hundred bucks if I want a 25 mhz CPU. Anyway, I gave the 20 mhz
CPU a chance to prove itself (using 8 MB of 100 ns RAM, talk about
pushing the chips ! :-)). I told them I'll be back if the thing can't
run 25 Mhz.

So far, after running two days of burn-in with some real nasty test 
programs, the system runs 25 MHz with interleaved memory beautifully 
and every part in the system is real cool (really ! I can't feel any 
part heating up a single bit at all) ! 

I can't quite remember the name of the mother board (some Taiwanese
clone). But the distinct feature is it is highly integrated using
8 VLSI chips. E-mail me if you want more detail, but I doubt if you
can get the same thing in the States (I'm in Singapore).

So, the moral is "Take vendor's claim with a pinch of salt". Must
say I was lucky so far.........


> One other thing... is there a difference between the power supply 
> connectors on an XT board vs. AT/386 board?  If so, please describe it.
> 

As far as I know, no difference. But don't quote me :-).


Regards,
Peter Lim.
HP Singapore IC Design Center.

      E-mail address:              plim@hpsgwg
      Snail Mail address:          Peter Lim
                                   Hewlett Packard Singapore,
                                   (ICDS, ICS)
                                   1150, Depot Road,
                                   Singapore   0410.
      Telephone:                   (065)-279-2289