Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!clyde.concordia.ca!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!watserv1!ria!uwovax!baer
From: baer@uwovax.uwo.ca
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Sota 286i and 386i Accelerator Cards
Message-ID: <5421.260512c2@uwovax.uwo.ca>
Date: 19 Mar 90 22:11:29 GMT
References: <1990Mar19.003132.29661@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu>
Lines: 32

In article <1990Mar19.003132.29661@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu>, gec@cscosl.ncsu.edu (Errol Casey) writes:
> I am interested in collecting comments on either of these IBM PC
> accelerator cards (Sota 286i / 386i).
> 
> Questions:
> 
> (1)  Can you add additional memory to the accelerator card? How much.
  - The accelerator card itself uses the mother board's 8-bit memory
    I don't know about the 286i, but the 386i uses a 16k cache to 
    speed throughput.   The 8-bit memory is a bit of a bottleneck,
    but the card will speed up many operations.  You can buy a 16-bit
    memory card that attaches to the accelerator card, though.  It
    can be populated with up to 4mB.  
> (2)  Does the 386 use a 386 or 386sx? Does it come with 32bit memory?
    386sx.   16-bit memory, of course
> (3)  Any compatiblity problems?
   Many machines require special adjustments ("fixes") to the board.
   For example, the off-the-shelf board and/or the memory card will
   not work with a Zenith, but with the addition of some soldered wires
   and the odd capacitor or resistor the card works fine.  Phone Sota
   first and ask if a "fix" is needed for your machine; distributors
   usually don't know about this.
> 
   A few minor glitches.  Anyone interested in details, send me an 
  e-mail message (BAER@UWO.ca or BAER@UWOVAX.BITNET) and I'll send
  along more details of my own experiences (see my previous posting).

>                                                                    
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Douglas Baer,  Dept. of Sociology,
University of Western Ontario, London, Canada N6A 5C2
Internet: BAER@UWO.CA    Bitnet: BAER@UWOVAX