Xref: utzoo comp.os.cpm:3486 rec.ham-radio.packet:3521 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!hydra!jta From: jta@hydra.Jpl.Nasa.Gov (Jon T. Adams) Newsgroups: comp.os.cpm,rec.ham-radio.packet Subject: Re: CP/M sofware for packet radio and TCP/IP Keywords: Cheap PCs Message-ID: <1990Apr10.151113.15149@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Date: 10 Apr 90 15:11:13 GMT References: <1798@aurora.AthabascaU.CA> <21863@bellcore.bellcore.com> <1310@swbatl.sbc.com> <10080@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu> Sender: Jon T. Adams Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California Lines: 62 In article <10080@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu> payne@tcgould.tn.cornell.edu (Andrew Payne) writes: >In article <1310@swbatl.sbc.com> ammrk@swbatl.UUCP (Mike R. Kraml) writes: >>In article <21863@bellcore.bellcore.com> karn@jupiter.bellcore.com (Phil R. Karn) writes: >>>clone pricing and availability to make me wonder why anybody would still >>>be interested in CP/M. With XT clone boards having bottomed out at $60 > ^^^ > > This item joggled my memory about a question I've been meaning to >ask for a while. What's the smallest PC system configuration you can get >away with? I had in mind: motherboard, drive controller, drive, power >supply, and any necessary packet I/O boards. No display card, display, >keyboard. > Motivation being setting up a dedicated packet switch. It sure >would be cheaper than outfitting a full system and would be less power >hungry. > I know my BIOS would balk right away at no display and keyboard, but >I was wondering if anyone had tried such a configuration? >... >Andrew C. Payne, N8KEI UUCP: ...!cornell!batcomputer!payne Our group in the Los Angeles / Southern California area has been building up low-cost PCs for packet switching nodes for the last year or so. Being in SoCal, the land of the cheap clone and 100000000000000000 Chinese computer vendors, there's quite a good selection of components at cheap prices. And, if the stuff doesn't work right, the vendors are usually local. Anyway, a 10MHz XT mother board w/ 0k RAM can be had for as little as $53; I've even seen a few 12MHz boards for $50, but that's a rarity. RAM costs about $1.70 per chip for 256-10 stuff, sometimes a bit more. Nine of those get you the minimum 256k RAM; eighteen are preferable. Power supplies new are $25 to $35; an old (but fully working) 65 watt supply may be as little as $10. Cases are 10 to 20 bucks, new maybe 25. Monochrome boards are 15 to 20. Dual port serial cards (if you plan on using your standard external TNC2 modem) are as little as $10 with one port stuffed, or 18 to 20 with both ports stuffed. Most BIOSes that I have seen don't require a keyboard for proper operation; the majority of them will beep and imform you of a system error but will merrily go onward and continue to boot. If you set the switches on the motherboard for an EGA video display, the AMI BIOSes (at least) will happily work without a display board. So, let's add up what it would cost (on the average ) for a very basic PC if purchased on any given Saturday at the Chinese computer Show. 10MHz XT board w/BIOS and 0k RAM : $58 256k RAM : $19 Power Supply and Case : $40 Dual-Port Serial Card : $19 total : $136 Oh, add six bucks for the admission fee; add a few bucks for gas and parking, and driving time... Then, if you want me to get this stuff for you, add my commission and the total will be about $35,000 @:)... Adios and 73 - Jon -- Jon Trent Adams, NW6H | "Amateur Radio isn't Everything; JTA@hydra.jpl.nasa.gov | It's the ONLY thing..." - JTA These are just OPINIONS, ok?!? | Ladies! >Single homeowner w/convertible< "Shove it into RUN-8 and we'll see what this baby can do!" - JTA