Xref: utzoo comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:128 comp.sys.ibm.pc:53537 Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!comp.vuw.ac.nz!am.dsir.govt.nz!dsiramd!actrix!bearcave!clear From: clear@bearcave.actrix.co.nz (Charlie Lear) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc Subject: Re: Opinion on Amstrad Computers please! Keywords: Amstrad, 2386 Message-ID: Date: 3 Jul 90 13:10:46 GMT References: <23723@uflorida.cis.ufl.EDU> Organization: The Cave BBS, Wellington, New Zealand +64(4)643429 Lines: 39 ss2@beach.cis.ufl.edu (SKS) writes: > I am thinking of purchasing an Amstrad 386 20MHZ computer ... > Also, the machine has a lot of stuff built into the motherboard > like the VGA card etc. although it provides 5 standard expansion slots. > Has this kind of configuration caused problems to anybody? I'm typing this article on a 2386 at the moment. They are very good machines with a high level of standard hardware, eg minimum configuration is 4MB of RAM, VGA and 65MB HDD in most countries. 64k static RAM cache means zero wait states, much better than most. Older machines with an early BIOS had a lot of problems related to hard disks and random lockups, however all dud BIOSes should have been replaced (wherever you are in the world) at least a year ago. Amstrad have traditionally fitted Seagate ST277R drives mounted transversely behind the two 3.5" floppy blanking plates to the right of the single 1.44 drive. They have never been too fussy about drive quality, and I have personally seen 65MB drives with up to 450k in bad sectors. The manual states "up to 1% bad sectors" is acceptable - don't take that bullsh*t! If its over 80k, its too high. Modern drives simply don't have any bad sectors, or only a few k maximum. Additionally, check the disk access time. For a long time, standard ST277R's were fitted which - believe me - are DOG SLOW in a 20MHz 386. The one I'm using is a 1990 model with an ST277R-1: allegedly 28ms but more like 33. Definitely marginal in a fast machine. Check to see if the drive is using the on-board controller or if it is disabled and using a 16-bit controller in one of the slots. Most do. > P.S. Anybody tried running OS/2 or UN*X on Amstrad machines? I haven't tried OS/2, but an English Amstrad PC magazine for May '90 had a "how-to" on installing an Amstrad-specific version of SCO-Xenix. I made enquiries but the product seems to be UK-only - ask locally. Regards Charlie "The Bear" Lear