Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!dali.cs.montana.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!caen!sdd.hp.com!hplabs!hpcc01!hpcuhb!hpindda!hardin
From: hardin@hpindda.cup.hp.com (John Hardin)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Re: Re: Packard Bell doesn't really exist (long)
Message-ID: <51440001@hpindda.cup.hp.com>
Date: 7 Sep 90 22:02:00 GMT
References: <15162@wpi.wpi.edu>
Organization: HP Information Networks, Cupertino, CA
Lines: 23

v116kzmd@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Dave Archer) writes:

[Re:  question about why a company would solder RAM to motherboard]

> As for why they'd do it..  Probably has to do with cost.  They might claim it
> makes for a more reliable system, but that's fairly silly.  Even the cost issue
> is silly, since sockets are not exactly that expensive.  I've never even heard
> of a modern clone that had non-socketed ram chips in it.  This is perhaps
> another sign of why people keep telling me Packard Bell is not the greatest of
> companys.  
----------

I suspect the greatest savings from not using sockets comes from being
able to use auto-insertion machines to assemble the board.  Things may
have changed in recent years, but I believe socketted parts must be hand 
inserted.  If you don't use sockets, an auto-insertion machine can
put all the chips on the board and then a wave solder machine can 
solder them all in at once.  Cuts labor cost.  

John Hardin
Hewlett Packard
hardin@hpindgh.hp.com
----------