Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!decwrl!mips!sjsca4!poffen
From: poffen@sj.ate.slb.com (Russ Poffenberger)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: 286 w/co-processor vs. 386 price/performance ???
Keywords: 286 386 co-processor
Message-ID: <1990Nov1.214732.10526@sj.ate.slb.com>
Date: 1 Nov 90 21:47:32 GMT
References: <144365@sun.Eng.Sun.COM>
Reply-To: poffen@sj.ate.slb.com (Russ Poffenberger)
Organization: Schlumberger Technologies, San Jose, CA.
Lines: 19

In article <144365@sun.Eng.Sun.COM> gchin@ssf.Eng.Sun.COM (Gary Chin) writes:
>I am looking into a system for home/small business applications.
>I was given some advice claiming that a 286 w/co-processor
>is a better buy today than getting a 386SX or a 386.  If anyone
>has any benchmark data or references, please post it.
>

A 286 processor running at the same speed as a 386SX will give comparable
results for the most part. A co-processor will only help for those math
intensive applications that know how to use it.

The big win with a 386SX is the memory management that the 286 can't even
come close to. The 386SX is functionally compatible with the 386(DX) and can
run the same protected and multitasking software (like windows in 386 mode)
that the 386 can.

Go with the 386SX, you will be happier in the long run.

Russ