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From: scott@mcs-server.gac.edu (Scott Hess)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: Why not '030 slabs?
Message-ID: <SCOTT.90Nov19182319@mcs-server.gac.edu>
Date: 20 Nov 90 00:23:19 GMT
References: <MailManager.659054095.7886.lane@ssrg-next-1.stanford.edu>
Organization: Gustavus Adolphus College
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In-reply-to: lane@SUMEX-AIM.STANFORD.EDU's message of 19 Nov 90 22:34:55 GMTLines: 23

In article <MailManager.659054095.7886.lane@ssrg-next-1.stanford.edu> lane@SUMEX-AIM.STANFORD.EDU (Christopher Lane) writes:
>If the 'slab' gets delayed by Motorola 68040 chip supplies, is it feasible for
>NeXT to ship the monochrome NeXTstations with 68030's installed, along with a
>voucher for a CPU chip upgrade to '040 when available?  The clock speed on the
>current cube and new slabs is the same, as are the SIMMs.  Are the '040 and
>'030 pin compatible?  What else prevents you from replacing one with another?

I very much doubt it.  For one thing _I_ certainly don't want to be messing
around with a couple hundred dollars worth of chips . . . Also, the 040 has
a built-in MMU and FPU, which th 030 doesn't, do presumably pinouts change,
also.  Lastly, the chips are mounted directly on the motherboard - not
socketed - so only a small percentage of people would even have the
know-how to do the operation, much less the guts to charge on ahead.

Then again, it's looking more optimistic WRT getting those machines shipped
yet this month.  I suspect at least some will be . . .

--
scott hess
scott@gac.edu
Independent NeXT Developer	(Stuart)
GAC Undergrad			(Horrid.  Simply Horrid.  I mean the work!)
<I still speak for nobody>