Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!lll-winken!uunet!pmafire!rickf From: rickf@pmafire.inel.gov (rick furniss) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc Subject: Re: Gateway 2000 Drops Prices Again! Message-ID: <1990Dec13.074211.17504@pmafire.inel.gov> Date: 13 Dec 90 07:42:11 GMT References: Sender: Rick Furniss Organization: WINCO Lines: 82 >In article >clong@remus.rutgers.edu (Captain Trott) writes: > > [Describing the latest prices on a 486 system from Gateway 2000] > > 25 MHz 486 > 8 Meg RAM > 64K RAM cache > Weitek socket > 3.5 & 5.25 floppies > Windows 3.0 & MS mouse > 1024 SVGA board & monitor > Fujitsu keyboard > 200 MB hard drive > MS-DOS 3.3 or 4.01 > Toll free technical support. > 1 year on site service. > > $3995! <- NOT a typo. > >Frankly, this price is so low -- and so far below prices for similar >systems from other vendors of equivalent reputation -- that I can't >help wondering if there isn't something wrong with the system. I have >tried calling Gateway several times and have been unable to get >through so I am posting some questions about the system to the net. > >Does anyone know anything more about the motherboard in this system >(manufacturer, BIOS, etc.)? In particular, does it support the 486 >burst mode (see below)? Also, does anyone know about the caching >algorithm and how well, or poorly, it works with the internal cache >and possible burst mode operation? > REST DELETED ******************************* I purchased a 33-386 ASCI machine from them 45 days ago, and because of the price drops got them to send me a 486 upgrade for $225. The board they send: Micronics 25-486 64k external cache, Phoenix BIOS Plus V0.10.F8 version 1. The date in rom using debug -d f000:fff5 says 1/15/88 !!! The problem: I,m running SCO Unix V.3.2 2 , and after installing the 486 board, Unix double panics, displays a red raster, and locks up. I have a dos partition installed, and dos seems to work fine. I get the symbol names like tss.386 etc etc etc errors and final 0E trap if I boot using the com1 port (systty=1). It appears I,m unable to disable shadow ram, which there are switchs for without getting memory data line errors starting about f80000. Tech person at Gateways states you cant do it, even though there are switchs. I suspect it has something to do with the external cache, but disableing all caches dosent fix it ? Anyone out there have a Gateway 486 running SCO Unix 3.2 2 ??? Is it known that a Gateway 486 runs SCO Unix ? If so, what bios, problems did you encounter ? I dont know if the board supports the burst mode you mention, and the book sent with the board is not detailed enough to mention it either. I have purchased about 10 systems from Gateway and make these comments. Gateway uses name brand, high performance, compatable, cards, disks, etc. I,ve never had a compatibility problem till the 486 board. I suspect they sent me an older chip set 486, and older BIOS roms, not realizing I run Unix. A telcon today with support at Gateway devuldged they have been going through many ROM bios updates lateley. Gateway has not released a 33-486 system, and I,m not sure they will soon. They stated thier 486 will NOT run Unix Open Desktop ! My problem isnt resolved yet, as I was to re-install Unix, but alas get the same problem once the install Unix kernel boots. For what you get thier prices are tuff to beat. They have grown soo rapidly reaching them is sometime hard, but once you get through they take care of you. For Unix users I can recommend thier 386 systems for sure, but dont know about thier 486's yet. Rick Furniss Views are my own only , and not related to My employer in anyway.! rickf@pmafire.inel.gov rickf@servprod.inel.gov rlf@inel.gov