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From: kirsch@ux.acs.umn.edu (Dave Kirsch)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.ps2.hardware
Subject: Re: 268 to 386SX upgrades
Keywords: 286 386SX upgrade
Message-ID: <2909@ux.acs.umn.edu>
Date: 15 Dec 90 01:55:31 GMT
References: <516@norvax.UUCP>
Reply-To: kirsch@ux.acs.umn.edu (Dave Kirsch)
Followup-To: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Organization: University of Minnesota
Lines: 47

In article <516@norvax.UUCP> leroy@norvax.UUCP (Todd LeRoy) writes:
>I am looking for a product to upgrade IBM PS/2 Model 50Z and 60 computers
>to 386SX (or higher) level so that they can run 386 specific software.  If
>anyone is aware of such a product, I would appreciate it if they would send
>E-mail directly to me at uunet!norvax!leroy.  Thanks.

  I thought I'd post this since it will probably be of interest to many owners
of Microchannel PS/2 286 machines. (i.e. Model 50, 50Z, 60, etc.) 

  MPM (Memory Products and More) is advertising a 'Micromaster 386' board for 
the aforementioned PS/2 machines. Basically, it looks like an AOX bus master 
board to upgrade your machine to a 386. The board will allow up to 8 megs 
worth of on-board memory, and supposedly will take advantage of any existing 
16-bit memory you currently have installed. It has a 387 coprocessor slot. 

  I'm only passing along this information; I haven't called these guys myself,
but will do so in a few days. It seems as if your main limitations after 
installing this would be the following: 
(1) No 32-bit slots for expansion if for some reason you want to put in a 
    fancy board in the future. 
(2) If you've got a Model 50 with the old 20 meg hard drive, your hard drive 
    is gonna be a *serious* bottleneck in your system. (Yes, I'm talking about
    the ones with the 80 ms. access time.) You might just wanna junk your 20 
    meg HD and invest in a 100 meg+ HD.  

  Unfortunately, I don't have any pricing information. This product has been 
advertised to resellers and the like in Computer Reseller News for a while 
now; I don't know if it has made it into the 'normal' industry mags yet (i.e. 
Infoworld, PCWeek, etc.) If you want to contact MPM, they've listed three 800
numbers in their ad - however, be forewarned that they may be looking to speak
to resellers. 
 
               East Coast  1-800-899-4676
               West Coast  1-800-222-8861 
               Mid-West    1-800-966-4676 
                 (ask for extension 347 at each of these numbers) 

  If this does what it says, it could be a nice little example of what 
Microchannel can do. (Yes, I know similar products are out for some normal 
PCs, but I haven't seen any totally stable ones yet.) Please try calling the 
phone # before deluging me with mail - like I said, I'm only passing along 
information from the advertisement.  

Dave Kirsch 
kirsch@ux.acs.umn.edu
".. so, like, if you were in outer space and you blew your wad, would it go 
  on for infinity?"  - Billy, in 'Patti Rocks'