Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.ircc.ohio-state.edu!news From: smsmith@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu (Stephen M. Smith) Newsgroups: comp.sys.intel Subject: Re: 287 on a 386 machine Message-ID: <1991Jan9.180643.14310@magnus.ircc.ohio-state.edu> Date: 9 Jan 91 18:06:43 GMT References: <1991Jan9.004654.21586@research.canon.oz.au> Sender: news@magnus.ircc.ohio-state.edu Organization: The Ohio State University (IRCC) Lines: 25 Nntp-Posting-Host: hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu graeme@research.canon.oz.au (Graeme Wong See) writes: > >I was recently in a computer store where I saw a brochure for a 386 >motherboard (can't remember if it was a DX or SX motherboard) from Taiwan. >In the specs under coprocessors it says that it can take either a 287 >or a 387 maths coprocessor. Is this at all possible with either a DX or SX? >Perhaps it is a typo but any clarification on the matter will be helpful. Over Christmas break I rented a 386 computer with this very configuration. When the sales rep told me it had a 287 installed I attempted to correct him by saying that he must mean a *387*, but he said that it did in fact have a *287* on board because the motherboard was socketed for both the 287 and the 387. When I got the computer home I opened it up and sure enough, there was the rectangular 287 on the motherboard and there was a square socket for a 387 to be added as well. I don't know how the 386 chip uses the 287--perhaps this can only be done on a 386sx (I don't remember if this computer was an SX or a DX-20). The motherboard was a *Mylex* believe it or not! S. "Stevie" Smith \ + / ,,@ ircc.ohio-state. \ + / {7%*@,..":27g)-=,#*:.#,/6&1*.4-,l@#9:-) " edu> \ + / BTW, WYSInaWYG \ + / --witty.saying.ARC