Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!unix.cis.pitt.edu!fmgst
From: fmgst@unix.cis.pitt.edu (Filip Gieszczykiewicz)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: EISA vs ISA
Summary: clarify some points
Keywords: EISA, ISA, AT cards, etc.
Message-ID: <89696@unix.cis.pitt.edu>
Date: 9 Feb 91 06:24:32 GMT
Reply-To: fmgst@unix.cis.pitt.edu (Filip Gieszczykiewicz)
Followup-To: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Organization: The Last Jedi
Lines: 50



	Greetings. Well, after doing my homework with the Computer 
	Shopper (more posts to follow :-), I have come to the conclusion
	that it's not worth buying a 386 when you can get a 486 for ~$400
	or so more. I think that I know the following ;-) :

	1) 486/25 is about as fast/faster then a 386/33
	2) more on-motherboard memory is possible on a 486 then 386
	3) ROM shadowing and other "cute" features make a 486 even faster
	4) no need to buy a 387

	(more to follow as I do more homework :-)

	Now, what I don't know is:

	1) Cyrix and ITT claim that their 387-clones are "up to 80%"
	   faster then the Intel 80387. Is that true of the 486 also?
	   (ie. is the 387 on-board of the 486 200% SLOWER than a clone)
	2) I have heard that I can take an AT card (16-bit) and plug it
	   into the EISA buss. True? If so, will it slow down the other
	   EISA cards? (Like plugging in a MDA into a 16-bit-VGA system)
	3) Are there any EISA VGA cards out there? (Like an EISA
	   version of the ProDesigner II, or others) If so, are they faster?
	4) Is there an EISA IDE hard disk controller? I have some
	   IDE drives and I want to use them in my new system. Yes? 
	   Also, if I have to get a new drive, should I stick with SCSI-2
	   or ESDI? (I heard that SCSI-s sucks)
	5) How would I, say, add a tape backup? I realize that there are
	   2 types, one that hooks up to a floppy drive controller and one
	   that comes with its own card. (#2 applies to the second). Will
	   the EISA floppy/hard controller allow for this? (I want 1.2MB and
	   1.44MB as a base) does it have more connectors? If I get the
	   type with a card, will I be able to use it with my system?
	   (see #2)

	That's all, for now. I will archive any responses bacuse, I
	have a feeling, more people will be asking these question later
	this year or the next. 

	Please reply via e-mail.

	Take care.
	
	
-- 
_______________________________________________________________________________
"The Force will be with you, always." It _is_ with me and has been for 10 years
Filip Gieszczykiewicz  "... a Jedi does it with a mind trick... " ;-)
FMGST@PITTVMS  or  fmgst@unix.cis.pitt.edu "My ideas. ALL MINE!!"