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From: jporter@twaddle.dell.com (Jeff Porter)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: 287 in a 386-33 system?
Message-ID: <15285@uudell.dell.com>
Date: 19 Feb 91 14:00:55 GMT
References: <1991Feb19.080902.21887@amd.com>
Sender: news@uudell.dell.com
Reply-To: jporter@twaddle.dell.com (Jeff Porter)
Organization: Dell Computer Corp.
Lines: 22

In article <1991Feb19.080902.21887@amd.com>, indra@brahms.amd.com (Indra Singhal) writes:
|> Do 386 machines have a socket that allow using a 287?
|> 
|> For a 33 Mhz 386 machine, what speed 287 should be used?
|> 
|> Thanks!
|> 
|> --
|> iNDRA | indra@amd.com or {ames apple uunet}!amd!indra
|>       | (Indra Singhal) (408) 749-5445; Advanced Micro Devices
|>       | MS 167; Box 3453; 901, Thompson Pl., Sunnyvale, CA 94088

I won't say that it's not possible, but I will say that it is very difficult
to put a 80287 in a 80386-33 design.  The 287 was used in some of the early
386-based machines before the 387 became available, but I seriously doubt that
there are any 33 MHz 386s with a socket for a 287.  Most 386-33s will have
a socket for a 387 and/or Weitek coprocessor.  (The only way to get a 287
to work in a 33 Mhz system would be to drastically slow down the clock during
coprocessor cycles, a tricky engineering task.)

Jeff Porter
jporter@twaddle.dell.com