Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!bu.edu!encore!xenna!elliot
From: elliot@xenna.encore.com (Elliot Mednick)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Why buy a DX over an SX?
Message-ID: <14534@encore.Encore.COM>
Date: 9 Apr 91 19:59:29 GMT
Sender: news@Encore.COM
Reply-To: elliot@encore.com
Organization: Encore Computer Corp.
Lines: 24
Nntp-Posting-Host: xenna.encore.com

Ok, so we have beaten to death the differences between a 386SX and a 386DX.
What I would like to know is what to the big attraction of a DX which seems
to cost $200 more (without cache).  What does the 32-bit interface buy you?
Certainly not CPU performance.  I did some checking and got these SI (5.0)
numbers:

CPU      SI (5.0)   Comments
---      --------   --------
286-16   12.3       My trusty 286
386SX-20 12.8       A friend's system; claims that sometimes it is 15
386DX-20 12.4       C&T, AMI, 2MB 80ns, interleaved, no wait states, no cache
386DX-25 15.5       Not the same system as above, but same coniguration

I was under the impression that DX boards (without cache) really scream.
I have heard claims of up to 24 SI, w/out cache.  What am I missing?
Either 1) I've tested out cheap DX boards, or 2) I'm comparing SI 5.0
to SI 4.5.  Someone please set me straight before I shell out $$$ for a DX.

(No, I am not running Unix, but I am running Windows [because I have to]).

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