Xref: utzoo comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:7773 comp.sys.ibm.ps2.hardware:598 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!uicvm.uic.edu!u39648 Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago Date: Wednesday, 17 Apr 1991 19:41:09 CDT From: From The Mind Of Message-ID: <91107.194110U39648@uicvm.uic.edu> Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.ps2.hardware Subject: Re: info needed on SOTA 386SX upgrade board References: <1991Apr17.165958.6023@cc.helsinki.fi> > If anyone has ANY info (pricing, performance, compatibility etc.) > on SOTA Technologys SOTA Express/386 slotless accelerator upgrade > for ATs (80286) and PS/2 models 50/60, please e-mail me. I have a > model 60 and I'd like to upgrade it to a 386SX. I will summarize. The SOTA Express/386 is basically an Intel 386SX processor with a static RAM cache and a socket for a 387SX math coprocessor all on a little card that plugs into an 80286 socket. There are two versions, a 16MHz version with 16K cache, and a 20MHz version with 32K cache. Performance is not up to par with an IBM Model 55SX, which uses a 16MHz 386SX. Most lacking is graphics speed, but that's because the VGA gets no speedup at all. What does get sped-up is the actual computations, so spreadsheets calc faster, spell checkers work faster, etc. The 16MHz version seems to perform better than a 12MHz 80286, and not quite the performance of a 16MHz 386SX. I've heard the 20MHz version performs around the same as a mainstream 16MHz 386SX clone. I saw the 16MHz version advertised locally for $425. Note that you also need an adapter, that runs from $50 to $75. It works with IBM PS/2 Models 50, 50Z, and 60. It does NOT work on the Model 30-286. (I'm unsure of 25-286 compatibility, but my best guess is no.) It runs Windows in 386 enhanced mode with no problems. It also will allow the computer to use all 386-specific software, such as BlueMAX. So you can use all those neat memory management programs with it. It seems like a perfect product, but to be honest, I think $500+ is a bit steep for not-quite 16MHz 386 performance. - Darius ========================================================================= BITNET: U39648@UICVM | "I'd rather laugh with the sinners Internet: u39648@uicvm.uic.edu | than cry with the saints, ====================================| the sinners are much more fun, "Don't set fire to strangers." | and only the good die young." - Mr. Zarniwoop | - Billy Joel