Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!rutgers!mit-eddie!media-lab.media.mit.edu!masaru
From: masaru@media-lab.media.mit.edu.MEDIA.MIT.EDU (Masaru Sugai)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: NeXT & Sample 68040
Keywords: 68040 sample next
Message-ID: <5734@media-lab.media.mit.edu.MEDIA.MIT.EDU>
Date: 26 Apr 91 14:06:17 GMT
References: <47940@ut-emx.uucp>
Reply-To: masaru@media-lab.media.mit.edu (Masaru Sugai)
Organization: MIT Media Lab, Cambridge MA
Lines: 33

In article <47940@ut-emx.uucp> timbur@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Tim Burnett) writes:
>During an interesting conversation with a fellow NeXTer, he brought out the
>fact that when he opened his slab to add more memory, he noticed that
>the 68040 was a "sample" chip. He had ordered his slab about a week after
>mine (November of 1990), so I figured I might have the same thing. Sure
>enough, my 68040 is a "sample" chip.
I ordered in mid-October and got one on February 8. I opened up my slab
that day to see if it carried a special 040 on it, and found a hand-written
black letter 'S' by a huge heat sink. Also I didn't know the manufacturer
of 400MB HD until I run into the log file, as it is armored with dark green
plastic cover.

>What does this mean? I'm not sure. People with more technical background
>than mine might know. I have heard that the 68040 "sample" does not have
>the same mask as the final. I can't comment on what differences that makes.
 I'm not sure NeXT use the sample editons in the recently shipped NeXTs, but
I'm also curious about their technical changes including motherboard.

>If the "sample" chip is no different than the final chip, then I have no real
>problem. If however, this chip has faults that were fixed at a later date,
>then I feel that I have been defrauded.
 I had had a deep concern when 'atan' bug was discussed a few month ago :(
I don't care if NeXT uses samples as long as their defects show up within the
warranty term. That accounts for most of the reason I never turn off my slab.

 To be fair, there has been NO hardware problem over four months.  But I would
be relieved to have a special warranty if the said samples had inherent defects
just in case. (I believe most manufactures have such policy similar to 'recall')
  
-- 
-- Masaru Sugai:Use disclaimer. CIS 72050,2141:NeXT + A3000 = money-eater
NEC Corporation:sugai@ccs.mt.nec.co.jp DORMANT:hardwired logic,machine language
MIT R.Affiliate:masaru@media-lab.media.mit.edu:  "Silicon on Sapphire" by CLASH