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From: cullip@sargent.cs.unc.edu (Timothy Cullip)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.misc,comp.sys.amiga.emulations
Subject: Re: 486SX
Message-ID: <3645@borg.cs.unc.edu>
Date: 3 May 91 12:10:56 GMT
References: <1991May2.212247.12525@dartvax.dartmouth.edu>
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In article <1991May2.212247.12525@dartvax.dartmouth.edu> abs0@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Kelvin Leung) writes:
>
>  I have heard that Intel might release 486SX.  If C= is still going to
>release a 386 Bridgecard, I think they should forget the idea and start
>developing a 486SX BB NOW!    
>
>Don't you agree?
>
>(after all, if they start now, they might be able to release it before
>586SX machines floods in the market... 8^>  )
>
>-- Kelvin Leung
>=======================================================
>Kelvin  /  Internet: abs0@eleazar.dartmouth.edu
>  Leung/     or    : kelvin.leung@dartmouth.edu
>=======================================================

I don't want to start an "I hate Intel thread" here, but I just can't
resist giving my impressions of the 486SX.  Intel sells the standard
486DX chip for about $500.  The SX is in fact a DX, but with the floating
point unit turned off (i.e. it's on the chip, but disabled so it's just 
as expensive to produce) but sells it for about $250. Kind of gives you 
an idea of the profit margin on the DX.

Also, Intel produces a 487SX so that if later on you decide you need
floating point you can have it.  But the 487SX retails for about $800,
so the combination 486SX and 487SX is twice as expensive as the 486DX.
But do you know what's in the 487SX: an entire 486DX.  When installed
it disables (can you believe this) the 486SX and acts just like a
486DX.  So without the 487SX you have a crippled 486, with the 487SX
you have two 486's but one is completely disabled.

To me, it sounds like the marketing people at Intel have gone off the
deep end. Or maybe they are just laughing all the way to the bank.

Tim Cullip
cullip@cs.unc.edu

-- 

   Tim Cullip
   cullip@cs.unc.edu