Xref: utzoo comp.sys.ibm.ps2.hardware:642 comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:8397 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!fernwood!uupsi!sunic!news.funet.fi!hydra!klaava!cc.helsinki.fi!tmottonen From: tmottonen@cc.helsinki.fi (Teemu J. M|tt|nen) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.ps2.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware Subject: Summary on SOTA 386SX processor upgrade Message-ID: <1991May5.212353.1@cc.helsinki.fi> Date: 5 May 91 19:23:53 GMT Sender: news@klaava.Helsinki.FI (Uutis Ankka) Organization: University of Helsinki Lines: 125 Hello everyone! Here's the summary I promised when I asked about SOTA Express/386 slotless upgrade. I asked: > Hello netters! > > 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. > > Thanks in advance, > Teemu. It seems that the best thing to do with non-PS/2 ATs is to get a new motherboard. The cost is about the same as for a processor upgrade. With PS/2 ATs (models 50,50Z and 60) one can gain some speed with the SOTA upgrade. The cost is around $500 for 16 MHz 386SX and $600 for 20MHz 386SX. One alternative for SOTA board is Aox Inc.'s MicroMASTER 386 line of products, versions from 20MHz to 33 MHz. The price is higher, but performance is better. You lose one slot though but with model 60 you have plenty of them :-) And here are the answers. I have done some minor editing (headers etc.). Thanks for everyone who answered! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > From: IN%"gwni@uhura.cc.rochester.edu" "G. Wayne Nichols" 18-APR-1991 05:22 > To: tmottonen@cc.Helsinki.FI > CC: > Subj: RE: info needed on SOTA 386SX upgrade board [...] > I use a SOTA 286i accelerator in my Compaq Portable, > so the basic implementation is fine. > > I don't think SOTA made an MCA version, though. > > 386i boards run about $400. > Try CompuClassics. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > From: IN%"flusekw@ucs.indiana.edu" "WILLIAM FRANKLIN FLUSEK" 18-APR-1991 05 > To: tmottonen > CC: > Subj: RE: info needed on SOTA 386SX upgrade board [...] > Hi, > > I don't have a lot of information handy on it, but I can send you a typed > copy of their information over the net if you can wait a couple of days. > One note: I have a friend who has a PS/2 model 60-071 and he was looking > seriously at the Sota board for an upgrade, but the problem was that the > board sits on the old 80286 socket and given the thickness that they quote > in their description, you would loose the use of two slots for full length, > full height cards. The only card that I have really seen that is not full > length is the PS/2 adapter for my external tape backup drive. > > One a more positive note, there is another company called Sigma Data which > has a similar product (in 16 and 20 Mhz flavors) that will not cost you a > slot (or two). They were a bit pricey until recently when the prices were > cut to $595 and $695 respectively. They also had a $100 academic discount > before, and I assume from my phone conversations with them that they still > do have it. [...] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > From: IN%"baer@uwovax.uwo.ca" "Doug Baer" 18-APR-1991 07:00:34.60 > To: tmottonen@cc.Helsinki.FI > CC: > Subj: info needed on SOTA 386SX upgrade board [...] > 1. For information on 286 to 386 upgrades in general, see the review > in the recent Byte magazine (April 91) on MicroWay and Cumulus boards. > I'm sure many of the same issues apply to the Sota board. Compatibility > could be a big problem, especially with any non-standard application. > Windows? Maybe, but some features like disk caching might have to be > turned off and special drivers might be needed. OS/2? Forget it. > Will it work on all machines? No. On many, yes, but not all. > > 2. I bought a Sota 386sx accelerator card, and then a memory board > to go with it, last year. This was a different product -- it was > for an XT. My experience was entirely disasterous. On my particular > machine, a "modification" was necessary. I ordered it after consulting > their tech support people, but the board I got wasn't properly set up. > Ended up shipping things back 2 times before I finally got a working > version. Drivers, which were promised on the tech support bulletin > board, never came. >v)QPYx$ E[ [...] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > From: IN%"tmurphy%peruvian@cs.utah.edu" 18-APR-1991 21:43:20.54 > To: tmottonen@cc.Helsinki.FI > CC: > Subj: sota sx [...] > I would not suggest getting the sota board. If you have read news again there > is a reference to pc-mag saying they aren't so big on them...I read the article > and would have to agree. The boards are in the 4-500 us dollar range and > for that price you could buy an Haupage 386sx motherboard. I would suggest > either staying with what you have or selling the old mother and buying a new. > You will get a much better product and a lot more for your money. > murph ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > From: IN%"MASCOTT@amherst.BITNET" 22-APR-1991 02:41:54.23 > To: tmottonen@cc.Helsinki.FI > CC: > Subj: info needed on SOTA 386SX upgrade board [...] > > 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. > My advice is not to bother with an upgrade board. While it may seem tempting > to do so, it will most likely turn out to be a hassle; there is a good chance > that you will face problems with this type of "kludge" at some point during the > life of the machine. Also, I have little faith in the Model 60 as a reliable > machine for the future. I have had many bad experiences with the early PS/2 > hardware. You could do the upgrade and find out 6 months later that your > motherboard has gone bad. > Theo Teemu -- Teemu Mottonen / Department of Computer Science / University of Helsinki tmottonen@cc.helsinki.fi | TMOTTONEN@FINUH | tmottone@kruuna.helsinki.fi address: Vapaalantie 26B, SF-01650 Vantaa, Finland / tel: + 358 0 844938