Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!thyme!kaleb
From: kaleb@thyme.jpl.nasa.gov (Kaleb Keithley)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: 486SX - Intel now telling lies
Message-ID: <1991May29.212337.7684@thyme.jpl.nasa.gov>
Date: 29 May 91 21:23:37 GMT
References: <9105241448.AA14412@iecc.cambridge.ma.us> <1991May25.192449.27061@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu> <1991May29.191233.18863@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu>
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
Lines: 45

In article  mig@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Meir) writes:
>In article  peter@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (Peter Wu) writes:
>>In article  johnl@iecc.cambridge.ma.us (John R. Levine) writes:
>>>In article <1991May24.152912.1601@rodan.acs.syr.edu> you write:
>>>>   I have just received email indicating a claim that the new intel 486-sx
>>>>will not be pin compatible with existing 486's.  ...
>>
>>The latest issue of PC Magazine confirms this.
>>
>>>Given the existence of the so-called 487SX, the 486SX cannot be pin
>>>compatible with a 486.  Remember that the 487SX is in fact an entire 486
>>
>>The 486sx has one extra pin than a 486dx.  That one extra pin will be
>>used to deactivate the chip.  When the 487sx is plugged in, it will
>>deactivate the 486sx and take over everything itself.  The 486sx
>
>Hmm.  I wonder if you could just buy the 487.

Considering street price for a full up 486 is about US$700-800, why
would anyone want to pay $300 for the 486SX, plus $700 for the 487SX?

Personally, I think if Intel can produce a i486, disable the FPU, and sell
it for $250, while selling a i486 without disabling the FPU for $800
(whether they call it an i486 or an i487SX is academic), that the whole 
world should punish Intel for their arrogance by refusing to buy any 
i486 product whatsoever.  

Do they think we're stupid.  

I wonder what's involved with re-enabling the FPU.  If I could buy an 
i486SX for $250, enable the FPU and sell it for $800, I would.  Wouldn't 
you?  What this whole thing really means, is that Intel can produce and 
make a profit selling a i486 at $250.  They're gouging those of us who 
buy the i486 an extra $550.  That's inexcusable.

So, don't buy an i486, buy an AMD386-40.  Buy Motorola.  Buy anything
else.  Just don't buy Intel.

The opinions expressed above are strictly my own.

-- 

Kaleb Keithley                               kaleb@thyme.jpl.nasa.gov

No flashy sig. No clever quips. No famous quotes. This space for rent.