Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!mips!ptimtc!nntp-server.caltech.edu!gwoho
From: gwoho@nntp-server.caltech.edu (g liu)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: 486SX - Intel now telling lies
Message-ID: <1991May31.065324.15841@nntp-server.caltech.edu>
Date: 31 May 91 06:53:24 GMT
References: <9105241448.AA14412@iecc.cambridge.ma.us> <1991May25.192449.27061@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu> <1991May29.191233.18863@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu> <1991May29.212337.7684@thyme.jpl.nasa.gov>
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Lines: 43

>>>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.  

it is not clear to me that they can make a profit selling 486 for $250.
1. it could be that they are not making a profit selling a 486sx for $250, they
    could be only trying to kill amd.
2. it could be that they sell 486s that do not pass fp tests or 25mhz, but
    20mhz test as 486sx. i imagine they have as many defective chips as
    good chips.

>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.

if i had a choice between a 386-33 or a 486sx, i'd chose the 486sx because:
   1.  they are about the same speed. perhaps the 486 is a little slower
      because the software i'm running will bust the cache often.
   2.  i imagine it would be safer to run a 486sx at 30 mhz than a 386 at
      50 mhz. i would not doubt that the 486sx is make with the same
     process as the 486-33. and only the fp test failed.
   3.  the 486sx at $250 would be cheeper than a 386-33, i think.

>The opinions expressed above are strictly my own.

>--