Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!virtech!gale From: gale@virtech.uucp (Gale A. Botwick) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware Subject: Re: Building a cheap AT system, any advice? Message-ID: <1991Jun14.031009.27872@virtech.uucp> Date: 14 Jun 91 03:10:09 GMT References: Organization: Sequel Technologies Lines: 42 garrik@valnet.UUCP (Eric C. Garrison) writes: >Hello, >I am looking into upgrading my system, as I am currently >struggling along with a PC-1 (8086, 2 floppy 5 1/4", CGA >and monitor, 1200 baud modem, Epson MX80III printer and >parallel card). >I'd like to go to an 80286 processor, 40+ meg hard drive >cheaply. So far, the best (cheapest) I can find by going >through a mail-order place is by getting a bare bones >286 machine (case, motherboard w/ 1 meg mem, 200W power supply) >for $275, and a 30 meg hard drive with controller for $250, >cannibalizing all other parts from my present machine. >Is this the way to go? >> That's not a bad price, but what are you really getting? Look >> for a system that has a Chips & Technologies chipset on the >> motherboard with either a C&T or AMI BIOS. Depending on the >> type of hard drive, you might want to go with a Kyocera 40MB >> IDE drive which will save you money on the controller portion. >> I don't recommend either Seagate or Western Digital hard drives. >> Many people can argue with me on this, but I've seen many of >> them fail after 3 months of operation. If you want an MFM or RLL >> hard drive, I recommend the Mitsubishi 40MB/60MB. >Also, the company I am thinking of buying from is USA Electronics, >does anyone know of a reason not to order from them? >any advice would be appreciated! >Eric >Eric C. Garrison I don't have a sig. >garrik@valnet.uucp CompSci BBS +1 812 876-4407 >Only Eric C. Garrison is responsible for the contents of this article. >()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()() -- Gale A. Botwick Software Engineering Resources, Inc. uunet!virtech!gale (703)830-5034