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From: tpmonai@mars.lerc.nasa.gov (Lee Monai (ANALEX))
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Re: REPLACING 286 MOTHERBOARD WITH 386
Message-ID: <1991Jun20.191925.7999@eagle.lerc.nasa.gov>
Date: 20 Jun 91 19:03:10 GMT
References: <1991Jun14.220911.17522@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu> <1991Jun19.013752.26358@uvm.edu> <1991Jun20.095215.15593@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu>
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>>      Ok, I have one for you all then.  Idon't know a whole lot about the
>>inside stuff in these silicon creatures, but I have a question.  I have
>>an old IBM XT compatible.  What is the easiest, CHEAPEST way for me to
>>upgrade to a 386 system short of buying a whole new system?  I've got a
>>modem hard and floppy drives, a VGA monitor and card, and a printer.  I'd
>>like to salvage everything, even the stuff on the drive if not the drive
>>itself if possible.  What can I salvage, and what will I loose?  How would
>>I go about starting this project?  How much will it cost?  
> 
>The cheapest way is to buy a baby 386 motherboard which will fit your XT case.
>Your power supply may need to be upgrade, though.
> 

Easier but not cheaper solution is to buy a "bare bones" system.
This will give you a new power supply, motherboard and case.  Then,
all you gotta do to get some new memory chips, swap in the drives and
cards, plug in the keyboard and monitor, and away you go.

Of course, the keyboard from the XT ain't gonna work to well (if at all)
so you gotta spend about $100 for an enhanced keyboard.

As for prices, try looking at a copy of COMPUTER SHOPPER or other PC
mag, get some numbers and call around.  Lots of mail-order places
have 800 numbers. 

LEE A. MONAI ...TPMONAI@MARS.LERC.NASA.GOV...ANALEX CORPORATION
(216) 977-0057...............................Brook Park, OH
"Opinions expressed are mine and do not represent my employers"