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From: rice@ecn.purdue.edu (Ken Rice)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: 386SX Motherboards
Keywords: IBM 386 SX MOTHERBOARD
Message-ID: <1991Jun21.093246@ecn.purdue.edu>
Date: 21 Jun 91 13:32:46 GMT
References: <1991Jun13.040657.14550@nntp-server.caltech.edu> <1991Jun14.031312.27960@virtech.uucp>
Sender: root@noose.ecn.purdue.edu (ECN System Management)
Reply-To: rice@ecn.purdue.edu (Ken Rice)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Lines: 74

In article <1991Jun14.031312.27960@virtech.uucp>, gale@virtech.uucp
(Gale A. Botwick) writes:
|> jlow@nntp-server.caltech.edu (J. Alan Low) writes:
|> 
|> >I'm interested in purchasing a 386 SX motherboard.  I'll probably be
buying
|> >one of those "bare bones" systems which consist of only the
motherboard, a
|> >power supply and a case.  I already have a standard IBM running an
NEC V20
|> >processor and a CGA, and I hope to put all of this stuff into the
386.  
|> 
|> >So I flipped through the THICK June issue of Computer Shopper and
found so
|> >lots of advertisements for 386SX motherboards.  LOTS of ads.  Prices
range
|> >from $340 all the way up to $380 for 16 and 20 MHz boards.  Case and
power
|> >supply adds about another $100.  
|> 
|> >I haven't bought any PC equipment in over 2 years now, and I have no
idea who
|> >is a reputable dealer.  I also have no idea what the difference is
between 
|> >these boards (if any).  Are some of them faster?  Better built?  
|> 
|> >> The difference between mother boards these days seems to be
compatibility.
|> >> You're pretty safe if you can go with a Chips & Technology chipset
with
|> >> either a C&T or AMI BIOS.  Make sure that it has been "burned in"
and
|> >> that there are warranties, etc.  You might want to try Pioneer out
of 
|> >> CA.

I purchased a DataExpert 386SX motherboard at the Dayton Hamfest in
April.
It uses the OPTI chipset and AMI bios.  I have not had the first
problem
with compatibility so far.  I have run a lot of different software,
including
Desqview and QEMM under MSDOS 3.21.  The ONLY gripe I have, so far, is
that
the manual that came with it does not explain the AMI bios options at
all.
It merely gives you the possibilities - no explanation as to what those
possibilities will do to you.  If anyone has info on these options, I
would
love to have some Email from you.

|> 
|> >If anyone has any suggestions as to who I should buy from, PLEASE
e-mail
|> >me or post.  
|> 
|> >jlow@tybalt.caltech.edu
|> 
|> >- J. Alan Low
|> 
|> >P.S.  Do any of you know of a good Super VGA (1024 x 768) monitor
that ALSO
|> >      accepts NTSC signals (for use with a VCR)?
|> -- 
|> Gale A. Botwick			Software Engineering Resources, Inc.
|> uunet!virtech!gale		(703)830-5034

--

	rice@orchestra.ecn.purdue.edu			...!pur-ee!rice
	Ken Rice, Computer Maintenance Engineer
	Engineering Computer Network, Electrical Engineering Department
	Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana  47907