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From: cem@intelca.UUCP (Chuck McManis)
Newsgroups: net.micro.amiga
Subject: Re: Re: COMSPEC ... Warning: Somewhat commercial
Message-ID: <199@intelca.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 28-Jan-86 11:38:09 EST
Article-I.D.: intelca.199
Posted: Tue Jan 28 11:38:09 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Feb-86 02:34:18 EST
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Organization: Intel, Santa Clara, Ca.
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>  
>    Let's see...  2Meg = 72 256K rams @ $2.50 each -  180.00
>                  Support chips (liberal)          -   40.00
>                  PC board and case                -   25.00
>  for a total of $245 manufacturing cost.  Given a 3 to 1 markup (not
> atypical) that's a cost of about $750 that I would expect to see.  $1500
> for 2Meg with current chip costs is a rip-off!
>            Mike Farren
>            uucp: {your favorite backbone site}!hplabs!well!farren
>            Fido: Sci-Fido, Fidonode 125/84, (415)655-0667

Mike, consider the area they are trying to put the 72 ram chips into,
assuming it fits along the side of the Amiga we are talking some Dense
circuity. This in turn would suggest a multilayer board (say 8) and 
some very expensive CAD time. If my experience with building PCBs is
any guide they are probably looking at $300 - $600 *per* bare PC board.
The only boards you can get for $25 each in large quantities (and we
are talking >10,000 here) are double sided without out too many holes.
(board manufactures charge by Area, Layers, and Holes, and then add in
 a one time 'tooling' charge.) The Rams alone need 1,296 holes. If
they try to save layers they might try some sort of piggy back scheme
but there you are trading manufacturing complexity for board complexity.
I also notice you didn't mention the cost of assembly (was that part of
the 3:1 markup?) which would be significant. I would guess these boards
cost *them* $750, if not more.

--Chuck

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