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From: farren@well.UUCP (Mike Farren)
Newsgroups: net.micro.amiga
Subject: Re: Re: COMSPEC ... Warning: Somewhat commercial
Message-ID: <575@well.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 30-Jan-86 22:31:17 EST
Article-I.D.: well.575
Posted: Thu Jan 30 22:31:17 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Feb-86 06:44:56 EST
References: <1099@ecsvax.UUCP> <11403@watnot.UUCP> <550@well.UUCP> <199@intelca.UUCP>
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In article <199@intelca.UUCP>, cem@intelca.UUCP (Chuck McManis) writes:
> >    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, 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.
    
    First:  the area along the side of the Amiga is about 4 X 12 inches.
This is plenty of room for 72 RAMS - a larger area than the IBM PC
standard layout for cards.  Second: I don't know where you have been
buying your boards.  Those prices seem much more typical of the mil-spec
market than they do of the commercial market.

> 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.

    Submitted for your approval:  the Tall Tree JRAM boards, which cost
about $150 unstuffed, and feature a full 2M of ram.  With chips, and at
retail, approximately $600.  This is about where I expect a 2M RAM card
to be priced. Add a little more 'cause of market uncertainty of the Amiga
market, but you STILL come out at considerably under $1000...

-- 
           Mike Farren
           uucp: {your favorite backbone site}!hplabs!well!farren
           Fido: Sci-Fido, Fidonode 125/84, (415)655-0667