Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!think!husc6!harvard!adelie!axiom!linus!sid
From: sid@linus.UUCP (Sid Stuart)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: Questions on Compaq 286
Message-ID: <301@linus.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 21-Sep-86 08:27:15 EDT
Article-I.D.: linus.301
Posted: Sun Sep 21 08:27:15 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 22-Sep-86 21:02:49 EDT
Reply-To: sid@sandy.UUCP ()
Distribution: net
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, Bedford, MA
Lines: 28


I got sucked into working on my girlfriend's Compaq 286 computers, and there
are some differences between it and other AT clones that I don't quite
understand. I was hoping that someone on the net could and would enlighten me.

	1. The Compaq appears to have a hard disk controller that is separate
from the floppy controller. I need to buy another controller. I have
seen controller boards for PC's, but not for AT's. Can I get another board
from a third party vender, or do I need to go to Compaq?

	2. The memory for the system appears to be kept on an  Magnum expansion
board. Or at least 512K of it is. On one system with 512K, the expansion
board, which has 8 rows of 9 chipholders, is filled with 64K chips, great,
that adds up to 512K. On another system that has 640K the expansion board
has two rows of 256K chips. Wait, that only adds up to 512K. Where is the
extra 128K coming from? is it mounted on the mother board? and if so, why
don't I see it on the first system which also has 512K on the expansion board?


	3. Is there are hardware reference manual, other than the worthless
one shipped with the system, that would explain this beast in more detail?
If so do you have an order number for it in case the salesman does not
know what he is doing? 


				Hoping for enlightenment,

				sid@linus