Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!rutgers!uwvax!rhesus!uwmacc!hobbes!root From: root@hobbes.UUCP Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc Subject: Re: PC Clone Wanted Message-ID: <165@hobbes.UUCP> Date: Mon, 3-Aug-87 16:01:07 EDT Article-I.D.: hobbes.165 Posted: Mon Aug 3 16:01:07 1987 Date-Received: Wed, 5-Aug-87 04:27:35 EDT References: <341@mtuxo.UUCP> <257@ddsw1.UUCP> Reply-To: root@hobbes.UUCP (John Plocher) Followup-To: comp.sys.ibm.pc Organization: U of Wisconsin - Madison Spanish Department Lines: 81 These are the results of a survey I did while looking for an AT system for our department. I contacted these companies: Company Abbreviation Phone Contact Advanced Logic Research ALR 714 581-6770 American Micro Tech AMT 800 338-7110 Allen Hodjot Computer Classifieds Inc CCI 800 331-5151 Bob Capitol Micro CM 608 222-7674 Mike Integrated Micro Systems IMS 800 247-3084 Brenda (#222) CompuAdd CA 800 624 4025 Byron Kellco Kellco 800 323 3244 Greg PC'S Limited PCLtd 800 426-5150 and asked for a system which consisted of: 80286 or 80386 CPU Faster than 8 Mhz Amber Monitor Herc. compat video card 1.2Meg Floppy 360K floppy 40Meg 1/2 height hard disk Old Style AT keyboard (function keys on left side, not on top) Company CPU Speed Wait Memory Ser/Par Price Comments ------- ----- ----- ---- ------ ------- ----- ----------------------- PCltd 80386 16 0 1M Static 2/2 $4535 12 Month Service AMT 80386 16 0 1M/4M 1/2 $3395 CCI 1 80386 14.5 0 640K/3M 2/1 $3320 20 MHZ avail, 3MB=+$500 CM 80286 15 1 1M 1/1 $3200 ALR 80286 12 0 1MB (80ns) 1/2 $2695 No monitor/video or 360K Kellco 80286 12 0 1M 1/1 $3154 Includes P&H CCI 1 80286 12/6 0 640K/3M 2/1 $2820 upgd to 386 +$800 CM 80286 12 1 1M 1/1 $2700 PCltd 2 80286 12/6 0 1M 2/2 $2829 12 Month Service CA 80286 12 1 1M 1/1 $2518 Incl DOS 3.1 & P&H AMT 3 80286 12/8 1 640K/1M 1/2 $2100 Atronics motherboard IMS 80286 10 1 1M 1/1 $2079 Room for only 1 FH HD CA 80286 10 1 1M 1/1 $2018 Includes DOS 3.1 & P&H Kellco 80286 10 0 640K/1M 1/1 $1999 1M = +$50 Includes P&H PCltd 80286 8/6 0 1M 2/2 $2269 12 Month Service (1) CCI has a system which puts the CPU on a card which plugs into the bus. This allows the same system to be upgraded from a 286 to a 386 very easily. BUT: InfoWorld rated it (July 27, 1987) "poor mechanical design, uneven manual" (2) System Bus the same speed as the processor - could mean compat problems (3) We ended up getting this system and were a bit supprised: The manual was an uncredited photocopy of the copyright IBM Setup and Installation manual - The IBM's were pasted over with AMTs everywhere except the pictures! They shipped the system with a bootleg copy of PC-DOS on the hard disk (ibm*.com and many copies of command.com - no utilities!) The AMT advanced diagnostics disk they provided is a copy of the IBM PC advanced diagnostics - it even has the IBM copyright! The ads claimed that it ran at 12/8 Mhz; the unit received ran at 12/6 Mhz. At 12Mhz it gives 7.8 on the Norton SI rating (I know it means nothing) but my 10Mhz 1 wait state Everex motherboard clocks in at 10.1! (In contrast, a 6Mhz AT comes in at 5.8) Their tech support is really bad. I don't think I could recomend them. Of the avaliable 286 motherboards, the Everex ones are by far better than the Atronics ones! (Everex offers 10-0, 10-1 systems, Atronics only a 10-1) In retrospect, I almost wish we had gone with Kellco - their 10 Mhz 0 ws machine just has to be faster than the AMT! If you are considering a highre preformance AT, look at the July 27, 1987 issue of Info World - they review a bunch of high end 286 systems. -John PS: Remember, your mileage may vary, void where taxed or prohibited by law... -- John Plocher uwvax!geowhiz!uwspan!plocher plocher%uwspan.UUCP@uwvax.CS.WISC.EDU