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From: hundt@wind.bellcore.com (tom hundt)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.sys.intel
Subject: Re: 16bit 386 chips!
Message-ID: <3580@bellcore.bellcore.com>
Date: Mon, 16-Nov-87 16:08:55 EST
Article-I.D.: bellcore.3580
Posted: Mon Nov 16 16:08:55 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 21-Nov-87 10:24:39 EST
Sender: news@bellcore.bellcore.com
Reply-To: hundt@bellcore.bellcore.com (tom hundt)
Organization: Bellcore, Morristown, NJ
Lines: 28
Xref: mnetor comp.sys.ibm.pc:10288 comp.sys.intel:399

>After I posted the test program to the 386 mailing list I got a note
>from Intel saying that the test had to be performed over a range of
>temperatures and frequencies. If your chip fails the test it's bad, but
>
>Since there is no way to change clock and temperature via software, this
>"test" is only slightly better than nothing, maybe worse if it gives a
>false assurance. I won't post it again because it's known not to be
>reliable. If someone else does then blame them for the results.
>

Yes, but... say I want to know if *my* 386 has the bug or not.  I would
only care about whether or not it runs in *my* machine.  So, I'd
run the test on normal speed, on turbo speed (if the machine has multiple
speeds), at "cold" (ie. just after power-on) and at "warm" (after running
for an hour [perhaps getting caught up on today's comp.sys.ibm.pc postings])
temperatures, and that would about cover all situations I care about.
If I wanted to get carried away, I could take my hairdryer to it and really 
let it have it...

I maintain that having a test is better than none at all; the user 
must realize that it's a "positive yes, maybe no" situation.  ("An 
educated consumer is our best customer" and all that.)

Please post the test again.  We promise not to "blame you for the results".

 /-^-\  Thomas M. Hundt / BELLCORE Morristown NJ / hundt@bellcore.bellcore.com
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