Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!ncar!stout!ford
From: ford@stout.ucar.edu (Chris Ford)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.nsc.32k
Subject: Re: More on build your own box (LONG)
Summary: any demand for a CHEAP board?
Keywords: dust off your 032 DK
Message-ID: <1031@ncar.ucar.edu>
Date: 23 Nov 88 10:59:40 GMT
References: <1052@raspail.UUCP>
Sender: news@ncar.ucar.edu
Reply-To: ford@stout.UCAR.EDU (Chris Ford)
Organization: National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO
Lines: 28

I'd like to put in a few words for 32k fans with "modest" needs.

In article <1052@raspail.UUCP>, bga@raspail.UUCP (Bruce Albrecht) writes:
> I don't think we should base it on an 016 or 032.  That's like building a
> 68k system on a 010.  Sure it's cheaper, but it's also going to be slower
> and need an upgrade all that much sooner.

Factoring in the support a 532 deserves, MUCH cheaper.  And the pressing
"need" for an upgrade depends on one's motivation.  My goals are to dive into
ns32k-land as deeply as possible and to obtain a useful single-user system
cheaply in the process.  Sure, 'useful' is another subjective term.  The 532
accomplishes essentially what the 032 does, just (!) a helluva lot faster.

Bruce continues:
> I think there may be a number of people who would not be interested in this
> design if it uses the 032.

I submit that there definitely are a number of people who _would_ be
interested in an affordable board for the 032, namely its DK owners and
prospective owners.

My intent is not to change Bruce's mind; by all means, pursue high-end speed
if you need it.  I'm just fishing for support for a low-end (though certainly
non-toy) board.  A succussful PD effort will require some volume up front.
Who else else out there would trade latest-chip speed for a truly cheap entry
into the 32-bit realm and the best CISC architecture going?
--
ford@stout.Ucar.EDU	(Chris Ford)