Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!mailrus!ncar!boulder!seri!wind55!marshall
From: marshall@wind55.seri.gov (Marshall L. Buhl)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Memory, 32-bit vs 16-bit
Keywords: Memory, Compaq
Message-ID: <1990Feb7.200130.22062@seri.gov>
Date: 7 Feb 90 20:01:30 GMT
References: <7934@chaph.usc.edu> <3912@cpoint.UUCP>
Sender: news@seri.gov (news [NO CHARGE])
Distribution: na
Organization: Solar Energy Research Institute
Lines: 40

alien@cpoint.UUCP (Alien Wells) writes:

>In article <7934@chaph.usc.edu> asplund@alcor.usc.edu (Daryl) writes:

>%2.  As the Compaq 32-bit expansion card (connects to the current 
>%32-bit card) is about $700.00, does anyone know of any other 
>%makers of expansion cards that connect DIRECTLY to the Compaq 
>%supplied 32-bit memory card?

Have I got good news for you.

Last fall I decided to upgrade the RAM on our Compaq 386/16,20,25 machines.
I found GREAT prices on clone Compaq RAM.  I found the 4 MB modules for the
20 and 25s so cheap, that's all I bought.  My local Compaq dealer sold me 5
4MB modules for $730 each.  They beat out Sigma Data by $4.  A few weeks
after I ordered them, Sigma Data called and said the price was now $600.
That's for 4 megs folks.  I could have saved myself $1000 by waiting.
Those greedy bastards at Compaq wanted $1845 each.  What balls.  I've have 
the RAM in for almost a month and have had no problems.

I also bought RAM chip sets for the 16 MHz systems.  I got them from 
Cal-Abco for $126 per meg (36 chips).  You can also get clone daughter cards
for the 16 MHz systems too.  Look in the back of PC Week or InfoWorld for
chip dealers.  Of course, I could have gotten them from Compaq on GSA
discount for a mere $482 per meg.  What a nice outfit they are for ripping
off the government by charging 4 times the street price for RAM.  

The clone dealers offer significant quantity discounts if you're buying for
several systems.  Check them out.  BTW, just because a mail order firm
doesn't list your chip in the ad doesn't mean they don't carry it.

Happy upgrading...

Marshall

--
Marshall L. Buhl, Jr.                   EMAIL: marshall@wind55.seri.gov
Senior Computer Engineer                VOICE: (303)231-1014
Wind Research Branch                    1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO  80401-3393
Solar Energy Research Institute         Solar - safe energy for a healthy future