🚀 go-pugleaf

>DATE:   Thu, 23 Jun 1994 01:49:23 GMT
>FROM:   Stan Sieler <sieler@allegro.com>
>
>Kim Naru (CONTRA) (knaru@cup.hp.com) wrote:
>: Wayne O. Miller FFR (miller@pioneer.arc.nasa.gov) wrote:
>: : Hi,
>: :         I'm considering purchasing a used 486-66 SLC-2 based clone using
>: : an Alaris ISA motherboard, and a Cirrus logic SVGA card.
>...
>: : apart from games, how is this CPU in general?  It costs about $200 less
>: : than a DX2, so there must be some compromise.
>
>: You'll have no problems. There was a time when people would only purchase PC's with
>: the IBM logo on it. The time has come were you don't need to have an INTEL chip. Offcourse
>: if you want to spend more money, go for it. The area likely to cause you grief is
>: the motherboard/firmware.
>
>Since Kim posted, I'll post the reponse I sent to Wayne, since recent
>personal experience directly contradicts what Kim says:
>
>I think the 486 SLC is the Cyrix chip?  If yes, then the answer is: NO.
>
>Two data points:
>
>   1) I had one that repeatedly failed after 1 to 3 hours running
>      two different games (Where in the USA is Carmen SanDiego,
>      and Omar Sharif's Bridge (a Windows bridge game)).  
>      It failed on 3 different motherboards (each with a new Cyrix chip).  
>      It did not fail on any motherboard with an Intel chip.  
>      (Date: June, 1994)
>
>   2) This month's Windows magazine has an article discussing the
>      compatibility of Cyrix and AMD to Intel (no, IBM wasn't included).
>      If memory serves, the AMD was poor.
>      The Cyrix has at least one known, documented bug (involving cache misses
>      and FP usage).   Since the bug isn't likely to have affected my games,
>      I suspect that there may be other instances wherein cache misses are
>      simply forgotten.
>
>Short answer: don't do it.  Buy Intel...unfortunately.
>
>Stan Sieler
>

Just to correct the misinformation above, the testing done showed AMD
CPUs were 100% Intel-compatible.  Out of a batch of AMD CPUs, the testers
did encounter one that exhibited false test values roughly 10 times out
of 72,000 test loops.  The problem was blamed on that particular chip
because they replaced it with others that did not show the same problem.

The testing all showed that the AMD 486DX2-66 CPU was faster than
the Intel version.  I quote, "Suprisingly, although the AMD and Intel
processors ran at the same speeds, the Am486 CPU consistently outperformed
Intel's 486..." and "...AMD's 486 processor has, to date, demonstrated
100 percent Intel compatibility.  In every test executed, the AMD 
results were identical to those produced by the Intel DX2."

I am a dealer and have been selling AMD CPUs almost exclusively
since they were introduced last year.  I have not seen nor heard of
any incompatibility with the AMD CPUs and they still continue to be
hot sellers, especially since they are priced better than Intel's...


---
Kevin Chalker, President           10 Jacaranda Court
KC COMPUTERS                       Penfield, NY  14526
Voice: (716) 388-8621              (716) 388-1528 FAX
Internet E-mail: p01311@psilink.com
     "Your reputable source for quality PC components at fair prices.  
                    E-mail for a price list today!"

** (We now have a monthly mailing list that you can request to be on.  A
   current price list and specials will be E-mailed to you approximately 
   once a month.)

*** NOTE: Always remember that E-mail is not perfect and if you do not
receive a response within 24 hours, please mail again or telephone...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------