🚀 go-pugleaf

In <1363@pivot-sts.sbi.com>, Vijay Bajwa writes:

>I have one of the first PS/2 model 50 turkeys with a 20MB HD and
>1 MB system ram. Recently, I have seen a spate of articles/ads
>exhorting me to upgrade my system to a 386SX. Here is a halfway
>decent configuration, and what it will cost:

>1. Processor upgrade   $250 - $300
>2. 120MB SCSI HD
>   w/adapter           $575
>3. 2-8m board w/4mb
>   on board                 $250
>                            -----------
>Total                       $1085

>For this price, I can get a 486SX clone w/monitor. Why
>should I upgrade? How can these upgrade vendors hope to
>convince anybody.

>Can anyone point me to lower priced upgrade provider with
>acceptable quality?

Due to the proprietary MCA architecture (rather than ISA), PS/2 parts are
generally more expensive.  Part of the reason is that you're "buying IBM"
(which may be their selling point).  It also means that you're buying over-
priced crap if you ask me.  Since there isn't a mass market for PS/2 parts
like their is for the generic ISA architecture, the parts need to marked up
higher in order to make their production profitable.

I'd just see if I could get $500 or so for the PS/2 and buy a 486 clone.  Even
if you only got a 386/40 (you can buy a fully loaded 386/40 system for about
the price you quoted above), you would then essentially be paying $500 or so
for the upgrade.


Tim Irvin
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