🚀 go-pugleaf

>I have just called AOX and here are their current list prices :
>
>   486SX/25 ... $1600
>   486DX/25 ... $3319
>   486DX/33 ... $3397

>>   Start with zero RAM on the adapter... go to 16M.  It has two SIMM
>>   sockets that can take 1M, 2M, 4M or 8M PS/2-type SIMMs.  As a side
>>   note, I see no reason why the CPU could not be upgraded with an Intel
>>   486DX2-50MHz (for the 25MHz model) or the Intel 486DX2-66MHz (for the
>>   33MHz model.)  You'd have to check with Aox to see if this can be
>>   done.
>
>You are _ABSOLUTELY_ correct!!!  I have confirmed this with AOX.  Just
>to make sure, is this a matter of popping out the current 486DX/25 or
>486DX/33 chip and replacing it with the corresponding 486DX2 chip?

It should be.  But it's not like I've tried it... it's just that due to
the nature of the adapter, there _should_ be no timing problems as far as
I can forsee.  Again, it's not my area of expertise: Aox would be the
folks to check with.

>Something else one can consider.  By buying the MicroMaster 486SX/25
>board for around $1600 and shelling out about $500 (which totals to
>about $2100) to get the Intel OverDrive chip and placing it in the vacant
>socket, one can get a processor that performs better than an actual
>486DX/25 costing around $3319.  That's a difference of about $1219!!!

Two points:

1. List prices can be very different than prices charged by dealers and
   distributors.  Before making decisions based on list prices, check
   current prices at a couple of dealers.

2. You're absolutely right.  :)  This is provided that the SX version of
   the Aox MicroMASTER 486 is similar in performance to the DX versions.
   It should be, but I've never seen the 486SX MicroMASTER myself.  If it
   has the OverDrive socket (I'd imagine it does) then it certainly seems
   like a good deal to go right to 50MHz performance...

>Thank you, Darius, for all your information.  I am still very open to
>other comments and/or suggestions.  Thanks again in advance.

No problem.  I'm always willing to talk PS/2 stuff.  I like Aox in
general, and they have some nice PS/2 upgrades.  I've always found the
technical support to be pretty good as well; provided that you talk to
the right people.  I'm glad to see the MicroMASTER 486SX has a list price
that might not scare people away, especially considering the ability to
go to 50MHz.

- Darius
--
Darius Vaskelis (IBM Marketing/Technical Support)
University of Illinois Account Team
One IBM Plaza  15-KC9                    Telephone: (312) 245-3532
Chicago, IL 60611                         Internet: U54345@uicvm.uic.edu