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The developer's guide to buying a 386
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With Presentation Manager now ready, now is the time to upgrade your
development machine. Robert Schifreen surveyed the recent PC show
looking for a 386 machine with colour VGA graphics that wouldn't break
the bank.
-----
Although there were very few major product launches at the PC Show this
year, the event was an ideal opportunity for those in search of a new PC
to take a look at what was on offer. As a software developer, I was
after a cheap 386 machine with a fast hard disk, that would allow me to
edit and compile my code as fast as possible. I wasn't too bothered about
looking to buy from a major manufacturer - I wanted a VGA system (ready
for Presentation Manager) with hard disk, at least 1 MB of RAM (very
expandable, too) and a price tag of around ?3000. Surprisingly, I found
quite a few machines. Each has different points in its favour, so I'll
refrain from the customary tables of figures and specifications.
Instead, I'll give the basic facts on each, plus phone numbers in case
you want to find out more.
Amstrad 2386
------------
If you need your machine to be available now, don't bother reading any
more of this section. Amstrad's 386 won't be on sale until January. By
then, the company will have a 20 MHz machine with 4 MB of RAM as
standard, expandable to 16, and a custom cache controller chip with 64K
of 35ns static RAM. There will be a socket for a 387. The Amstrad BIOS
will be 32 bits wide, whereas some (like Walters's) are only 16. The
fast BIOS makes it unnecessary to copy it into cache memory, as some 386
machines do.
Storage comprises one 1.44 MB 3.5 inch floppy, and a 65 MB RLL hard disk
with 40 ms access time. External 5.25 inch drives will also be
available. You get Microsoft Windows/386 and MS-DOS 4.0 thrown in, and
the on-board VGA adaptor (chips by Paradise) is coupled with a new
Amstrad 14 inch hi-res colour monitor. The graphics system will emulate
MDA, CGA, EGA and Hercules. The whole lot will retail for ?2999+VAT
which, taking the amount of RAM into account, will make it the cheapest
machine on the market.
Amstrad are currently overhauling their dealer network, and only the more
upmarket ones will be allowed to sell this machine. More on 0277 230222,
but it's not worth calling this side of Christmas.
CAS Computers Ltd
-----------------
CAS provide a range of 386 machines. Perhaps the best value comes from
their 20 MHz system with 40 MB 28ms hard drive, 1MB of RAM, a 1.2MB 5.25
inch floppy, keyboard and VGA card, with NEC Multisync II monitor. This
retails at ?2425, to which you add VAT, and ?50 for DOS. More on 01 291
5777.
Dell System 310
---------------
Dell launched the 20 MHz system 310 last year. It's now been reduced in
price, following the launch of their 25 MHz system 325. The 310 (the 325
is too expensive for this sub-?3000 list) contains 1 MB of RAM, a 102 key
keyboard, two serial and one parallel ports, one floppy drive (choose
which size) and monitor. A colour VGA system with 40 MB, 28 ms hard disk
is now down to ?2999 + VAT. A mono VGA system is ?200 less. Call Dell
(free) for more information, on 0800 414535. One reason why the systems
are so cheap is that Dell operate a mail order service - there are no
dealers.
Elonex
------
Elonex have a 20 MHz 386 machine called the 386-S. This runs at 20MHz
and has 2 serial ports and one Centronics. It comes with a 44 MB, 28 ms
hard disk, 2 MB of RAM and a 1.2 MB floppy. A VGA system with VGA
monitor is ?3195 + VAT. Add ?100 for an NEC Multisync. More on 01 965
3225.
Hi-Grade
--------
You may not have heard of the name, but it's well worth looking at the
prices before you turn away. Hi-Grade have 2 machines. The first is
based on the Micronyx motherboard and contains a 386-20, running at 20
MHz. You get 1 MB of RAM and a 20 MB, 28 ms hard drive for ?2165. This
is a mono system, and includes one of each floppy. Add ?335 for VGA
(card and monitor) and you get ?2500. This includes 2 serial and 2
parallel ports, but not DOS. The other machine is similar spec, but runs
a 386-16, though also at 20 MHz. This is ?2085 for the full VGA system
and is based on a chips and technologies motherboard. Hi-Grade are on 01
482 4024.
Samsung
-------
The Samsung S800 is a desktop 386 running at 20 MHz. The VGA system is
due out later this month. Meanwhile, the EGA system with 1 MB of RAM (of
which the top 384K holds a copy of the BIOS), a 1.44 MB and 1.2 MB floppy
and 20 MB 65 ms hard drive retails for ?2970 + VAT. You'd need to add a
monitor to this. For a 40 MB hard drive with 28 ms access, the price
goes up to ?3475. These are official retail prices, and you can get them
much cheaper. The best reductions I have found are from Fast Micro Ltd
in London, who charge ?2348 and ?2772 respectively, plus VAT. Fast Micro
are on 01 291 6565, which makes Samsung's phone number irrelevant.
Vegas
-----
Vegas are new to the UK. Rather than having a catalogue of two or three
machines, the company sells each component separately. You specify all
the bits you want, and they will be assembled into the system of your
choice. To build a 386 system you start with a cabinet (floor standing)
containing a 16 MHz 386 motherboard and an unpopulated memory card. This
is ?1378.50. One way of making this into a usable system is to add 2 MB
of RAM (?748.50), a Mitsubishi 1.2 MB 5.25 inch floppy (?96.75) and
Mitsubishi 720K 3.5 inch drive (?97.50), a 30 MB Seagate RLL hard drive
(?217.75 plus ?100 for controller), Genoa Super VGA card (?230.25), 2
serial ports and a parallel port (?34.50), keyboard (?41.75) and mono VGA
monitor (?93.25). This comes to ?3039.25, plus VAT. More information
from Vegas on 01 659 9166.
Viglen
------
Viglen introduced a 386 machine at the PC show. The V4411 has a 40 MB
hard drive and runs at 8, 16 or 20 MHz with zero wait states. There is 2
MB of RAM on board, 2 serial and 2 parallel ports, a games port and
mouse, a 1.2 MB floppy, DOS, Windows and BASIC. With VGA card and
monitor, the price is ?3444.25 + VAT. Another ?402.50 ups the clock
speed to 25 MHz. Further details from Viglen on 01 843 9903.
Walters
-------
Walters launched the cheapest 386 machine of the year at the PC show.
For ?1260 + VAT you get a 16 MHz machine with 1 MB of RAM, expandable to
16. The system has 8 slots and a 1.2 MB drive, plus parallel port and
Hercules graphics monitor and card. To this, you must add ?800 for VGA,
?30 for a serial port and ?330 for a 20 MB, 65 ms hard disk, which brings
the total to a very respectable ?2420 + VAT. More on 0494 32751.
--------
<1f>
Please be aware that, although the quoted prices were current at the time
of writing, exchange rates and RAM shortages may well cause them to
change slightly.
<1t>
------
Colour VGA, 386 machines including monitor and keyboard but not VAT.
MHz RAM HD MB HD speed FDD Price
Hi-Grade 20 1 20 28 Both 2085
Samsung 20 1 20 65 Both 2348 (EGA)
Walters 16 1 20 65 5.25 2420
CAS 20 1 40 28 5.25 2425
Amstrad 20 4 65 40 3.5 2999
Dell 20 1 40 28 5.25 2999
Vegas 16 2 30 28 Both 3039
Elonex 20 2 44 28 5.25 3195
Viglen 20 2 40 28 5.25 3444
NOTES: 1. Viglen's price is INC VAT
2. CompuAdd's phone number is 0272 637488.
This article taken from .EXE Magazine, November 1988. You may distribute
copies of this file, as long as this notice is not removed. For details
of .EXE, please call 01 994 6477.
ends