Subj : FreeBSD
To   : David Drummond
From : Charles Angelich
Date : Wed Nov 28 2001 10:44 pm

1233343d4bf6
unix



Hello David - 

CA>>>> I explained that there were limitations imposed by
CA>>>> retailers who sold these machines. When I tried to be
CA>>>> more specific we got into custom installs which really
CA>>>> adds nothing to the discussion. 

DD>>> If a machine has spare memory slots, then they're there
DD>>> to be used. 

CA>> I never saw a 386 with memory slots. They all had dozens
CA>> of smaller memory chips that populated the motherboard. No
CA>> `sticks'. 

DD> You've led a very sheltered life. The IBM PS/2 386 I was
DD> speaking of used 72pin SIMMs. 

IBM is notorious for being proprietary and difficult to find
parts for. (I have two of them, one is a 386SX btw). 

DD> The other 386 I'm playing with uses 30pin SIMMs. 

What's that one, a Compaq? 

CA>> When I asked a tech about this recently his assumption was
CA>> that memory was limited to 8 meg to help sell the
CA>> server-class machines which were much more expensive at
CA>> the time. 

DD> The machines I'm speaking of are definitely workstation
DD> class. IBM list the PS/2 as an "inexpensive business"
DD> machine. The other is a 386SX! 

Ever see IBM's price list (it's online)? 

CA>>>> Probably wouldn't read the distribution CD. 

DD>>> Linux distribution CDs can be read slowly... 

CA>> If you say so. 

Would need a CD reader which most 386's don't have. 

CA>>>> Most 80386s had under 200 meg hard drives in them which
CA>>>> could not store enough of the install to recompile the
CA>>>> kernel for the unexpected hardware limitations. 

DD>>> Then one needs to put in a second hd out of that other
DD>>> junked 386. 

CA>> If we start adding hardware it won't end until we no
CA>> longer have a typical 386. Everyone doesn't have two of
CA>> these and everyone doesn't have spare hard drives lying
CA>> around unused. Two older 386 hard drives might be 150 meg
CA>> each. Would 300 meg help all that much? 

DD> Ah - now the limits are creeping in. 

You're trying to build a 486 around a 386 motherboard. 

>
>        ,                          ,
>      o/      Charles.Angelich      \o       ,
>     <|                              |>  __o/
>     / >          USA, MI           < \   __\__
 

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