Grex Hardware Conference

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Grex Hardware Item 56: Can a Zenith superSPORT 286 laptop CPU be upgraded?
Entered by kdietr01 on Sat Jan 22 03:34:05 UTC 1994:

I was wondering if it's possible to upgrade the cpu of a
Zenith super-sport 286 to something better: 386SX ??.

I'v seen some ads in Computer Shopper for memory upgrades,
but nothing for CPU's.

At this time I don't know what the clock speed is on it.
Any ideas? Would it even be worth it?

5 responses total.

#1 of 5 by danr on Sun Jan 23 00:44:34 1994:

I doubt it.  The space in laptops is seriously constrained and upgrade-
ability usually requires space for bigger sockets and the like.

#2 of 5 by jdg on Mon Jan 24 01:07:47 1994:

I used to use that very model.  Even if you could replace the 80C286 chipset, 
the memory configuration severely limits it's use with 386 applications, like
MS-Windows.  The reason is that the memory above 640K is *required* to be
configured as EMS memory.  You can run Windows 3.0 in "real" mode, but
you will not be able to run Windows 3.1 at all, because it requires XMS
memory.  Most every other 1Meg 286 on the planet can be configured with
either EMS or XMS, not the Zenith SuperSport.  You've got yourself a 12
pound anchor.  Also, if you want more memory than can be configured in
the base unit, you must go to outboard memory in the expansion box.  The
expansion box can hold most XT 8-bit boards, but it can't use dynamic
ram.  And, I don't know of any XT ram board vendor who sells static ram.

I recommend you take your boat anchor on a fishing trip.  :-)

#3 of 5 by kdietr01 on Mon Jan 24 23:34:49 1994:

Thanks guys. Guess I'll go read that item in the 
micros conf: 1001 uses for an outdated PC. ;-)

#4 of 5 by kaplan on Wed Feb 16 12:52:20 1994:

I don't think I can afford it now, but there should be a strong market for
working 286 laptops.  All the new laptops out there seem to be over-powered
and over-priced if all you need in a laptop is a terminal and a word
processor.  All new computers at any given time seem to be over $1,000.

You should sell your 286 and buy a new one if you need over $1,000 worth
of computing power.

#5 of 5 by awijaya on Sat Aug 23 13:19:22 1997:

Hello Karl, see biscuit Pc from Advantech, Aaeon or Bluechip.
You can upgrade it to 486 or Pentium MMX.
Regards (AW)

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