Grex Auction1 Conference

Item 29: Cyrix 386 to 486 clock-doubled upgrade microprocessor

Entered by popcorn on Tue May 14 04:34:18 1996:

Donated by Rob Argy (ajax):

  I have a "Cyrix 386 to 486 Clock-Doubled Upgrade Microprocessor" to
auction.  You need to currently have a 386DX-33; you take it out, and
in its place goes this Cx486Drx-33/66.  According to the box, it says
Norton's SysInfo performance benchmark will go from a 28 to an 86.
 
  It comes from my quasi-stepfather Ted, who has a Dell 386.  The folks
at Dell told him this was how to upgrade.  Unfortunately, the Intel 386
on his motherboard is a tiny surface-mount chip, meaning it's soldered
on to the motherboard.  So if you're interested, make sure that your
386 chip is in a socket, such that it can be pulled out (open the case,
and look for a chip on the biggest board that says "Intel i386DX-33" on
it).  You could also use this if you have a microprocessorless
motherboard, but that's somewhat uncommon.
58 responses total.

#1 of 58 by tsty on Thu May 16 09:41:59 1996:

dx only? what about an sx?


#2 of 58 by ajax on Thu May 16 18:44:43 1996:

DX only, I think SX uses a smaller chip.


#3 of 58 by dashadow on Fri May 17 23:47:01 1996:

Heck, I've got a 386-16DX but, it might work.  I'll start at $5.00
Somebody has to start the process.



#4 of 58 by matth3w on Sun May 19 04:26:43 1996:

I'l just buy a 386 if my bid wins - I offer $10


#5 of 58 by gregc on Sun May 19 15:59:03 1996:

$20.00


#6 of 58 by robh on Mon May 20 16:35:44 1996:

Current bid is $20 from gregc, made yesterday.


#7 of 58 by dashadow on Mon May 20 23:51:17 1996:

OK, $25.00


#8 of 58 by gregc on Tue May 21 04:25:52 1996:

$26


#9 of 58 by bilt on Wed May 22 13:20:49 1996:

Will it work as a doubler for a 486/33 makeing it a 486/66?


#10 of 58 by ajax on Wed May 22 17:42:55 1996:

  I kind of doubt it, as I think they would have advertised that feature.
The pin configuration is probably different between 386s and 486s, which
is why they'd say this is a 486 upgrade for 386s, instead of just a 486.


#11 of 58 by gregc on Wed May 22 21:15:34 1996:

This device is specifically for 386's.  A 486 is a bigger chip than
a 386. You couldn't plug one into the other's socket,
the pin configurations are completely different.


#12 of 58 by robh on Fri May 24 13:40:21 1996:

Current bid is $26 from gregc, made three days ago.


#13 of 58 by matth3w on Sat May 25 22:59:28 1996:

would it fit in a 386 laptop???


#14 of 58 by arthurp on Sat May 25 23:56:31 1996:

Probably not.


#15 of 58 by ajax on Sun May 26 02:39:06 1996:

I'd agree, probably not.  But if it's a 386DX, and you want to make sure,
you could open up the laptop and look for the microprocessor.  If it's
soldered right to a board, then no, but if it's in a socket, then maybe.


#16 of 58 by gregc on Sun May 26 13:57:05 1996:

Actually, if it's a 386DX and it's in a socket, then the answer is
"definately yes". These chips were made to duplicate a 386 in size, shape,
and pin layout. One exception: These chips have the pins coming out the
bottom of the chip and are designed to go into a normal socket. If the
laptop uses a PLCC style socketed 386, this chip won't fit. PLCC is the
style that has the contacts along the edge of the chip and the chip fits
down inside of a square socket. These are more compact and tend to be
used more on laptops.


#17 of 58 by ajax on Sun May 26 17:23:58 1996:

There are a couple other exceptions: speed of the chip/motherboard, and
the form factor of the chip other than its pinout.  This one includes a
heat sink, which probably means it's a good idea to use it, but most
laptops are pretty tightly packed and wouldn't have room for it.  The
chip with heat sink are probably half an inch high.


#18 of 58 by robh on Sun May 26 20:02:04 1996:

The current bid is still $26 from gregc, made six days ago.
Last chance to bid, everyone!


#19 of 58 by dashadow on Mon May 27 04:17:45 1996:

OK, $27


#20 of 58 by gregc on Mon May 27 18:20:17 1996:

$30


#21 of 58 by dashadow on Mon May 27 23:07:22 1996:

$31


#22 of 58 by arthurp on Tue May 28 03:17:20 1996:

Not to mention that laptop chips are often made to dissipate less power since
cooling can be an issue in laptops.  


#23 of 58 by robh on Thu May 30 19:08:15 1996:

Current bid is $31 from dashadow, made three days ago.


#24 of 58 by gregc on Fri May 31 03:56:40 1996:

$32.00


#25 of 58 by dashadow on Fri May 31 18:45:14 1996:

$33.00


#26 of 58 by dashadow on Sat Jun 1 18:28:48 1996:

$34.00


#27 of 58 by dashadow on Sat Jun 1 19:51:10 1996:

Hum, I seem to have uped my own bid there.  Ah well, somehow I could have
sworn I saw another name on that one.  Well, Stupid me, I'll stand by it.
Maybe we don't need anyone else bidding on anything.  8^)


#28 of 58 by gregc on Mon Jun 3 05:56:16 1996:

$35


#29 of 58 by dashadow on Mon Jun 3 17:34:16 1996:

$36
Well, at leaast I feel a bit less stupid but, not much. 8^)


#30 of 58 by robh on Thu Jun 6 17:11:58 1996:

Current bid is $36 from dashadow, made on 6-3.


#31 of 58 by robh on Sun Jun 9 01:23:01 1996:

Two days to go until dashadow's bid becomes final.
Going, going, ...


#32 of 58 by gregc on Mon Jun 10 03:40:41 1996:

$37


#33 of 58 by robh on Mon Jun 10 10:43:39 1996:

(This is going to be the last item to close, isn't it?)


#34 of 58 by dashadow on Tue Jun 11 01:08:56 1996:

$38
(This item might never close! 8^)


#35 of 58 by scg on Tue Jun 11 06:15:03 1996:

I would imagine it will close eventually.  There is, after all, a market value
for this thing, which is falling at the same time as the bidding goes up. 
When the bidding gets to the point where it would be cheaper to just go buy
it at a computer store, I would imagine that people will stop bidding.


#36 of 58 by dashadow on Wed Jun 12 18:18:03 1996:

You might be correct about that, I doubt we are going to behave as the art
collectors do and bid just to keep the other one from getting it.


#37 of 58 by robh on Thu Jun 13 18:28:14 1996:

The current bid is $38 from dashadow, made three days ago.


#38 of 58 by robh on Sun Jun 16 23:18:09 1996:

One day to go before dashadow's bid becomes final.  Can it be?
Is the end in sight?


#39 of 58 by gregc on Mon Jun 17 17:13:06 1996:

$39


#40 of 58 by robh on Mon Jun 17 17:52:34 1996:

Didn't think so.


#41 of 58 by dashadow on Mon Jun 17 19:34:31 1996:

$40
Or maybe the end is not in sight.  SIGH...


#42 of 58 by robh on Sun Jun 23 23:47:15 1996:

One day until dashadow's bid becomes final.  (Should i just
stop posting these announcements?  >8)


#43 of 58 by gregc on Mon Jun 24 14:39:15 1996:

$41


#44 of 58 by dashadow on Tue Jun 25 01:24:08 1996:

$42
Yes, you should stop posting those announcements! ;^)
And the Beat goes on...See you next week...Same Bat time, Same Bat Station!


#45 of 58 by rickyb on Mon Jul 1 18:20:06 1996:

OK...    $45!


#46 of 58 by robh on Mon Jul 1 19:09:33 1996:

Dammit!  And we were so close!  >8)


#47 of 58 by dashadow on Tue Jul 2 00:03:51 1996:

Fresh blood!
$46
To correct my minor error of last week...
Be sure to tune in next week!  Same Bat time, Same Bat Channel!


#48 of 58 by robh on Tue Jul 2 06:45:12 1996:

<robh is seriously considering reducing the time limit on this item>


#49 of 58 by ajax on Tue Jul 2 06:59:26 1996:

Cool, response 39 was for $39, and response 45 was for $45...a buck per
response on average :-).  (Of course, then non-bidding responses like 
this go and mess up the average!)  Rob, hang in there, the longer the
item lasts, the more Grex makes!!


#50 of 58 by robh on Tue Jul 2 14:53:12 1996:

Yeah, and we've gone up by what, $2 a week?


#51 of 58 by brighn on Tue Jul 2 15:05:19 1996:

no, ajax, responses like these make the bid go up faster =}


#52 of 58 by dashadow on Wed Jul 3 03:15:28 1996:

This is the longest running item isn't it?  Ah the suspense.  They do say that
the anticipation is actually better than the having.  We ought to be having
one heck of a time then! 8^)  It is like watching one of those old 6 Million
$ man episodes where everything really good is moving incredibly slowly.
Well as they say, Should you or any of your IM force be caught or killed the
secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions.  This message will self
destruct in 5 seconds.
poof


#53 of 58 by rickyb on Fri Jul 5 13:42:16 1996:

What rspns is this? ... #53?  OK, let's keep this moving ...

        bid $53.00

<does dashadow want to keep up moving by more that $1 per bid?  lessee>



#54 of 58 by robh on Fri Jul 5 14:51:11 1996:

I'm amazed!  You didn't wait the whole week!  >8)


#55 of 58 by dashadow on Sat Jul 6 01:59:55 1996:

Well, much as it pains me to say it I think we have reached the point where
the price is too close to that of a brand new, direct from the company, chip.
I am going to have to pass on it.  How about that, I didn't wait a week
either.  Of course, someone else might.  I'll have to just watch what happens
next.  Hey, it was long but, interesting.


#56 of 58 by robh on Fri Jul 12 05:55:39 1996:

And it's less than 8 hours to go until rickyb's bid of
$53 becomes final.  Going, going, ...


#57 of 58 by rickyb on Fri Jul 12 19:15:06 1996:

                GONE !

[Oh well, of course, now that I've bought this my cache card displays an error
on POST...and Zenith Data Systems is selling out this weekend...not much hope
of getting a replacement ;-(   ]

{someone let me know how to pay for, and acquire, this item...please}


#58 of 58 by robh on Sat Jul 13 00:04:49 1996:

Hey, *I* was supposed to say that.  Hmph.

rickyb, make your check payable to Cyberspace Communications and
send it to:

        Cyberspace Communications, Inc.            ****************
        P.O. Box 4432                              * NEW ADDRESS! *
        Ann Arbor, MI 48106-4432                   ****************


There are no more items selected.

You have several choices: