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From: "Rodney W. Grimes" <rgrimes@GndRsh.aac.dev.com>
Message-Id: <199606112354.QAA21173@GndRsh.aac.dev.com>
Subject: Re: Which dual Pentium motherboard? Cyrix SMP?
To: jparnas@jparnas.cybercom.net (Jacob M. Parnas)
Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 16:54:02 -0700 (PDT)
Cc: michaelv@headcandy.com, gpalmer@freebsd.org, dave@persprog.com,
        questions@freebsd.org, freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org
In-Reply-To: <199606080143.VAA28830@jparnas.cybercom.net> from "Jacob M. Parnas" at "Jun 7, 96 09:43:32 pm"
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> 
> In message <199606072303.QAA12291@GndRsh.aac.dev.com>you write:
> >> 
> >> In message <199606071942.MAA11811@GndRsh.aac.dev.com>you write:
> >> >> 
> >> >> >David Alderman wrote in message ID
> >> >> ><26C84A7DC0@novell.persprog.com>:
> >> 
> >> I found the best motherboard for dual pentium pros is a new one from
> >> SuperMicro.  It can be had for just $875 from Micro Assist.  It has
> >> 8 SIMM 72 pin modules and 4 PCI and 4 ISA cards.  Its model number is MBP6DNF 
> >> Dual Pentum-Pro Natoma Motherboard from Micro-Assist 888-97-MICRO 
> >> (processor Mag) (Full-AT Size).  They also sell 32 meg SIMMS for 279 each.
> >> I'm planning on getting 4 32 meg boards for 128 meg of ram.
> >
> >Have you gotten one of these in your hands and actually started to use it?
> >The reason I have asked is prior history with SuperMicro products for me
> >has been someplace between mildly disatisfied with problems, to utterly
> >pissed off about quality.
> >
> 
> No, I haven't.  I still haven't decided which system to get.  What types of
> problems did you encounter?

Memory system related failures that where probabaly caused by poor
testing of the PBurst cache chips at the factory.  Replacing the
cache modules often fixed the boards.

> Were they fixable or did you have to live with the problem.

Having to return > 5% of incoming boards that failed testing is
not a viable option for an OEM.  I simply discontiuned the product
line.  You could say the problem was ``fixable'', but having to deal
with RMA's on a continuale basis was just not reasonable for me to do.


-- 
Rod Grimes                                      rgrimes@gndrsh.aac.dev.com
Accurate Automation Company                 Reliable computers for FreeBSD