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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-logic!vantreeck
From: vantreeck@logic.DEC
Newsgroups: net.micro.mac
Subject: Re: RAM ugrades
Message-ID: <1058@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 25-Oct-85 12:06:07 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.1058
Posted: Fri Oct 25 12:06:07 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 26-Oct-85 07:37:22 EDT
Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Lines: 44


>Newsgroups: net.micro.mac
>Path: decwrl!decvax!bellcore!petrus!sabre!zeta!epsilon!gamma!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!hou2d!xxajtxx
>Subject: Cheap RAM upgrade
>Posted: 23 Oct 85 22:19:16 GMT
>Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
 
>1. The motherboard should have sockets into which the high-density chips can
>   be inserted.

There are a several reasons why high volume manufactures of PCs do not ship
socketed boards:

	1) It allows the user to order an unpopulated version of the computer
	   in order to stick in cheaper RAMs, thereby depriving the
	   manufacturer of some profit.

	2) It raises the cost of board -- sockets aren't for free.

	3) Increases the width of the board, possibly increasing the volume
	   (expense) of the computer cabinet. This is mostly a problem when
	   memory is in backplane slots - which the Mac doesn't have.

	4) HIGH volume manufacturing techniques don't seem to be able to
	   produce socketed memory boards that are as reliable as unsocketed
	   memory boards, lower yields of good boards and lower MTBF mean
	   higher cost to you -- at least that was the case a few years
	   ago. Perhaps there are better techniques and sockets in use today.

	5) RAM chips are easily damaged by static, and most users don't know
	   how to properly ground themselves, the memory board, and the RAM
	   chips while installing the chips.

	6) Only a very small segment of the business world wants to install
	   there own chips. Installing one's own chips is mostly the concern
	   of people who want to own a computer but have difficulty affording
	   it. It's like someone on a $20,000 a year income, owning a new
	   Porche or Jaguar, and wanting inexpensive doit-yourself maintenance
	   kits. Such people aren't in the mainstream of the customer base,
	   and aren't likely to see the manufacturer design the product with
	   them in mind.


-George