Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site decwrl.UUCP 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