Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!ames!pasteur!ucbvax!hplabs!hp-pcd!hpcvca!scott From: scott@hpcvca.HP.COM (Scott Linn) Newsgroups: comp.arch Subject: Re: Intel announces P9 as 80386SX Message-ID: <5670001@hpcvca.HP.COM> Date: 23 Jun 88 19:59:00 GMT References: <233@belltec.UUCP> Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Corvallis, Oregon Lines: 13 Re: Why an 80386SX? The cost advantages are not simply based on a "cheaper CPU": 1) Those companies with large inventories of 80286 support chips can use them directly with the 80386SX. 2) The board area required for an 80386SX is much smaller. The 80386 package is about 1/3 the size and can be surface-mounted. 3) External data paths are 16 bits, which makes for cheaper PC boards and easier layout.