3B2/300 vs 310

[Randy_Davis]

In article <1220 at nusdhub.UUCP> rwhite at nusdhub.UUCP (Robert C. White Jr.) writes:
:in article <159 at mccc.UUCP>, pjh at mccc.UUCP (Pete Holsberg) says:
:> 
:> Briefly, what are the differences between the 3B2/300 and the 3B2/310?
:
:The major difference between a 300 and a 310 is that the 300 did not
:use a "regular" cpu chip.  It had a daughter board where the cpu should
:should have been.  This board substancially slowed opperation of the
:system.  (I think the buss clock had to run slower to accomidate it,
:or the logic was too loose, but I don't know for shure)

  Wrong.  Yes, all machines with the hybrid chip are model 300s, but many
model 300's were built with the 32100 chip set, after the new design was
proved in.  The older hybrid chip was the first full 32-bit CPU on the market
(no internal multiplexing of data paths, etc.).  All of the first year or so's
production of model 300's were built with the hybrid chip.  When new and better
designs were available, they were implemented to improve the machine.
  The model 310 was an improvement over the model 300 primarily in the area of
processor speed.  Since the higher processor speed would allow more simultaneous
users, increased disk space would be needed, depending on application, to
accomodate these additional users, so most versions of the 310 have higher
disk capacities, up to a maximum of 72 Megabytes (formatted) from the factory.
  The slower speed of the old model 300 hybrid CPU was due to the fact that
that was as fast as it could run.

:There was an upgrade from the 300 to the 310.  If you have a 300, get
:the upgrade.  If you don't have a 300, don't get one!

BTW: Whether you have an older 190A system module (the one with the hybrid chip)
or the newer ED4C637 board, the upgrade will probably include a new, faster
ED4C637 board with the faster clock speed.

Randy