56k v.90 modem for $0.90 after MIR from Fry's (and maybe Outpost.com)

[easy2kill]

I was at the Sunnyvale Fry's yesterday and picked up this modem (I saw about 5 left). It is an internal PCI Encore 56k V.90 voice/fax/modem featuring a Motorola chipset. Says it is good for WIN9x, 2000, and ME. The in-store price was $25.90 with a mail-in-rebate form for $25.00. The form says you can get the $25.00 rebate if you purchase this modem from Fry's or from Outpost.com. All you need to do is send in the rebate form with the receipt and UPC. The Fry's product number for this is 3189360. The rebate form says the offer is valid 'til 3-30-02.

This modem really doesn't have any bells and whistles, but for $0.90 + tax, I think this is pretty good.

 

[FPSguy]

It's free after rebate at Outpost, though you have to pay shipping.

 

[skunkbuster2000]

does anyone know if this is a hardware modem or a software modem?
i can't tell from the "detailed description"

 

[nekote]

It appears to be:
Encore ENF656-PCI-MO
Encore 56K PCI Fax/modem w/Motorola chipset

Seems winmodem:The Motorola SM-56 is another Host Signal Processing (HSP) chipset based modem. The lack of a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) or control chip yet again hitting the modem market with a nasty blow. The modems will connect, and you will get the same speeds as other modems, however the lack of the DSP cuts into your computer's processor, and instead of the modem running off of it's own internal instructions, it largely runs off of software on your computer. Due to this, as always, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that one of the major steps that you take in getting these modems to connect is to get the latest software for the modem.

Looked like a good site!

 

[skunkbuster2000]

thanks for the info.

 

[Hossenfeffer]

The SM56 chipset is just bad ju-ju. If you do pick the modem up, be absolutely SURE to download the latest drivers/software for it.

 

[XFreebie]

this a software/winmodem i bet?!

but is it any good, i've had 2 really bad free-after rebate modems, and how reliable is this rebate?

 

[skunkbuster2000]

i am thinking about buying a modem with the Intel MD563X-HaM V.90 chipset
does anyone have an opinion about this? good? bad?

 

[CKDragon]

Ah yes... another impulse buy. Here's hoping it works out for those of us that were looking for a cheap modem.

Thanks for the deal,

CK

 

[easy2kill]

FYI: I installed this thing late last night; I haven't actually used it to dial into my ISP yet, but thought I'd mention the installation process to anyone buying this modem. This is definitely NOT Plug and Play. Both Windows 98SE and WindowsXP didn't recognize the modem until I actually added the device and drivers manually (via the Add Hardware wizard). I also downloaded the new drivers for WinXP from Encore's site (http://www.encore-usa.com/), but they did not work correctly. Windows XP just shows a question mark next to the modem in the Device Manager (says the hardware is not working correctly or that the drivers are incorrect). I'll let you guys know if I get any further later tonight.

 

[nekote]

<< Intel MD563X-HaM V.90 chipset >>

# of experiences - 1 (Yesterday, to boot!)
Fine / hunky dorey on Win98SE - 49,333 connect speed.

Intel site
Claims:
The MD563X-HaM uses the host computer's CPU to replace the modem's controller, and it does so with minimal degradation in CPU performance. Since today's CPUs are well equipped to handle Digital Signal Processing (DSP), some of these functions are diverted to the CPU for processing. Maximum system and modem performance is maintained by splitting the processing optimally between the CPU and DSP.

Unlike software modems, there is no performance penalty because the CPU does not handle all of the controller and DSP functions. Instead, functions have been strategically optimized for accelerated performance by either the CPU or the DSP depending on which device can perform them most efficiently?delivering a price, performance ratio that is hard to match.


Sounds like WinModem II?

Sounds better than the original winmodem - would like to know, too.

 

[chat]

this modem has been on sales for free after rebate at fry's since last year..

 

[CKDragon]

So I jumped on this and got the modem for about $30 shipped... problem is that they took the item off the website ALONG WITH THE REBATE FORM. Now I can't find the rebate form anywhere on the site or anywhere else on the web, did anyone save the form by chance and they could email or PM a link to it for me?

I emailed Outpost.com about this but their automatic response was that they were 4-5 days behind answering emails... sounds like lousy service to me...

Any help you can provide would be GREATLY appreciated, Thank you for your time,

CK