On 27.09.2013 00:45, Kaz Kylheku wrote:
> 
> And so I give you ...
> 
> http://www.cypress.com/?docID=34302
> 
> There is a good chance that this STK12C68-5 chip can be popped into an
> MP-1, eliminating the battery. (As you can see, it has an "STK" part
> number: this was a Simtek part.)

Turns out Digikey wants $1000 a pop for these chips. Not only that, but for all that cash, they won't sell you just one. You have to buy 26 of them minimum for 26 grand! I e-mailed them if that was for real:

My query:

>>Unfortunately that is correct pricing on that part. It is sold in a minimum quantity of 26. 

R_____​ ​L_______
Inbound​ ​Sales​ ​Representative
Digi‑Key​ ​Corporation
701​ ​Brooks​ ​Ave.​ ​South
Thief​ ​River​ ​Falls,​ ​MN​ ​56701​ ​USA
orders@digikey.com​ ​
800.344.4539​ ​ext​ ​2424

> Customer has question on pricing of product.

Let​ ​me​ ​know​ ​if​ ​I​ ​can​ ​be​ ​of​ ​further​ ​assistance.​ ​

A___ ​Z_____
Technical​ ​Support​ ​Specialist​ ​II​ ​‑​ ​Export​ ​Classification​ ​
Digi‑Key​ ​Corporation
701​ ​Brooks​ ​Ave​ ​S
Thief​ ​River​ ​Falls,​ ​MN​ ​56701
*******@digikey.com​ ​
Phone:​ ​1‑800‑344‑4539,​ ​ext.​ ​2214
Fax​ ​:​ ​1‑218‑681‑3380
www.digikey.com​ ​

And then I wrote them  this. (No response):

Hi,

Sorry, a thousand dollars for an 8 kilobyte memory chip is ... well ... shit bat crazy!

Is this just a way of saying "we don't really have the chip in stock, and it's a real hassle to get it, so please don't order it?"

I could be horribly wrong here, but I suspect the only market for these obsolete chips are cash-strapped hobbyists converting some old electronic gear not to require a coin battery for maintaining its settings.