CompuServe Messages

#MAX Systems

    29-Aug-95 17:46:27
Sb: #187813-#MAX Systems
Fm: John N. Jordan 72772,1271
To: sanford kennedy 73201,1374
Sanford, <info on td-30,dual P133< No, it's not available in MB only- it has a different layout than a regular MB, etc. I haven't run dual 133's yet.. but hope to upgrade my single P100 to a 133 fairly soon. I won't get dual processors until I have something that really requires it. I haven't done seen any testing between dual Intergraph vs. other systems, so I'm not sure how much better (if at all) the intergraph is. That remains to be seen. Single processor performance is about the same as many of the custom built (well built, mind you) boxes I've heard about. Alot of my software isn't NT- and it runs just fine. (except for sound in dos games, but I won't admit that I use this machine for such foolishness, nor would I admit that I would use a dual boot to dos for such activity <g>) Picture Publisher, Photoshop, Painter, Playmation, Elastic Reality, Typestry 2, and other apps that pertain to 3D, etc. all run just fine- and many run much better. (ER, Photoshop, T2, etc.) Just make sure you have drivers for every device you use for NT before you get it. Some drivers (scanner, etc) are nonexistient. There are PAR drivers on the internet for NT.. if you have a PAR. (seems like everyone here has one <g>) Intergraph isn't cheap, but I've been very pleased with it. Once your pocketbook manages the hit, you'll appreciate the quality and thought put into designing it. (at least I do) And support for dual 133's are icing on the cake. It will support at least 256MB onboard, but I'm not sure about 512.. Also, the built in Matrox Millenium smokes everything else I've seen out there.. I'm impressed. Even really fast Dos performance. It does lack drive bays though.. (2 internal, with the external being used <floppy/CD> The second internal covers over 2 (3?) ISA slots.. but it has 3 free PCI slots to make up for it. (this is the pizza box type system, there is a more expensive tower with tons of bays and PCI slots) I'll end up using the external scsi port for any extra drives needed. (zip drive, jaz drive, DAT, etc.) Intergraph has a WWW site, with alot of specifics, and purty pictures of their cool TDZ series. (think it's www.intergraph.com, or something similarly obvious) Definately check out custom systems, some of them offer upgradability of processors higher than the 133. (assuming they work as planned, which they probably will.) Actually, I'm not sure if 133 is a limit for the TD or not. I'm not that deep into design to know what is required to be so. There are lots of options, check them out. 🙂 (several custom system designers are in the forum) I would say, however, that a solid dual pentium system will do you better today than an alpha. (assuming you do 3DS work primarily) Many apps don't have native Alpha support yet, and Intel emulation under NT isn't speedy. (think 486 speed) The Alpha wave is coming, but isn't quite practical today. Unfortuanately, I think we'll have to wait 6 mo. or so before Alpha power is realized for 3DS'ers. (assuming the assumable <g>) Let me know if you have any more specific questions.. I've already talked about the TD plenty, and don't want to sound like I think I'm Mr. Hardware, nor boastful. There are many here that could do more with a ragged 486 (or less) than I could with a quad P6/Alpha. I hope I've helped- JNJ