CompuServe Thread

#Best Pentium System

4 messages in this thread
#76220From: Andrew McClaryJan 14, 1994 12:24 AM
We are getting ready to add a couple of more systems in preparation for a new project. Does anyone have any recommendations on the best Pentium systems currently on the market? What features are the most important on these new systems? How much memory should they have for rendering stations on my 3DS netowork? Thanks for the advice.
#76315From: David Cohn, CADalystJan 14, 1994 12:33 PM
I've been very please thus far with the system I've received for eval from Micron. It's a 60MHz Pentium PCI with a 2MB Diamond Viper PCI graphics board. The unit came with 32MB of RAM, a 16MB caching disk controller, and a 540MB hard drive. The review of this machine should appear in the March or April CADalyst.
#76321From: Andrew McClaryJan 14, 1994 12:53 PM
How much are they asking for the machine you just discribed? Is Microns motherboard optimized for the Pentium or is it a 486 re-design? There are a lot of companies selling Pentium systems but they in fact do not use the full power of the Pentiums speed . Something I believe with the pathway to the memory.
#76501From: SCOTT HIGGINSJan 15, 1994 1:20 PM
I am also looking at different Pentium systems. I feel that 32 megs is the min. amount of ram. One of the things to make sure of, is that the system utilizes the new Intel PCI chipset. This allows the external cache to operate in the write back mode, not limited to write through mode. Some of the systems have onboard Fast-SCSI II. This would save a slot. I am looking at the PCI Viper and the PCI MGA-II as the graphics card. My concern is the inline driver problems. Vibrant is supposed to release the PCI Viper drivers in 2 weeks and the MGA drivers in 30 to 60 days. The MGA should be faster but I don't think that I can wait for 3DS drivers. The 66Mhz has about 8% better SPECfp92 numbers that the 60Mhz. There is also the 100Mhz coming in the second quarter. I am looking at the ALR Evolution V 66Mhz 4PCI/5ISA. Let me know what you figure out. SSH –Graphic Realities–