#MAX Systems
6 messages in this thread
Jeffrey,
I am waiting for Alan Iglesias to do a bench test with his Alpha. Who
else out there have one of these hot rods? I wonder if there is anything bad
we should all know before we all start having Alpha fantasies?
Sanford
Sanford – Alphas have stood up to the most rigorous of tests. I believe the
275mhz stand-alone chip is 4-5x speed of P90. Now there is a 325chip and have
heard that yet another generation of ultra-fast chip is coming down the pike.
The real *HONK* is in the efficiency with which multi-chip configs utilize
system resources. I've seen two Alpha boxes, one with 6 chips and another with
8. So, don't start your Alpha fantasies till we are told that MAX will be fully
Alpha compatible. Then, and only then would it be acceptable to build a small
shrine on milk crates with sacrement candles and a good Unterruptible Power
Supply. BTW I read an interesting article about some tech sharing between
Microsoft and DEC where even software that has not been optimized for ALPHA
RISC will run very well (ALBEIT not as well as sufficiently coded software).
They did not put a date on that ambitious goal, but it follows BGates
announcement that Microsoft is fully supporting ALPHA technology and believe it
to be the power system of choice. GAD! So much hopeful *TEXT* … but then in
reality, well, we always keep a grain of salt around for Microsoft Op Sys
ambitions. Jeffrey
Jeffrey,
Thanks for the technical info. I went around at Siggraph but I still
didn't manage to find out this stuff. (I was busy MAXing out at the Autodesk
booth)
I guess we will have to wait to see if NT and MAX really scream on the
Alpha….
Sanford
Sanford, I was bummed not to be able to make Siggraph this year. Client with
overdue storyboard, and deadline-yesterday… chains in the virtual dungeon. As
others have mentioned, it will be interesting to see how the multi-chip P6
performs against the ALPHA. Also, I wonder if software will have to be
additionally coded to take advantage of the new hybrid P6. Actually, I hate
thinking about all this tech stuuuuuuuf, as I want to be goof'n with
arrrrrrrrrt — but *SPEED* is the deal! Jeffrey
Jeffrey,
I have decided to put on my wirter's hat and interview the big boys at
DEC and Intergraph to get some direct info. I will then publish that info in
my Pro CGI magazine and post the same info here on the forum for those who want
the fastest and the best. I will also try to establish a DXF bench test model
and see if I can get them to run a program and render it. So far only
Lightwave and Animation Master are available to me (both run on NT) I don't
think Photoshop is a good test, since it doesn't need to render polygons. It
might take a while, but MAX won't be out for a while yet anyway.
Regards,
Sanford
Sanford, that will be one of the most usable tests for all of us. With
benchmarks available and good interviews we start cross-ref and make good
decisions. Obviously our next systems will be significant investments and
should be as open-ended as possible. That's one thing I really like about DEC
ALPHA – they are so add-onable. Sheeesh, I have say that even I am getting
psyched up <G> Jeffrey