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Xref: sserve comp.os.linux:47556 comp.os.386bsd.questions:3718 comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:59913 comp.windows.x.i386unix:2440 Newsgroups: comp.os.linux,comp.os.386bsd.questions,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.windows.x.i386unix Path: sserve!newshost.anu.edu.au!munnari.oz.au!uunet!wyvern!taylor.wyvern.com!mark From: mark@taylor.uucp (Mark A. Davis) Subject: Re: SUMMARY: 486DX2/66 for Unix conclusions (fairly long) Organization: Lake Taylor Hospital Computer Services Date: Mon, 12 Jul 1993 02:20:02 GMT Message-ID: <1993Jul12.022002.16965@taylor.uucp> References: <21k903$3q4@GRAPEVINE.LCS.MIT.EDU> <PCG.93Jul12003233@decb.aber.ac.uk> Lines: 39 pcg@aber.ac.uk (Piercarlo Grandi) writes: >>>> On 9 Jul 1993 17:13:39 GMT, metcalf@CATFISH.LCS.MIT.EDU (Chris >>>> Metcalf) said: >Chris> You will need to decide if you want to get a SCSI adapter and a >Chris> SCSI disk; however, it will definitely be more expensive, since >Chris> you need a separate SCSI controller (about $200), and SCSI disks >Chris> are often more expensive than IDE disks. Furthermore, it is said >Chris> that for disks up to 500MB, SCSI probably won't give you any >Chris> noticeable performance improvement unless you are running a >Chris> heavily used disk server. >Terrible mistake. The real benefits of SCSI are improved performance if >you have more than one hard disk drive (much recommended), and that one >controller will also handle tapes, CDROMs, and whatnot. Soon enough you >will want to add a backup device (don't bother with QIC drives, it's a >false economy, the tapes are too expensive, get a DAT for $1050), and a >CDROM. Not having chosen SCSI you will need one or maybe two extra >controllers, taking up another one or two precious ISA bus slots. I have to agree with Piercarlo, strongly. IDE might be fine for a small starter system; but most will quickly outgrow it and start bashing their head against it. Through all the ESDI stuff, MFM stuff, RLL stuff, etc.. SCSI was there, and still is. It may not be the BEST interface, but it is the most open, flexible, and standard available (and it's much better than IDE). I don't agree with his statement about the QIC drives, though. As it stands, QIC tapes are still the bottom-line standard for mass storage compatibility. This will, no doubt change; but for now (and many years), te drives are still on the top of speed and decent storage. And with much higher retention than DAT. QIC drives are also much less expensive if you don't neet as much storage. -- /--------------------------------------------------------------------------\ | Mark A. Davis | Lake Taylor Hospital | Norfolk, VA (804)-461-5001x431 | | Sys.Administrator| Computer Services | mark@taylor.wyvern.com .uucp | \--------------------------------------------------------------------------/