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From: G. Albert Mietus <albert@gamp.hacom.nl>
Subject: Re: system vendor recommendations sought
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Organization: We aren't! Should we, then it's SW, Education and Advice.
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References: <DERWAY.97Jan3172456@alumnae.ndc.com>
In-Reply-To: derway@ndc.com's message of 04 Jan 1997 01:24:55 GMT
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 22:15:26 GMT
Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc:33893
D. Erway writes:
> I am about to buy a system to run FreeBSD and NT-4.0, for software
> development at home. I have read through tons of news & mail
> archives, FAQs, handbook, etc.
Hmm, doing the same .. However, only FreeBSD.
> I intend to get a P6, probably 200, (since I haven't found a 166, and a 180
> doesn't make sense). I guess I'll spring for the 512k cache.
P6-200 (=pentium-pro) is fastest I think, but expensive P133 has
better price/performance right now. P166/P180 are good also, but don't
go for P150!
It is impotant to use your bus at 66MHz, which means 33MHz PCI. that
is the fastest.
> Probably Asus P6NP5 motherboard.
> Any others as good or better?
Asus is good, TYAN-tomcat 1 or 2 are even a little better (e.g. more
PCI busses) for same price (tomcat-1). The tomcat-2 (or "D") is a
little more expensive (about 150 dutch gulders, == $70 (??)) but
supports 2 Pentiums!
SMP isn't supported yet in FreBSD, but it will come. WNT does already
support SMP.
Note: 2* P133 is faster then P200 ! (I guess)
> 64 meg parity dram (fpm or edo who cares)
EDO is a little better! use 60ns or less!
Note:32Mb modules cost more as 2* 16Mb, but fill up your slots
faster...
> Adaptec 2940U
The asus and tyan boards (or better the BIOS on it) do support the
NCR810 PCI-SCSI card. (so you can boot)
Those NCR810 (or 825?) chips are as fast as Adaptec, but cost less
(810 < $100 !!) Also the latency of the NCR is a little less!
I guess, it is even a little faster for home-systems!
No need to go SCSI-W, only with very fast, expensive (multiple) disks
narrow SCSI can't handle it. Most disk need bandwidth of about 8Mb/s
(or less)
> 2G of SCSI Hard drive
> Seagate CCT-8000 (new version of connor tapestore-4000)
> Plextor 12x SCSI CDROM
> 1.44meg floppy
> Creative Sound Labs AWE-32
No comment, but I wouldn't pay extra for a 12x CDrom (but I don't
play games ...)
> #9 Imagine video board ?
I'm not sure it is supported by XFree86, most #9 use some S3
chip. Most S3 chips are supported, but not the S3-virge (yet)
The Matrox-Millenium is supported also. XFree3.2 does already, but
without much acceleration. Newer drivers exist already.
(http://www.bf.rmit.edu.au/~ajv/xf86-matrox.html)
The ET6000 hardware is even faster (128bit engine, 800Mb/s burt data
transfer !) but it depend on the used resolution. It is a lot cheaper!
(e.g. Hercules dynamite-128/video with 4Mb cost about $160!
However, it has not 3D accel. (but do you need that for a development
computer?)
Can't help with place, I'm going to by in Holland, Europa!
BTW, I can send a list of URL's with more info, when needed.
--GAM's greetings