forrest@ux1.lbl.gov (Jon Forrest) (11/03/88)
If you're like me you have a PC XT (or clone) with a 20 meg hard disk, 640K of memory, a Hercules graphics board (or EGA), and you've been thinking about what, if anything, to do about either upgrading what you have or buying something completely new. I personally think that now is a bad time to buy hardware. We all know about what happened to memory prices. It makes sense that memory will go down again but although you hear rumors about availability getting better, it doesn't look like much has happened to prices. Until 1 meg chips cost less than $10 each (well, maybe $15) I won't think things are back to normal. As far a micro processor chips are concerned, the 386 family has proven itself technically but hasn't gone down in cost the same way the 286 has. Until the ratio of initial price vs. current price of the 386 is similiar to that of the 286, I think waiting is the right thing to do. As far as graphics hardware is concerned, memory prices are the major constraint. I laugh whenever I hear anyone talking about high resolution graphics on an IBM PC because to my way of thinking high resolution means at least 1000x1000. All this 600x480 stuff is low resolution to my way of thinking. It's clear to me that we're on the upward swing to a new technology. This is reflected by current prices. So, I've decided to wait at least a year before I buy anything. The question of what to do in the meantime still has to be answered. I've decided to optimize the performance of my hardware buy buying (and using) certain software. Here's what I've done: 1) I ran SpinRite on my harddisk. This insures that my harddisk/controller combination is giving the best performance possible. (Cost $60) 2) I use the Lightning disk cache program. When I don't specify any buffers in my CONFIG.SYS file, and instead use a 80K cache, I find that over 70% of my disk access come out of the cache. (Cost $35, on sale) 3) I use the Fasttrax disk optimizer. This seems to be one of the better programs available because it lets you locate frequently used files near the FAT. (Cost $31) So, by spending $130 I'm using my I/O system as efficiently as I believe possible. There's not much I can do to speed up the CPU short of buying an accellerator card which I don't want to do because this is a short term solution and I'd rather save the money for a true 386 system next year. A V20 might not be a bad idea but my system has its 8088 soldered in so replacing it with something new would be a hassle. I am envious of people with fast 286 systems since these now cost what I originally paid for mine. But, from what I hear, neither OS/2 or Unix runs well on such hardware so buying a 80286 system would be the same deadend as what I have now. It looks like the 80386, or a Mac II (at a much lower price) is the way to go. I'd be interested in hearing what other people have to say about this. Jon Forrest Lawrence Berkeley Lab., 486-4991 forrest@lbl.gov (internet) ucbvax!lbl-csam!ux1!forrest (uucp) FORREST@LBL (bitnet)
jerry@starfish.Convergent.COM (Gerald Hawkins) (11/04/88)
From article <1218@helios.ee.lbl.gov>, by forrest@ux1.lbl.gov (Jon Forrest): > If you're like me you have a PC XT (or clone) with a 20 meg hard > disk, 640K of memory, a Hercules graphics board (or EGA), and > you've been thinking about what, if anything, to do about either > upgrading what you have or buying something completely new. > I personally think that now is a bad time to buy hardware. We all > > I'd be interested in hearing what other people have to say about this. > Jon Forrest Lawrence Berkeley Lab., 486-4991 > forrest@lbl.gov (internet) > ucbvax!lbl-csam!ux1!forrest (uucp) - Computer prices have gone down by 20% - 30% per year for the last 15 years or so. Therefore there will always be a reason to hold off buying anything until `later'. There are lots of reasons to buy now (No, I am not a salesman). Computer prices are damn good right now. I can get a brand new AT machine with EGA and 20MB and color and MSDOS for only about $1500. Add a 24 pin printer and a mouse and your whole package is still well under $2000. The performance of that package is around 7 times your IBM-PC. What computer you buy and use is a bit of a reflection on how you feel about yourself. Do your own psychoanalysis, but I feel I work hard and deserve a nice machine like my AT clone. On the other hand, I honestly cannot afford the 20MHz 386 DOS/Unix Server PC that my company makes--though I would rather have it. I get frustrated when I work with a slow clunky computer! Of course, for you to upgrade, you probably don't have to buy a whole machine. I don't know that much about it, but don't you just have to buy a board? Your drive and keyboard and printer, monitor, etc., should still be ok. Rainy Days and Automatic Weapons Fire Alway Get Me Down. These opinions are mine. Jerry. (jerry@Starfish.Convergent.COM) -----