jeff@drexel.UUCP (Jeff White) (01/29/88)
Hi,
I'm in the process of writing a proposal for a computer system for one
of the companies I work for, and would like to get benchmarks or opinions
on my configuration. They presently have a Tandy 3000 ('286 machine) running
SCO Xenix, SCO Professional (123 lookalike) and Open Systems accounting
package. They also have a couple of 1200's (8088's) running DOS applications
(Multiplan, scripsit), and have to desire to have some higher performance
DOS machines. I am going to propose the following machine:
Tandy 4000 computer ('386 machine)
4 or 5 Megabytes of ram
70+ Meg of disk space
Wietek 1167 math coprocessor (if usable by applications, else 287
10 MHz 80287 (if it offers some advantages over 1167)
SCO Xenix V/386
VP/ix (dos sessions under Xenix from any terminal)
8-16 serial ports running on an intelligent card.
The main reason I am going with the 4000 is that the company gets a 12%
discount on it, which brings its price down even more. I know a Compaq
probably gives better performance, but probably not enough to justify spending
twice as much.
Now that I have given my proposed configuration, there are some questions
I have about it's theoretical performance. I would apprecicate comparisons
made in reference to the present machine (Tandy 3000, 3.5 Meg ram, 40 Meg
disk, 8 intelligent ports, SCO Xenix 286).
1. In general, how much quicker is the 4000/SCO Xenix 386 over the 3000/
SCO Xenix 286?
2. How quick will the 1167 be? I've seen ads that it is about 5x faster
than a 387, which I assume is 2x-5x faster than a 287. Are these values
right? Almost all of their work is finacial (in either a spreadsheet
or the accounting system), so I imagine that a big gain in floating point
performance should really make the system fly.
3. Will applications (such as the ones I mentioned they use already) be able
to take advantage of the 1167? If not, I guess the 287 is really required.
4. How quick is the VP/ix (DOS) software? They would probably want to
run 1 or 2 DOS users, with the ability to have more sessions (if other
people find out it is quicker than there own machines (1200's)). I'm
assuming that it isn't too much extra overhead to run it. I also imagine
that DOS applications would need the 287 for math calculations, and really
couldn't take advantage of the 1167.
5. Comments on trying to assemble the system from 3rd party products as opposed
to buying all Tandy products. I would think that I should be able to get
the 287, memory, and disk cheaper from other vendors. For example, Tandy
wants $1200 for a 4 Meg system (1 Meg expansion on motherboard, 2 meg on
expansion board). I'd like to think I could get 4Megs of 1M simms for no
more, and hopefully less than that, with the bonus of providing better
expansion options (the 4meg Tandy solution would use all available simm
slots).
I don't expect one person to have the exact same configuration, but
results about any parts (4000, 1167, VP/ix, etc.), as well as any pricing info,
would be appreciated just as much.
Jeff White
Drexel University - ECE Dept.
rutgers!bpa!drexel!jeff