[comp.sys.dec] DEC 58xx installed?

craigt@pegasus.COM (Craig Thomas) (11/09/90)

Anyone out there got an mp mips-based computer from DEC installed
and working?

Comments?


Thanks,
	craigt.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Craig Thomas                                        craigt@sybase.com
Performance Architecture Group
Sybase, Inc. 
6475 Christie Ave. 
Emeryville, CA 94608

tarcea@vela.acs.oakland.edu (Mott The Hoople) (11/12/90)

In article <11681@sybase.sybase.com> craigt@pegasus.COM (Craig Thomas) writes:
>
>Anyone out there got an mp mips-based computer from DEC installed
>and working?
>
>Comments?
>

   We have one of these beasties here at Oakland University. The particular
model is a 5820 (ie, a 2 processor version). Compared to our VAX 6000-310 
and our VAX 6000-320, the DECsystem 5820 flies. But compared to a 
DECstation 5000, the 5820 is quite a bit slower. 
  My own personel opinions are, if I wanted to go with a high-performance
mini (not work station), especially if I were looking to buy DEC equipment
I would consider either a VAX 6000-5xx or the new risc DECsystem 5500.

  If there is more interest, I can have posted some of our (rather unscietific)
comparisons of 5820 performance when compared to a DECstation 5000.

  -- glenn

  tarcea@vela.acs.oakland.edu

rosenblg@cmcl2.NYU.EDU (Gary J. Rosenblum) (11/12/90)

We have a DECsystem 5820 running Ultrix 4.0.  I'm not pleased with it.

DEC has done everything but admit publicly there's a bug in the SMP code - 
in practical terms, the machine is not 1.7-8 times as fast with two cpus as 
it is with one.  In fact, performance is very disappointing.  

Speaking with some techies at DEC, and someone involved with the 5500 line,
the general consensus is that they f**ked up royally (a quote from one of
them).  There's an XMI<->CPU bottleneck to begin with.  When asked what
people with 5820's should do, one response was "Buy a 5500".  I don't have 
Ultrix 4.1 yet (another problem), so I don't know if it fixes things.

Nice things about it -  I share my VMS cluster's tape drives, saving lots o'
money.  The TU81+ is not worth buying.  

Gary J. Rosenblum	
UNIX Systems Manager			rosenblg@nyu.edu
New York University			gary@nyu.edu