[comp.os.vms] 750/780 debate: Memory upgrades...

WOLOSZYN@MCMASTER.BITNET.UUCP (09/21/87)

> In article <12331690952.196.OC.CIVIL@CU20B.COLUMBIA.EDU>
> OC.CIVIL@CU20B.COLUMBIA.EDU (Holt Farley) questions the performance
> gains of upgrading from a 750 to a 780, when operating in a engineering
> environment.  Holt points out that the current 750 has 8mb of memory
> and the proposed 780 would have 16-20mb.

> In a program development environment, memory is the highest demand.


        If memory really is a constraint, then one alternative to a 780
is a "750-stretch" kit from EMC. It brings your 750 up to the max 15mb
of the architecture. Ours came with 2 X 4mb arrays, and the rest of the
slots can be filled with 1mb/2mb arrays for the total of 15mb. The memory
boards also come with a lifetime (yes, lifetime) warrenty, so this also
translates into lots of service contract cash in your pocket. The modified
backplane (they just add jumpers to your existing 8mb backplane) is also
warrentied, as is the modified memory controller and we still have DEC
service on everything else. As I understand it, DEC also has this upgrade
kit, but at the time, only EMC offered it, and only EMC has a lifetime
warrenty.

        Just one more thing to consider... (Isn't management fun...?)


Terry (Crash) Woloszyn
Development Analyst
CIS/Development Services
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario

TERRY@TANDEM / WOLOSZYN@MCMASTER