@pesnta.UUCP (10/15/83)
Here are a bunch of questions about the MassComp MC-500. Thanks in advance for any info or help you might be able to give me. I have seen a few of the reported benchmarks on the network about the MassComp MC-500. Does anyone know what they did to make their machine so fast? Is this just a machine that is fast because of a lot of hardware and thus mortals can not afford to own it? Did they do a "real Unix" or is this a look-alike. Is there anything special about their software? Is it Sun class or a Vax class machine? Who *are* these guys anyway? Are they shipping yet, i.e. can I *really* get a machine? Does anyone have one of these machines? I have heard all sorts of wonderful things from MassComp people, and from what I saw at Usenix, the box was pretty impressive. Is there anyone who does not work for them that has similar wonderful (or terrible) things to say? -Dan Klein, Mellon Institute, Pittsburgh
mark@umcp-cs.UUCP (10/16/83)
What seems to make the MassComp 500 fast is (a) a 4k cache on the cpu
board, (b) a high speed buss along-side the massbuss for fast
memory access. My guess would be that the cache makes all the
difference. The cpu chip itself is a 10mhz 68000, with a helper
68000 for paging.
The Unix seems to be a port, not a look-alike.
The benchmarks from Masscomp make it vax-750-like, depending on the
disk, etc. I wouldn't actually call this Vax-class since it is
well below a 780, but it considerably better than a Sun. I haven't
done my own benchmarks, however.
They ARE shipping--around 100 machines are out there, if I remember
right, including two right in my neighborhood. Don't have
one myself yet, but I'm talking to them.
I am very impressed by the packaging and hardware design of these folks.
Their software seems solid as well, but I haven't looked at the code.
The software people I have talked to knew their stuff. I consider
the prices to be Sun competitive, and a lot better than a vax 750
if the benchmarks old up.
They have a local sales organization in many areas, call them up
and ask for information. Tell them Mark Weiser at the U. of Maryland
sent you.
--
spoken: mark weiser
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