ian@dgp.toronto.edu (Ian S. Small) (04/03/91)
I'm just checking on what is undoubtedly a favourite topic with Iris 4D/35 owners or would-be owners: third party memory. I have two 4D/25s which are soon to be upgraded to 4D/35s, at which time they will lose some of their memory. I'm prepared, but not happy, to pay SGI the outrageous $3900 list CDN/8 MB that they charge for the stuff, because we need the memory and the performance on those machines. SGI warned me that the memory would change, so I certainly cannot complain about that aspect. However, I am also considering buying some additional horsepower and am weighing Suns vs. Irises. The machines are reasonably competitive until the question of memory comes up, at which point SGI prices itself out of the market. Availability of decently priced memory for 4D/35s is a major factor in the purchasing decision. Unfortunately, I have not heard of any third parties making it or planning to make it, no doubt because of the ASIC (which must be very expensive - think about that for a minute!) which I understand that SGI has cleverly placed on each SIMM. So, the bottom line question is as follows: does anybody know of a third party making, or considering making, memory for 4D/35s? If so, could you provide contact information? An alternative question is: does anybody know if SGI is planning on persuing legal action against third party outfits which try? An affirmative answer to the latter would slant answers to the first question towards "No", and hence could be useful in making a decision. Thanks in advance, ian -- Ian S. Small (416) 978-6619 Dynamic Graphics Project Computer Systems Research Institute BITNET: ian@dgp.utoronto University of Toronto EAN: ian@dgp.toronto.cdn Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A4 UUCP/CSNET: ian@dgp.toronto.edu