Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!chinacat!chip From: chip@chinacat.Unicom.COM (Chip Rosenthal) Newsgroups: comp.unix.xenix.sco Subject: Re: 386 SX chips, hardware caches Keywords: 386 SX chips, hardware caches Message-ID: <1964@chinacat.Unicom.COM> Date: 26 Apr 91 20:08:29 GMT References: <25@sequim.com> Distribution: usa Organization: Unicom Systems Development, Austin, TX Lines: 47 In article <25@sequim.com> pmb@sequim.com (Peter M. Black) writes: >For a 8 user system running SCO Xenix, how does a 386 SX compare to >a 386 DX? Does Xenix benefit from hardware caches - memory & hard disk? You know - the cheapest thing you can do to get better system performance is to install UNIX instead of XENIX. The $200 price difference to get SCO UNIX is a fraction of what a cacheing controller will cost you. Some other brand UNIX will be even cheaper. Even if you've got XENIX applications you should consider UNIX. SysVr3.2 has very good XENIX compatibility. I know one person (hi Barton) who picked up all his XENIX apps - from COBOL to communications programs - and dropped them on a Compaq Systempro EISA machine running UNIX. Not a hiccup. The second cheapest thing you can do is add memory. A 386SX makes a fine single-user system (the X pig notwithstanding). I would be nervous about running eight users on an SX unless you are only going to have one or two active at a time. I think a memory cacheing motherboard is a win. However, I can still get lotsa good work done on a plain old 386 noncacheing system. I think disk cacheing controllers are helpful in limited situations. I don't use them - I'd rather throw the memory into the system and increase the number of disk buffers. I do know somebody who runs his news filesystem off a cacheing controller, and it works really nicely. He can batch up full newsfeeds with nearly zero disk activity. Also critical - pick a good serial card. There are good ones and there are crap ones. And my least favorite card is probably the one with the highest unit sales. I would recommend - a) get UNIX b) get at least a 386/20 system c) get a faster and/or cacheing motherboard if you can afford it d) bag the cacheing disk controller e) gobs and gobs of memory - at least 8M to start f) get a good serial card -- Chip Rosenthal 512-482-8260 | Unicom Systems Development | I saw Elvis in my wtmp file. |