Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!rex!vax.anes.tulane.edu!MANDEL
From: mandel@vax.anes.tulane.edu (Jeff E Mandel MD MS)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.appletalk
Subject: Re: SUMMARY: How to upgrade FastPath 4
Message-ID: <7856@rex.cs.tulane.edu>
Date: 14 Jun 91 12:44:17 GMT
References: <24446@natinst.natinst.com>
Sender: news@rex.cs.tulane.edu
Reply-To: mandel@vax.anes.tulane.edu
Organization: Tulane University School of Medicine
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In article <24446@natinst.natinst.com>, brian@natinst.com (Brian H. Powell) writes:
>
>     My original posting mentioned that I have a FastPath 4 and a GatorBox CS.
>I was wondering, if I were to upgrade the FastPath 4, to what should I upgrade
>it.  The two obvious choices are a FastPath 5 and a GatorBox CS.

I have been looking into the situation as well, and my conclusion is that the
performance improvement of spending $1200 on upgrading either box will be
minimal; the performance boost of buying a second GatorBox or FastPath 4 ought
to be something in the range of doubling performance (if your net can be easily
subdivided). I personally plan to get the $300 upgrade that puts a fan in the
FastPath (and coincidentally adds some RAM and the new PROMs). I've been
wanting a fan in the thing for some time.

I'm not that impressed that companies like Shiva and Cayman can spend so much
time coming out with new products that are such small increments in
performance, while in the same time frame Apple can move from the Mac II to the
Mac IIfx, with a (albeit expensive) board swap upgrade path. I'm currently
looking at the Webster Multiport and the TriData MaxWay 500; these seem to be
platforms that have the potential for performance improvement.

I'll probably miss replies to this unless their mailed; I'm taking off
tommorrow to go up to MacHack. Hope to see some of you there.
Jeff E Mandel MD MS
Asst. Professor of Anesthesiology
Tulane University School of Medicine
New Orleans, LA
mandel@vax.anes.tulane.edu