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From: ylh@grpthry.UUCP ( ylh )
Newsgroups: net.micro.ns32k
Subject: Re: Query: Symmetric 375 computer
Message-ID: <175@grpthry.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 4-Oct-86 16:01:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: grpthry.175
Posted: Sat Oct  4 16:01:33 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 6-Oct-86 03:22:47 EDT
References: <174@grpthry.UUCP> <537@rna.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: grouptheory systems inc., Ottawa, Canada.
Lines: 49

> In article <174@grpthry.UUCP> ylh@grpthry.UUCP ( ylh ) writes:
> >
> >Symmetric in California recently advertise in various magazines
> >(Byte, Unix/World) their '375' computer.  It is based on
> >the 32016, has 2 Mb ram, 50Mb winchester, 4 serial ports,
> >runs 4.2BSD and is loaded with languages.  All for just $4,995.
> >(GnuEmacs, TeX, SPICE for $10 each!).
> >
> >We ran a battery of benchmark programmes and found that it
> >performs at the level of a microPDP11/73.  Seems a little
> >poor for a 32016-based machine.
> 
> 	Why do you think it is poor for a 32016. That level is about what
> I would expect for average UNIX utilities. For 32-bit and VM stuff, the 32012
> should do better. But the 11/73 is a pretty fast machine, many operations on
> a 11/72 are as fast or faster than an VAX 11/750, which is approximately the
> level of performance I'd expect from both 68010 and 32016 machines (at 8 to
> 10Mhz). Especially with a relatively slow disk.
> 	In addition a comparatively configured 11/73 would be about $10000,
> including Ultrix.
> 	The real competition, I believe, is a PC AT (at 8-12 Mhz) running
> Xenix, which one can also find for about $5000. A PC AT running Xenix can also
> perform close to a VAX 11/750. No VM, though.
> 
> 					Cheers,
> 					Dan Ts'o
> 					Dept. Neurobiology
> 					Rockefeller Univ.
> 					1230 York Ave.
> 					NY, NY 10021
> 					212-570-7671
> 					...cmcl2!rna!dan
> 					rna!dan@cmcl2.arpa

My surprise came from the fact that the 11/73 generally performs well
below 68000-based supermicros such as the Plexus (which, admittedly
has 2 other processors for disk & i/o -- effectively a 'distributed'
kernel) or Sperry and I had thought that the 32016 machines are in the
same league as the 68000 machines.   Anyway, the 11/73 perhaps has
the best price/performance ratio.   Talking about competition,
Plessey's new line of 4-slot Q-bus machines start at around $5,000
(alas, you run into limitations in the 73's architecture).


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Y L Huang, grouptheory systems incorporated            (613) 594 0227
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