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From: OC.CIVIL@CU20B.COLUMBIA.EDU (Holt Farley)
Newsgroups: comp.os.vms
Subject: VAX 750/780 comparison
Message-ID: <12331690952.196.OC.CIVIL@CU20B.COLUMBIA.EDU>
Date: Thu, 3-Sep-87 12:01:34 EDT
Article-I.D.: CU20B.12331690952.196.OC.CIVIL
Posted: Thu Sep  3 12:01:34 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 5-Sep-87 14:03:02 EDT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 30


	We are considering replacing our VAX 11/750 CPU with a 11/780 which we 
can get VERY cheaply from another department here at Columbia Univ.  This 
machine will run VMS, and is used to support faculity/graduate research in an 
engineering department.  We do quite a bit of program development as well as 
run many programs that use a lot of system resources:  finite element routines 
(large matrices), symbolic languages (MACSYMA, SMP), TeX, etc.

My question is:    What kind of performance increase will we likely see
		   if we do purchase the 780?

	Obviously, the answer to this question depends upon the exact 
configuration of the computers and the work done.  Our 750 currently has 8Mb
of memory and can only support 10-12 typical users before response time gets
really terrible.  NULL mode is extremely rare!  I expect one of the main 
advantages to the 780 is that I can install lots of memory --- I plan to put
at least 16-20 Mb in the 780.

	So, if you have experience in a similar work environment and have used
both 750's and 780's, I would very much like to hear your comments.  Alternate
ways to improve performance are also welcomed --- please keep in mind that this
machine must run VMS and the $ amount must be low!

	Thanks for your help.

Holt Farley
Columbia Univ. Civil Engineering
system@cucevx  (Bitnet)
oc.civil@cu20b.columbia.edu  (Internet)
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