Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!helios.ee.lbl.gov!nosc!ucsd!ucbvax!hplabs!hpda!hpcupt1!kluft
From: kluft@hpcupt1.HP.COM (Ian Kluft)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp
Subject: Re: HP 9000/500 vs. Vectra with 386 CPU and 387 co-processor?
Message-ID: <7410016@hpcupt1.HP.COM>
Date: 21 Jul 88 00:33:28 GMT
References: <592@rocksanne.UUCP>
Organization: HP Systems Technology Div, Cupertino CA
Lines: 24

pat@rocksanne.UUCP (Peter A Torpey) writes:
> Does anyone have any experience and/or comments on comparing
> a HP 9000 Series 500 system with a Intel 386-based machine (perhaps like
> the HP Vectra line)?  I've benchmarked my HP model 550 against
> one of the 386-based Compaq machines (with a 387 co-processor) and have
> come out with very similar performance - (Actually, the Compaq machine was
> running in MS-DOS with a Fortran compiler that did not even take advantage
> of the 32-bit architecture).  Although I've always liked HP's performance
> and support, it seems like there may actually be more horsepower in the 386
> than in the model 550, pluse its cheaper, plus it is compatible
> with all sorts of thrid-party software and hardware.  

I wouldn't be surprised about the 386 catching up with the 500 series.
The 500 series, while still fully supported by HP, probably hasn't been in
production for at least a year.  On the low end, it has been replaced by the
300 Series (running Motorola 68020 CPU's).  On the high end, the 800 Series
(HP Spectrum/RISC SPU's) replaces it.  However, since I'm in R&D, I can never
remember their prices.  [Note: our marketing people can give official state-
ments on this.  I'm not in marketing so this isn't official.]

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    Ian Kluft			RAS Lab
    UUCP: hplabs!hprasor!kluft	HP Systems Technology Division
    ARPA: kluft@hpda.hp.com	Cupertino, CA
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