I recently aquired a Sparc 2 that I'd intended to use to replace
the IPC I have colocated at a local ambitious net startup. the IPC has
served well as a low use mail and web server, but it's just getting tired
and old and it was time for a replacement. The Sparc 2 in it's stock
configuration with 64 megs of ram and a fairly recent harddrive should be
more than enough for what that box does all day.
And then they went and hired me. In two weeks I join the MIS crew
at that same company.
So, since I'll be working in the same office as my server now, and
since the thing came to me with a CG6 installed, I'd thought maybe I might
like to use it as a second console, even if it's mostly running remote
apps off an intel system.
The Sparc 2 has an interesting mix of qualities. There are things
that it is quite adept at. What was most interesting to me was, how local
X apps, once running, are quite responsive, but, when loading, are
painfully slow. There's no question about the fact that a Sparc 2 just
isn't very quick if you want to actually use the console.
So it looks like i can get a Weitek PowerUp for $100. maybe less
somewhere, but that's the price i found. and it's a lot better than the
$200+ it used to be.
I know a lot of people have complained that there seems to be a
scsi problem with some PowerUp's and not others. What's the status of
that? I've heard various ruminations that this problem occurs with
PowerUp's manufactured before or after particular dates, and that SunOS
before a particular version has similar problems, leading to the
conclusion that it can be fixed in software.
I've seen the raw SpecInt and SpecFP scores for PowerUp vs.
vanilla sparc 2, but that doesn't tell me if most apps are going to be
slow anyway. the Sun4C MMU definately isn't exactly high performance.
So, what are peoples recommendations on this? Would i be better
off tracking down 96 megs of full parity fast page for my newly aquired
LX?
And, by the way, anybody want a 501-1910 SparcPrinter board? I've
gotten the impression that it's little more than a spacer to cover up an
open sbus slot unless you've got a sparcprinter or newsprinter to attach
it to. I'd gladly trade it for two sbus slot covers and maybe another
harddrive bracket for my sparc 2 . . . .
Anyhow, thanks.
- Eric
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