[SunRescue] SS10/SS5 comparison questions

[Ken Hansen]

SS/5 is nice if you can get one "loaded" - w/CD-ROM, RAM, and the high-res
color card (AFX?) - I scored a nice SS5/85 off Ebay not too long ago with
all that and some RAM too for a decent price.

I also recently built-up an SS/10 with a spare SM-41 and 64 Meg RAM, and it
hums along OK for general use - more RAM and a faster/additional CPU would
only make it better ;^)

My SS/20 is a dual SM-50, w/128 Meg RAM and a 4 Meg VSIMM, and that is a
sweet little box for general use (you won't impress someone with a P/500
desktop, but it is a nice reasonable speed system).

The real key with these systems is RAM, high-speed disks, RAM, quick
framebuffer, RAM and CPU speed/number. Oh, and RAM.

RAM for the SS/10 and SS/20 are almost identical, and seem to run about
$1/Meg, give or take. SS/5 RAM costs *approach* $2/Meg.

SS/5 can take up to 8 32 Meg DIMMs, SS10/20 can take up to 8 64 Meg DIMMs.

SS/5 CPUs can be upgraded to 170 MHz TurboSPARC for $350, 2xSM71s can be
gotten for around $200-300 +/- (I am awaiting 2 SM-71s for my SS/20).
Depending on application, either can be a better machine.

Price-wise, my SS/5 85 MHz system (64 Meg RAM, AFX framebuffer, and built-in
CD-ROM, along with 2x1 Gig HDs was about $165 (IIRC). My SS/20 w/2 SM-50s, 4
Meg VSIMM, CD-ROM, 128 Meg RAM, and 2x1 Gig HD was about $250.

An SS/10 system like mine could be built-up fop about $200 ($65 base, $25
framebuffer, 4x16 Meg DIMMs, and a couple drives and an SM-41 should come in
around that number).

My advice, look for a loaded SS/5 110 MHz system (64+ Meg, CD-ROM, fast
TurboGX+ Framebuffer) for well under $300 and buy it. If you tire of
Solaris, that machine can run Linux. Also, make sure you get two drive
bracket/trays, as a replacement bracket/tray will cost you about $20.

Failing that, and SS/20 w/one fast SM-51+ CPU and 128 Meg RAM would be just
as nice, get all the trimmings and DO NOT PAY MORE THAT $300 under any
circumstances!

Once you exceed that price-point, you should be getting a low-end Ultra-1
base system for $500.

HTH,

Ken
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim Ikeda" <tikeda at sprintmail.com>
To: <rescue at sunhelp.org>
Sent: Monday, January 15, 2001 1:18 PM
Subject: [SunRescue] SS10/SS5 comparison questions


> Hello all,
>
> I've been thinking about getting a Sparcstation for home use (and to
> learn Solaris on my off time) and have narrowed the choices to the
> SS10 (40-50Mhz range) and the SS5 (85-110MHz range). Either system
> would ultimately have about the same memory (64-128 MB) and hard
> disk capacity (2-8 GB).
>
> I noticed that the SS5 systems seem to carry a 30-50% premium in price
> over the SS10s. I've read the specs on these models but I don't
> see a lot of differences between the two. I've worked a tiny bit
> with the SS5s at work which were hooked to NMRs but never an SS10.
> What does the SS5 have that is significantly 'better'? Video? Sound?
> Younger age? Cheaper DIMMs?
>
> I wouldn't mind playing MP3s occassionally and better graphics is
> always a plus, but my real goal is to experiment with Solaris, play
> with UNIX system/programming tools and run a home server. Multiple
> processors would be neat but I don't know if I'd ever utilize them.
>
> Any suggestions & advice would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Tim Ikeda
> tikeda at sprintmail.com
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