[rescue] Ultra SPARC purchase

[Chris Hedemark]

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On Sunday, March 30, 2003, at 06:31 PM, Steve Sandau wrote:

> I have seen Ultra 5s on eBay for $200 BIN with 256M (or more) and a 4G 
> drive. For basic workstation use (mail, browsing, light compiling and 
> possibly a test installation of Oracle) is it worth spending more 
> money to get a 10 or a 30??

The Ultra 5's get a good amount of bashing here, probably more than 
they deserve.  With a later model IDE drive installed they are actually 
pretty decent machines.  However, for just a little more money, you can 
get a dual processor Ultra 2 workstation.

> I know that the 5 is IDE only and I hear that not just any SCSI card 
> will work in it.

Only true if you run Solaris.  Alternative OS's are more flexible in 
what hardware they'll work with.

> It also appears that the factory framebuffer config will only to 
> 24-bit color at 800x600. Not good enough for me. Worth upgrading the 
> video, or should I just buy a 10 instead??

Shhh don't tell my Ultra 5, otherwise it might have to drop to 800x600.

Not all Ultra 5's are configured equally.

If you do go the Ultra 5 route, take a good look at the cache that 
you're getting with your processor.  Fast-ish looking processors 
sometimes come with diminutive cache.  A 333MHz U5 may indeed be 
preferable to a 360MHz.

But like I said, take a look at the Ultra 2 before you spend any money.
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