[rescue] Compaq Proliant 8000

[Charles Shannon Hendrix]

Fri, 30 Apr 2004 @ 07:39 +0100, Mike Meredith said:

> On Thu, 29 Apr 2004 18:30:52 -0400, Dave McGuire wrote:
> > On Apr 29, 2004, at 5:21 PM, Charles Shannon Hendrix wrote:
> > > I have a shit-box PC: 700MHz AMD K7, 256MB RAM, dual Adaptec 2940
> > > SCSI, nVidia graphics, emu10k sound, and misc other pieces.
> > >
> >   The idea that "PCs make cheaper desktop machines" is bullshit.
> 
> Who cares if they do make cheaper desktop machines ? I still wouldn't
> get one. Choose any two of cheap, fast, or classy (and PCs can't be
> classy).

A lot of "workstations" these days are full of PC components.  

> > > You *can* build a PC that won't crash if you chose your parts 
> > > carefully,
> 
> Sure, but why should I spend all that time when I can get a decent
> machine off the eBay shelf ?

I imagine if you were a PC system builder, you would need to spend a lot
of time researching the best components.  Or at least, you should.

But if you just want to build a reliable PC, it shouldn't take you more
than a couple of hours to locate a small subset of components that are
good.  Lot's of others out there have already done the research for you.

I spend a lot of time researching workstation and server hardware too.
That world isn't perfect either.

Compatibility problems with Sun Creator and various Uxx systems, SCSI
drives and RZxxxx drive sleds from DEC, and so on.

I don't take building *any* system lightly.

> > > Desktop power outside of the PC/Apple world is *very* expensive.
> 
> Only if you buy new

I'm talking about same speed as some of the current PC CPU and graphics
setups.  I want to see an equivalent system running the same software,
and compare prices.

I don't mean an unfair comparison against a $300 lowest bidder PC that's
fast for the hour it managed to stay up.

I mean a comparison with a PC with good components that doesn't die
on you with a workstation of similar performance.  A truly good PC is
not really cheap, but I still find it cheaper than a workstation of
equivalent power.

> , and then you're only partially right ... blade150's are pretty
> cheap.

But, but, but... isn't it just a PC with a SPARC CPU?  

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20327&item=3094120206&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

That's $1750.  Is that a good price?

What does decent 3D graphics cost for this Blade?

I used a machine like this, and found the graphics disappointing and the
drive a little slow too.





-- 
shannon "AT" widomaker.com -- [governorrhea: a contagious disease that
spreads from the governor of a state downward through other offices and his
corporate sponsors]