The 90-MHz Pentium market has matured since our last systems Lab Report, but not remarkably so for Unix implementations. The SPEC92 benchmark we use requires the video resolution to be 1024 by 768 pixels by 256 colors, so the shortage of drivers for high-end video cards and this operating system was made markedly clear to us. For this reason, we could not run SCO Unix on three of the 19 systems.
Having 1 GB of storage space might tempt you to install multiple operating systems. To avoid operating-system conflicts, SCO recommends that you install Unix and its root file system in the first 1024 cylinders and add other operating systems in the extended partition.
Among the systems that performed well under Unix but didn't merit the Best Overall ranking, the AT&T Globalyst 600 deserves mention, because it excelled in our Unix SPECint test. Data Storage's DataSt
or P590 also performed well in the Unix drive tests.
The Unix test scores are based on the Pentiums' performance in disk tests, processor-intensive floating-point and integer tests using complex applications, as well as in X graphics tests using the new XMARK93 tests. In contrast, we considered only the performance of DOS, Windows, and low-level Intermark tests in the General Business category.
Illustration: Graph: Rankings for This Category
UNIX PERFORMANCE 60%
FEATURES 30%
EASE OF USE 10%
Digital delivers the best overall Unix box
BEST OVERALL
Digital Equipment DECpc XL590
The DECpc XL590 didn't burn up the track in Unix performance testing, but it had excellent ease-of-use and features scores. The system offers a SCSI hard drive with the controller located on the motherboard, 256 KB of secondary cache memory, a Toshiba Model 4101 CD-ROM drive, and a three-year w
arranty. Although it didn't qualify as a runner-up, the Insight PCI P90 CD posted high Unix scores, and it is an attractive alternative to Digital's Pentium--it has excellent ease-of-use features, and it costs $1373 less than our Best Overall winner.
PRICE CASE
(AS TESTED) TYPE
BEST Digital DECpc XL590 $5672 ##
RUNNER-UP Mitsuba VIP System-90MHZ $3990 #
RUNNER-UP Data Storage DataStor P590 $5845 #
RUNNER-UP AT&T Globalyst 600 $6214 ###
RUNNER-UP Austin Power System 90 $4777 #
PERFORMANCE
SPECINT SPECFP BYTE UNIT
BEST Digital DECpc XL590 65.12 56.55 4.64
RUNNER-UP Mitsuba VIP System-90MHZ 55.33 46.72 3.84
RUNNER-UP Data Storage DataStor P590 66.54 57.92 4.72
RUNNER-UP AT&T Globalyst 600 66.
74 58.22 4.61
RUNNER-UP Austin Power System 90 65.64 56.67 4.84
EASE RAM
OF USE FEATURES (STD./MAX.)
BEST Digital DECpc XL590 **** **** 0/192
RUNNER-UP Mitsuba VIP System-90MHZ ** **** 8/128
RUNNER-UP Data Storage DataStor P590 *** *** 16/128
RUNNER-UP AT&T Globalyst 600 *** **** 8/128
RUNNER-UP Austin Power System 90 *** *** 16/128
DRIVE WARRANTY
CONTROLLER (YEARS)
BEST Digital DECpc XL590 SCSI 3
RUNNER-UP Mitsuba VIP System-90MHZ PCI-SCSI 2
RUNNER-UP Data Storage DataStor P590 PCI-SCSI 3
RUNNER-UP AT&T Globalyst 600 SCSI 3
RUNNER-UP Austin Power System 90 IDE 3
KEY
Excellent **** Tower #
Good ***
Mini-tower ##
Fair ** Desktop ###
Poor *
10 drive bays and slots galore...
MOST EXPANDABLE
Xi Computer XiP90 MTower SP
This $3999 system doesn't have exceptional overall Unix performance results, but it had high Intermark and above-average X Window System scores, due in part to its fast graphics subsystem. The XiP90 MTower SP utilizes a mini-tower design that houses seven expansion slots (four 16-bit and three PCI local bus), as well as 10 drive bays (six 3 1/2-inch and four 5 1/4-inch). On the downside, the XiP90 MTower SP may frustrate some users because its drive bays and SIMM banks block several expansion slots. These blocked slots cannot be used for full-length adapters but are fine for daughterboards.
PRICE CASE
(AS TESTED) TYPE
BEST XiP90 MTower SP $3999 ##
RUNNER-UP Austin Power System 90 $4777 #
RUNNER-UP XiP90 NTower DP $4549 #
RUNNER-UP Insight PCI P90 CD $4299 #
RUNNER-UP Mitsuba VIP System-90MHZ $3990 #
PERFORMANCE
SPECINT SPECFP BYTE UNIT
BEST XiP90 MTower SP 65.15 57.00 4.59
RUNNER-UP Austin Power System 90 65.64 56.67 4.84
RUNNER-UP XiP90 NTower DP 69.34 58.54 4.95
RUNNER-UP Insight PCI P90 CD 65.50 57.75 4.93
RUNNER-UP Mitsuba VIP System-90MHZ 55.33 46.72 3.84
EASE RAM
OF USE FEATURES (STD./MAX.)
BEST XiP90 MTower SP **** *** 8/128
RUNNER-UP Austin Power System 90 *** *** 16/128
RUNNER-UP XiP90 NTower DP **** *** 8/512
RUNNER-UP Insight PCI P90 CD **** ***
16/128
RUNNER-UP Mitsuba VIP System-90MHZ ** **** 8/128
TOTAL BAYS DRIVE
(3 1/2''/5 1/4'') CONTROLLER
BEST XiP90 MTower SP 6/4 IDE
RUNNER-UP Austin Power System 90 4/4 IDE
RUNNER-UP XiP90 NTower DP 4/5 PCI-SCSI
RUNNER-UP Insight PCI P90 CD 9/4 IDE
RUNNER-UP Mitsuba VIP System-90MHZ 5/2 PCI-SCSI
KEY
Excellent **** Tower #
Good *** Mini-tower ##
Fair ** Desktop ###
Poor *
Hertz scales the price/performance curve
LOW COST
Hertz Computer Hertz P90
In this category, where we rank systems selling for less than $4800, the Hertz P90 provides unspectacular, yet respectable, Unix performance. If you need better performance and have a larger budget, try Gateway 2000's P5-90 XL, whic
h had the highest Unix scores in this group and a relatively affordable price of $3699. Gateway's price includes a 17-inch monitor (all other prices reflect a system configured with a 15-inch monitor).
PRICE CASE
(AS TESTED) TYPE
BEST Hertz P90 $2830 ###
RUNNER-UP Gateway P5-90 XL $3699 #
RUNNER-UP Mitsuba VIP System-90MHZ $3990 #
RUNNER-UP Insight PCI P90 CD $4299 #
RUNNER-UP XiP90 NTower DP $4549 #
PERFORMANCE
SPECINT SPECFP BYTE UNIT
BEST Hertz P90 60.71 63.84 3.84
RUNNER-UP Gateway P5-90 XL 65.39 57.36 4.95
RUNNER-UP Mitsuba VIP System-90MHZ 55.33 46.72 3.84
RUNNER-UP Insight PCI P90 CD 65.50 57.75 4.93
RUNNER-UP XiP90 NTower DP 69.
34 58.54 4.95
RAM
OF USE FEATURES (STD./MAX.)
BEST Hertz P90 ** *** 8/128
RUNNER-UP Gateway P5-90 XL **** *** 16/128
RUNNER-UP Mitsuba VIP System-90MHZ ** **** 8/128
RUNNER-UP Insight PCI P90 CD **** *** 16/128
RUNNER-UP XiP90 NTower DP **** *** 8/512
DRIVE WARRANTY
CONTROLLER (YEARS)
BEST Hertz P90 PCI-SCSI 1
RUNNER-UP Gateway P5-90 XL IDE 3
RUNNER-UP Mitsuba VIP System-90MHZ PCI-SCSI 2
RUNNER-UP Insight PCI P90 CD IDE 1
RUNNER-UP XiP90 NTower DP PCI-SCSI 1
KEY
Excellent **** Tower #
Good *** Mini-tower ##
Fair ** Desktop ###
Poor
*
Unix
