Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc,comp.sys.next.hardware,comp.sys.next.advocacy
Subject: Re: NS486 Confusion - Some answers
From: athomson@otago.ac.nz (Alastair Thomson)
Date: 18 Dec 92 12:42:25 +1300
Organization: University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

In article <1992Dec16.124603.2736@ornl.gov>, gkj@jacobs.esd.ornl.gov (Gary K. Jacobs) writes:
> If anyone in NeXT_Land can provide a clear statement about hardware  
> requirements for NS486, it would be a huge contribution.
This is the "Official" list of hardware requirements from NeXT, it was sent to
me about four days ago by an engineer at NeXT.


General Requirements:

CPU - 486 based PC Compatible Computer. This includes 486SX, 486DX,  
486DX/2. Future Intel Microprocessor designs in the x86 family will  
also be supported. ISA or EISA expansion bus. 486DX and 486DX/2's are  
recommended for better performance.

Available Hard Disk Space - User Environment, 120 MB Minimum.  
Developer Environment, 330 MB Minimum. Larger local disks are  
recommended for stand alone systems.

Graphics:

NeXTSTEP 486's Display Postscript Graphics system supports both  
Grayscale and Color on 486 based PC's. The Graphics Adapter support  
and RAM requirements vary depending upon the user's selection of  
Grayscale or Color.

2 Bit Grayscale System Support:

Graphics Adapters - Most VESA (Video Electronics Standards  
Association) compatible VGA or Super VGA Graphics Adapters. This  
includes popular Super VGA cards from vendors such as the Orchid,  
ATI, Paradise, Video Seven and Compaq. These graphics adapters will  
be supported at resolutions of 1024x768, 800x600 and 640x480.  
Resolutions at or above 800x600 are recommended.

RAM - Minimum 8 MB, 12 MB Recommended.

16 Bit Color System Support:

Graphics Adapters - In order to provide adequate performance and  
Color Quality, NeXTSTEP 486 requires High Performance "Workstation"  
style Graphics Adapters. Many new Graphics Systems are being  
introduced that meet these requirements, they include Intel JAWS  
(such as DELL Processor-Direct Graphics), Chips and Technologies  
Wingine, and certain Local Bus Graphics adapters. Depending upon the  
size of available VRAM (Video RAM) resolutions of 800x600, 1024x768,  
1120x832 and 1280x1024 will be supported. Graphics Adapters designed  
for EISA based PC's are available (such as Compaq QVision 1024/E and  
ATI Graphics Ultra Pro) or being developed, these are currently being  
evaluated for performance and may provide an easy upgrade for  
existing EISA PC's.

RAM - Minimum 16 MB, 24 MB Recommended.

Additional Device Support:

Disk Interfaces - Both IDE and SCSI Hard Disk Interfaces will be  
supported. SCSI adapters from Adaptec and DPT (for both ISA and EISA)  
will be supported, with more to follow.

Pointing Devices - Microsoft and Logitec compatible Bus, PS/2 port  
and Serial mice are supported. In addition certain graphics tablets  
will also be supported.

Printer Support - Any Postscript Level I or II printer connected via  
a serial or parallel port, including the NeXT Color Printer  
(connected via a SCSI port). Support of Non-Postscript printers will  
be available in a future release.

Networking Support  - ISA and EISA based Networking Adapters will be  
supported including Ethernet and Token Ring Cards from vendors such  
as SMC (Western Digital), Intel and 3Com. A Networking card is  
optional.

Sound Support  - Most popular PC sound Cards will be supported for  
both Playback and Recording. These include PC Sound Adapters such as  
the Sound Blaster, MediaVision Pro Audio Spectrum and Integrated  
Business Audio from Compaq. A Sound card is optional.

ISDN Support   - NeXTSTEP 486 will also support high speed digital  
ISDN connections through an ISA add-on card.

Additional Devices - Other popular PC peripherals such as FAX/Modems  
and FAX/Modem add-on cards will be supported.

> The big discussion right now is the  
> Cyrix 486SLC chip versus "real" 486SX & 486DX chips. There is also  
> confusion about video cards and bus requirements.
> 

NeXT have also said specifically that the Cyrix 486SLC *WONT* run NS486 bacos
it is not a 'true' 486, its just an enhaced 386.


-- 
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                                    |
Alastair Thomson,                   | Phone +64-3-479-8347
University of Otago,                | Fax   +64-3-479-8529
Department of Computer Science,     | e-mail athomson@otago.ac.nz
P.O. Box 56                         |
Dunedin                             |
New Zealand                         |

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