HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: keiths@cae.wisc.edu (Keith Scidmore)
Subject: Fast hard drives - seek isn't everything.
Organization: College of Engineering, Univ. of Wisconsin--Madison
Date: 17 Dec 92 09:26:40 CST


I asked Hard Drives Intl for their fastest IDE drive (thinking I would
let Zeos keep the Seagate 3283A 245MB drive that came with my system 
and upgrade immediately).  HDI sent me a $1000 FJ2624A 510MB 
Fujitsu IDE drive.  It turned out to be slower than the Seagate on
all the benchmarks and programs I tested even though it had about
an 8 ms seek time to the Seagate's 11 ms.  The following explains
how this was determined and why the Seagate was faster on both
the benchmarks and on real programs.

I started by testing the drives using PCTools, Norton Utilities, 
Checkit, and Core.  They all showed that the 245MB was *much* faster on 
transfers but slower on average seeks.  Thinking that the larger buffer on 
the Seagate was just making the Seagate *look* faster, to these benchmarks, 
I ran some *real* programs and timed the results.  The tests were made 
under DR-DOS 6 and under OS/2 2.0 HPFS.  I tested things like OS2 2.0, 
Windows 3.1,and WIN-OS2 start up times, Xtree manipulations of large (10MB) 
sections of my file structure, and several editors and word processors
working with large files.  My disks were all clean (not badly fragmented).

Results:

The Seagate was 10-20% faster than the Fujitsu on all my program test.  The 
reason is that the Fujitsu drive was about 18% faster on seek times but the 
Seagate was about 50% faster in transferring the data.  I returned the 
Fujitsu to HDI.

There were two things I learned.  First, transfer speed is significant in
choosing a drive.  The Fujitsu's 8 ms average seek time (measured) didn't 
make it faster.  The Fujitsu should have had the additional advantage in that
the software on the larger disk takes less of a percentage of the platters
and the seeks should have been a smaller percentage of the total stroke.

Second, HDI doesn't always know what they are talking about.  They
were inaccurate in telling me the stats of both drives.  My tests
showed that the Seagate Drive on my Zeos 486-66 VLB machine ran faster 
in transferring data than HDI said it *could* by 50%.   This was true even
on the Core benchmark that they suggested I use.  Unless you have a
really fragmented disk I think the Seagate is the better bet.

The bad news is that the Seagate drive is in such demand that HDI can't
get them.  I'll just have to live with the one 245MB that came with my
Zeos system for now.

Keith R. Scidmore

Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: waardenb@cs.utwente.nl (Jerry van Waardenberg)
Subject: Is there an AMD/40 with 8 kb cache
Keywords: AMD
Organization: University of Twente, Dept. of Computer Science
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 09:36:50 GMT

Hi,

A salesman told me that their computers are equipped with an AMD 386/40 with 8 kB
cache on-chip. I've never heared of such a chip. Could it be the Cyrix 486SLC? Or
does AMD really have an 386/40 + 8kB cache?

Greetz,

Jerry

*-------------------------------------------------------*------------------------*
Jerry van Waardenberg                      *        *  /|\        *      *   TIOS
Tele Informatics and Open Systems               *     //|o\    Merry Xmas
Department of Computer Science            *      *   /o/|\\\   and    *        *
University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands      ///|\o\   A Great '93!
E-mail: waardenb@cs.utwente.nl                    *____/ \____   *         *


Xref: sparky comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:33474 comp.sys.mac.hardware:24382
From: pauls@css.itd.umich.edu (Paul Southworth)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: SCSI HD for MAC & PC
Followup-To: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Date: 17 Dec 1992 06:52:10 GMT
Organization: University of Michigan ITD Consulting and Support Services
NNTP-Posting-Host: stimpy.css.itd.umich.edu
Originator: news@stimpy.css.itd.umich.edu

In article <1992Dec16.144912.13323@dartvax.dartmouth.edu> 12100z@d1.dartmouth.edu (Tom Buskey) writes:
>Well, that's the bernoulli.  :-) I think the bernoulli is a bit
>different & I think the older bernoulli drives (& maybe the newer ones
>too) need an adapter to work on macs.  I may be wrong.  My syquest works
>flawlessly on both machines w/ disks formatted for the native
>enviroment.  I've used the syquest on SE/30, IIcx, II, and my Adaptec
>1542b.  I think I used it w/ a Plus once too.


Not an adapter, you need the IOMEGA init to use the drive.








Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.periphs.scsi
From: neese@adaptx1.UUCP (Roy Neese)
Subject: Re: Adaptec 1542B Question
Organization: Adaptec Inc., Texas
Date: Wed, 09 Dec 1992 19:40:49 GMT

In article <1992Dec5.174057.9886@udel.edu> palmer@pecan.cns.udel.edu (Scott Palmer) writes:
> Can anyone tell me if the Adaptec 1542B can support SCSI hard drives
> larger than 1 gig ?  I know that Adaptec makes the 154XB, is that the
> card you must have to use > 1 gig drives ?  Thanks for any info...

With the standard BIOS you the adapter, under DOS, will not be able to
access additional storage beyond 1GB.

BUT, if you are running DOS and only want to run DOS, you can call our
BBS and download an upgrade package that includes a new BIOS/firmware
ROM images which will allow you to put a single drive on the adapter
with a capacity of up to around 4 terra-bytes (actually,...maybe
larger).

Do not use this upgrade package if you intend on using another OS other
than DOS as most of the non-DOS drivers are canned to use the 64 head by
32 sector translation.

The BBS number is (408) 945-7727 or you can call 1-800-959-7274 to talk
to a human being.
---

			Roy Neese
			Adaptec Senior UNIX/SCSI Software Engineer
			UUCP:	convex!egsner!adaptex!neese
			Inet:	neese%adaptex@cirr.com
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: jelast@IASTATE.EDU (Jim Last)
Subject: I'm sick of off-white computers!
Reply-To: jelast@IASTATE.EDU (Jim Last)
Organization: Iowa State University
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 16:59:07 GMT


Hi all,

	Yes, I realize this is a trivial and meaningless
question, (especially when you have such earth-shattering 
topics to deal with, such as "My Mac's better than your PC" 
and the like)* but I was wondering how easy is it to order a 
PC clone in some other color than off-white.  
	I'm a big fan of the NeXT and their contemporary black
design, and even the Zenith Data System configurations that I've
seen are a really neato "bone" color.  
	So in short, could someone humor me and let me know
if most PC dealers can supply different "colored" systems.  
I'd really appreciate the information.   

	Mucho thanks in advance.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Jim Last		|	"Whatever you do, don't let school
			|	 interfere with your education."
jelast@iastate.edu	|	 
Computer Engineering	|	-Mark Twain (I think)
Iowa State University	|		
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

*sarcasm :-)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.mac.hardware,comp.os.ms-windows.advocacy
From: mwiz@cia.austin.ibm.com (Marc Wiz)
Subject: Enigma motherboards
Summary: Need info on Enigma motherboards
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 18:31:52 GMT
Organization: IBM, Austin

I just called Gateway and found out that they are using Enigma motherboards
for their 66mhz EISA system.  

Is anyone familiar with Enigma and the quality of their product?

Thanks,
Marc

mwiz@eureka.austin.ibm.com
(512)823-9330
I speak only for myself.
From: ecn644e@vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: chipset:UMC,OPTi,C&T what are they?
Date: 16 Dec 92 09:54:48 +1100
Organization: Computer Centre, Monash University, Australia

Dear Netters,

What are the differeces between motherboards built according to different kinds
of "chipsets". I heard about names like UMC, OPTi, C&T and of course Intel.
Also people comment about have a 1 or 3 chips configuration. 

Is is one kind of chipset better than the other for some reasons? Sorry if this
is a FAQ. Please enlighten me in this matter.

Thanks in advance.

Simpson.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.intel,comp.sys.mac.hardware
From: wbeebe@bilver.uucp (Bill Beebe)
Subject: Re: RISC defined! Was Re: 486SLC chip.... what is it?
Organization: W. J. Vermillion - Winter Park, FL
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 20:40:09 GMT

In article <1992Dec13.150243.26083@eng.umd.edu> russotto@eng.umd.edu (Matthew T. Russotto) writes:

>Then how did Sun move from the Sun 3 to the Sparc?  The Sparc doesn't
>run 680X0 stuff at all.

Simple. Sun has the source code to its own Unix. They wrote the tools (i.e.
compilers and such) to port their Unix to the Sparc. Once their OS was ported
they supplied this Unix and associated tools, along with development systems,
to key software houses. The result was an OS, tools, and key applications that
were ready to run on the SPARC boxes.

The two key points to remember:

   1) There are far fewer Suns in the world than there are x86 PCs.
   2) Sun was able to move the full software foundation from Moto to SPARC.

I can't remember where I read it or when, but David House of Intel remarked
that Intel sold more 32-bit CPUs in one day than Sun sold in one year (this
was back around '87 or '88, I believe).

And before you start touting Suns ability to move Unix and tools from Moto
to SPARC, keep in mind that it is Microsoft's aim to make Windows NT
platform transparent, with x86 and R4000 systems running it first. Once that's
done, then I believe we'll see a migration from x86 to other architectures.

-- 
William H. Beebe, Jr. - wbeebe@bilver.UUCP
                 UUCP - {ucf-cs,peora,uunet}!tarpit!bilver!wbeebe
                      - bilver Public Access Unix, Orlando FL
                      - (407)644-8327  2400/9600  24 hours  8N1
Xref: sparky comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:33258 comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:15828
From: 93gke@williams.edu (oldwanda)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Need help on TEAC 720K dip switches
Date: 15 Dec 1992 19:18:59 GMT
Organization: Williams College, Williamstown, MA
NNTP-Posting-Host: hancock.cc.williams.edu

There is a mass of DIPs on the back of the TEAC 720k floppy drive.
My drive has stopped working since I switched systems and I am
wondering if anyone could tell me the meaning of these switches??

Thanks,
Greg
93gke@cs.williams.edu
From: pl3x@vax5.cit.cornell.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Harddrive wanted for IBM PC 8088...
Date: 17 Dec 92 03:22:25 EST
Distribution: comp
Organization: Cornell University


WANTED:

Harddrives for 8088, 256K  IBM PC

How much do they cost? Where can I find them?

Thanks,
Todd Stiers
pl3x@vax5.cit.cornell.edu

Xref: sparky comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:33358 comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:15848
From: hurley@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Brian Hurley)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.windows.ms
Subject: Re: Internal 14.4K Modems
Date: 16 Dec 92 06:46:32 GMT
Organization: TI Semiconductor Process and Design Center

>Ray Mitchell (mitch@nosc.mil) wrote:
>: 
>: I'm in the process of buying a 14.4K internal modem and need some guidance.
>: The brands I have had recommended include Intel, USR, Complete Comp,
>: Practical Comp, MACS, and Boca.  Excuse misspellings because all of these
>: have been phone discussions.  Price is an object but it doesn't outweigh
>: reliability.  A FAX feature is desirable but not a must if the price is
>: right.  The best price I found was on a Boca 14.4K FAX modem but one
>: source told me they do not run reliably at 14.4K because they lack a
>: UART, and one can't be added.
>: 
>: Any and all recommendations, insights, and horror stories will be
>: appreciated.  Please get technical about various features, problems,
>: etc.  Please e-mail.
>: 
>: Thanks in advance
>: Ray Mitchell
>: mitch@nosc.mil
>

There is lots of good high speed modems out there but, I'm VERY satisified
with my USR DUAL.   I havn't had any problems with it connections are made
without problems.  It's just been a great modem and I'll buy another!!!

Just my experiences,

Brian

-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Brian Hurley          | Internet: hurley@spdc.ti.com                     |
|                       | Fidonet : Brian.Hurley@f8014.n124.z1.fidonet.org |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xref: sparky comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:33335 comp.sys.intel:2717
From: bigras@mala.bc.ca
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.intel
Subject: Re: 486SLC chip..NextStep on Cyrix
Date: 15 Dec 92 19:26:35 -0700
Organization: Malaspina College

In article <Bz89I7.23u@hfglobe.intel.com>, sting@hfglobe.intel.com (Joe Bennett) writes:
> 
> As for why the 486SLC by Cyrix will not run NeXTStep, I think
> something should be considered:
> 
> NeXTStep is the first, to the best of my knowledge, 32 bit
> anything for the general PC market since Cyrix and AMD started
> their clone operations.  I don't believe that Cyrix could have
> possibly tested 32 bit stuff adequately, because there was very
> little of it out there, and they were aiming for the entry level
> market as well.
> 
> My feeling is, they booted up DOS, Windows, probably a flight
> simulator and a spreadsheet, and said, "It's compatible" (okay,
> I'm sure the tests were more involved than that, but that's the
> general idea.)

   Yea right, this guy must be speaking from his first hand experience
with how Intel tested their first batch of 386 chips.  They ran
DOS and Flight Simulator but didn't produce valid results on their
32 bit opps.

> 
> Now when Next ported their OS to the 486, they probably had to
> do some tweaking to their compilers.  This probably meant getting
> an Intel 486 programmer's reference manual to do it.  After fixing
> a few bugs (either due to something undocumented in the manuals,
> documented incorrectly, etc) they got the OS functional.  These
> nondocumented/incorectly documented things could be a partial
> reason for what's causing NeXTStep not to run on the Cyrix chip.
> 
> Two broad assumptions on my part, but I wouldn't be surprised if
> that had at least something to do with it.
> 

The rumours I like are the ones that involve Intel convincing NEXT
to write only for the 486 to kill the 386 cloners off.  In the case
of Cyrix it must be a variation of the story told of Billy boy when
MS was developing DOS v2.0 .  Rumour is Bill said 'It ain't finished
until it wont run Lotus'

Tony Bigras

ok

> I really wouldn't be too surprised if other true 32 bit code for
> the x86 family also had problems on the Cyrix part.
> 
> But we'll have to wait and see.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: tclark@news.weeg.uiowa.edu (Terry Clark)
Subject: Re: Matrox Impression 1024
Organization: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 03:04:14 GMT

>Matrox Impression 1024
24-bit TrueColor card
1024x768x24bit
3MB VRAM
S3 Chip
$655

>I have never heard the name Matrox before and would like to know if anyone
>else did. If you do please mail me a short description of your experiences
>with Matrox. 

 --
 >Thomas Leibold   +1-408-7434388   thomas@plx.com   {uupsi,sun}!plx!thomas
 >PLEXUS Software, a division of REI. 1310 Chesapeake Terrace, Sunnyvale CA 94089

There is a review of 24 bit graphics boards in a new BYTE
supplement.  Here are some excerpts from that review about the 
Matrox Impression 1024:

3MB VRAM uses S3's 86C911 fixed-function chip
24 bit resolutions up to 1024 x 768 using Brooktree's BT484
   24 bit RAMDAC and is VBE BIOS compliant.
It replaces your VGA adapter.
Matox should be shipping a hardware pan and zoom utility that
   will allow 2x-4x zooms with a mouse click.
It is bundled with Win3.x and over 20 DOS apps drivers.
Easy board installation and setup.
At 1024x768x24 cursor was a little blurry, but the screen
   was beautifully stable, pinpoint sharp, and clear.
The WinTach results were slow for it's group, but about
   twice as fast as a Speedstar 24x.

They liked the Matox Impression 1024 commenting that it had
   one of the sharpest and clearest outputs and excellent
   Windows displays.
_________

Where did you find it for $655?
___________
Terry Clark P.A.        tclark@umaxc.weeg.uiowa.edu
From: edwong@bu.edu (Edward Wong)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: External case for devices (SCSI)
Date: 10 Dec 92 13:39:58 GMT
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5

Does anyone know where I can get external case for some SCSI devices?  I am
going to buy a new SCSI drive, and I am also running out of drive bay, so I
am thinking of buying external cases. Thanks.

--
8)
  _               _     | user's name:  Edward Wong
 |_ |\ \   / /\  |_) |\ | ARPA:     edwong@acs.bu.edu	
 |_ |/  \^/ /==\ | \ |/ | UUCP:     acs.bu.edu!edwong	
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.os.os2.misc
From: llamas@itd.itd.nrl.navy.mil (Winston Llamas)
Subject: svga card for os/2
Reply-To: llamas@itd.nrl.navy.mil
Organization: Naval Research Lab, Washington, DC
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 17:42:01 GMT

I am looking for a fast and well supported svga adapter to use with OS/2.  I
am currently using a Diamond Speedstar on a 386/33 clone.  Diamond's support
policies towards OS/2 are not particularly good, and the board itself is very
slow when used with OS/2 (I am using the generic 800x600x16 driver).  Can
someone recommend a fast svga board (or accelerator) with a good set of OS/2
2.0 drivers?  Thanks.

Winston
--
#========================================================#
# Winston M. Llamas       email: llamas@itd.nrl.navy.mil #
#========================================================#

Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: hanzak@jazz.concert.net (Jayme Hanzak)
Subject: Video Digitizer Help
Organization: MCNC Center for Communications -- CONCERT Network
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 16:11:10 GMT

I recently purchased a used digitizing board, TECMAR Video Van-Gogh. 
My question to the news group is, Does any body have a Program that they
can recommend to use with the board. There is an Assembly program that was
in the book that came with it, however, I'm having a dog of a time trying
to assemble it. It's one of those Learning things. Know what I mean Vern.
Will somebody help me PLEASE?

Thanks for listening to my plea.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.sys.amiga.misc
From: chiang@cs.uiuc.edu (Sam. H.K. Chiang)
Subject: Re: Seagate ST-225
Organization: University of Illinois, Dept. of Comp. Sci., Urbana, IL
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 08:15:36 GMT

ted@helios.UCSC.EDU (Ted Cantrall) writes:

>->In article <1992Dec07.022359.1125887@sue.cc.uregina.ca>, hameluck@mercury.cs.uregina.ca (Jeff Hameluck) writes:
>->> I just got a free Segate ST-225 drive and I want to use it with an old XT
>->> motherboard but I want to low level format it.  Anyone have the specs?
>->> Heads, Cylinders, Write Precomp, Landing Zone, etc.

>4 head	615 cyl	300 write precomp  17 sectors	65 ms   7 step rate   MFM

>->
>->When you do finally get it going, BACK IT UP OFTEN!!!  I understand that
>->these drives are rather notorious for crashing, and I did have one crash
>->on me.
>I think there was a time when they were having some problems with ST225s, but
>we have a half dozen or more and haven't had any problem. I suspect there are
>more ST225s "out there" than any other single drive, so they can't be all
>that bad.

The ST225 I got never have problems for three years.

Sam.
-- 


+--------------------------------------------------------+
+ Sam. H.K. Chiang					 +
+ Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois +
+ e-mal : chiang@cs.uiuc.edu				 +
From: ilan343@violet.berkeley.edu (Geraldo Veiga)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Info request: Wangtek 5099EN24 Tape drive + Sysgen controller
Date: 19 Dec 1992 06:56:52 GMT
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
NNTP-Posting-Host: violet.berkeley.edu

I have inherited an older Wangtek tape unit -- Model 5099EN24.
This is a QIC-24 drive (60M with 600 tapes).  It was used under DOS
with the software that came with the the controller a Sysgen 5500A.

Here is the problem:  I want to use this drive under unix.  My OS
supports it in combination with a PC36 controller.  Has anyone ever
heard of this Sysgen card?  Is it supposed to be compatible with the
PC36 controller?

Thanks for any hints.  I don't know this type of drives very well.
Are these inteface cards supposed to be compatible with each other?
I tried to use the Wangtek driver under ISC unix and it didn't seem to
work.
From: shyguy@ocf.berkeley.edu (David S. Shy)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: High density (chinon) drive on XT (revisited)
Date: 13 Dec 1992 14:18:28 GMT
Organization: U.C. Berkeley Open Computing Facility
NNTP-Posting-Host: tornado.berkeley.edu

Sure it's possible, i installed one in my brother's xt.

as for the jumpers and switeches... i've no clue... i installed
the card (w/ the proper 1.2 Meg. settings) and that was it.  i 
didn't even mess w/ the settings on the drive.

i remember (vaguely) running into a similiar problem as yours
though, when i installed the drive.  i think in my case, i was
using a dos version which was too old, so you might want to
check yours out.  i believe i was using ver 3.1 (i lost track
of what version has what after i got my 486 and started using
os/2), and i think when i switched to ver 3.2 (from my epson
notebook which died after just 1.5 yrs of usage... :( it read
all the 1.2 disks beautifully.  (i've tried to use ver 5.0
many times, but it refuses to recognize the full capacity
of my old HD, and it used up too much mem anyways...)


-- 
=============================================================================
| David Shy                |  "You know anything about Windoze?", "Sure I   |
| shyguy@ocf.berkeley.edu  |  know OS/2", "No, Windows!", "Oh, Warbage!",   |
| shyguy@soda.berkeley.edu |  "No, Windows, the OS", "Micro$oft has an OS?" |
=============================================================================
From: dougw@ks25.chi.il.us (Doug Waldron)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Viewsonic 7 review
Date: 11 Dec 92 18:27:51 GMT
Organization: R. R. Donnelley & Sons

Viewsonic 7: 17" monitor

I bought this monitor locally this week, and I have gone through 3 so
far.  I am attaching it to a Gateway 2000 66V, ATI Ultra Pro system.

The display of the first monitor was tilted.
The second monitor looks nice up to 800x600, but at 1024x768 70Hz(vert)
The upper right corner of the screen has a hook (exagerated of course):

  ----------------------------------------------------
  |                                                  /
  |                                                 |
  |                                                 |
  |                                                  \
  |                                                  |
  |                                                  |

And the upper left corner has a similar, but less noticeable hook.

The third monitor has the same hook, but not as bad.

Under windows 3.1, at 1024x768, the small fonts are a little fuzzy.
After I receive my ATI upgrade (2Meg Vram), I'll test out 1280x1024.

Anyone else have a Viewsonic 7?
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware