For the performance-driven user, Digital Equipment Corp.'s Alpha architecture offers an interesting alternative. If your productivity is limited by the performance of one or two high-end applications, and those applications are available for Alpha, then an Alpha system may be a good choice. Today's Alpha processor is the 21164, which Digital offers at clock speeds from 300 to 600 MHz. The actual performance advantage varies greatly depending on the application. The challenge all RISC processors have faced in attacking the PC market is a lack of application software.
Most Alpha systems are far more expensive than typical PCs.
Digital is sampling a new processor, called the 21164PC, that is less expensive than the original 21164 yet delivers nearly as much performance. Next year, Digital plans to begin shipping the 21264, which should leave even Intel's best x 86 processor in the dust, especially in FP performance. If price is no object and you want the world's fastest Windows NT system, this is the processor to watch for.