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If you're shopping for an enterprise-level multiprocessor server, you'll notice a new player with a familiar name: Intel Corp. The giant chipmaker, dominant in the PC and small server markets, is challenging RISC technology with multichip architectures built around Pentium III and Pentium III Xeon processors and Intel boards.
Tips for buyers |
'Buy a unit that has as many processors as you can afford. 'Compare hard drive manufacturers' mean time between failure data as well as the rotational speeds and storage capacities of the drives. 'Use high-speed 40X or 48X CD-ROM drives. 'Buy a UPS. 'Choose redundancy options for maximum data security. 'Store backup tapes away from your servers in case of fire, flood or other catastrophe. 'Remember that Win 2000 and Linux are emerging as popular server operating systems and both offer multithreading for eight-way processing. |
Intergraph's Zx10 Server holds two processors and can use up to 8G of RAM. GSA pricing starts at $3,194. |
Flexible flyer
IBM's Netfinity 5500, with dual 500-MHz Pentium III processors and 10 hot-swap drive bays, starts at $4,865. |
J.B. Miles of Pahoa, Hawaii, writes about communications and computers.
Vendor | Product | Pentium III processors | Board design | Memory (standard/ maximum) | Hot-swap drive bays | Expansion slots | Price |
Acer America Corp. San Jose, Calif. 408-432-6200 www.acer.com | Altos 9100B | 500-MHz | Dual | 256M/1G | Eight | Five PCI, two ISA | $3,280 up |
Altos 12000 Model 9550 | 550-MHz Xeon | Dual | 512M/2G | Eight | Five PCI, one PCI/ISA | $5,959 up | |
Altos 21000 Model 9550 | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 512M/4G | Eight | Six PCI, One PCI/ISA | $8,200 up | |
Amdahl Corp. Sunnyvale, Calif. 703-648-0301 www.amdahl.com | Teamserver M890ie | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 256M/8G | Eight | 10 PCI, one PCI/ISA | $38,288 |
Teamserver L890ie | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 256M/4G | Eight | Six PCI, One PCI/ISA | $31,471 | |
Teamserver G870ie | 550-MHz | Dual | 512M/2G | Eight | Six PCI | $9,061 | |
Teamserver C870ix | 600-MHz | Dual | 128M/1G | Three | Three PCI, two ISA | $3,089 | |
Teamserver HS900 | 550-MHz Xeon | Eight-way | 256M/32G | Eight | Four PCI, six PCI/ISA (hot-plug) | $49,868 | |
AST Research Inc. Irvine, Calif. 310-407-2600 www.ast.com | Premium 2000 | 500-MHz | Dual | 128M/1G | Six | Three PCI, two ISA | $3,525 up |
Boldata Technologies Inc. Fremont, Calif. 800-923-2653 www.boldata.com | CSS 5000 | 550-MHz Xeon | Dual | 128M/1G | Six | Three PCI, two ISA | $2,989 to $4,089 |
CSS 9000 | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 128M/2G | Six | Three PCI, two ISA | $6,099 to $9,559 | |
Compaq Computer Corp. Houston 281-370-0670 www.compaq.com | ProLiant DL380R | 733-MHz | Dual | 128M/4G | Six | Four PCI | $4,865 GSA |
ProLiant 5500R | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 256M/4G | Four | Five PCI, one PCI/ISA (hot-plug) | $6,720 GSA | |
ProLiant 6400R | 500-MHz Xeon | Quad | 128M/4G | Four | Five PCI, one PCI/ISA (hot-plug) | $7,636 GSA | |
ProLiant 8500 | 550-MHz Xeon | Eight-way | 256M/8G | Four | 11 PCI | $13,887 GSA | |
CSS Laboratories Inc. Irvine, Calif. 949-852-8161 www.csslabs.com | MaxPro 1100 Xeon | 550-MHz Xeon | Dual | 128M/2G | Eight | Five PCI, two ISA, one AGP | $8,554 GSA |
MaxPro 1500 Xeon | 550-MHz Xeon | Dual | 128M/2G | 11 | Five PCI, two ISA, one AGP | $8,911 GSA | |
PowerPro HS Xeon | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 128M/4G | Six | Six PCI, one PCI/ISA | $11,710 GSA | |
Cubix Corp. Carson City, Nev. 775-888-1000 www.cubix.com | Z Model Option 1 | 550-MHz | Dual | 64M/2G | Three | Four PCI | $6,582 up |
Z Model Option 2 | 550-MHz | Quad | 128M/2G | Three | Four PCI | $8,574 up | |
RR Model Option 1 | 550-MHz | Dual | 64M/2G | Three | Four PCI | $8,484 up | |
RR Model Option 2 | 550-MHz | Quad | 128M/2G | Three | Four PCI | $10,934 up | |
Data General Corp. Westboro, Mass. 508-898-5000 www.dg.com | AV 1400 | 700-MHz | Dual | 256M/2G | Four | Four PCI | $5,117 |
AV 2700R | 600-MHz | Dual | 64M/1G | Six | Seven PCI | $4,477 GSA | |
AV 3700R | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 128M/4G | Six | Seven PCI | $7,165 GSA | |
AV 3704R | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 128M/4G | Six | Seven PCI | $8,957 GSA | |
AV 8900 | 550-MHz Xeon | Eight-way | 256M/16G | Two | 10 PCI | $21,117 GSA | |
Dell Computer Corp. Round Rock, Texas 512-338-4400 www.dell.com | PowerEdge 4300 | 500-MHz | Dual | 512M/2G | Eight | Four PCI, two PCI/ISA | $13,080 |
PowerEdge 4400 | 600-MHz | Dual | 512M/2G | Eight | Four PCI, two PCI/ISA | $11,648 | |
PowerEdge 6300 | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 256M/4G | Eight | Four PCI, two PCI/ISA | $19,495 | |
PowerEdge 8450 | 550-MHz Xeon | Eight-way | 512M/16G | Eight | Four PCI, two PCI/ISA | $53,465 | |
DTK Computer Inc. Chantilly, Va. 703-222-9194 www.dtkcomputer.com | Cosmos NT Server | 600-MHz | Dual | 128M/2G | Five | Six PCI, one ISA | $1,281 up |
Gateway Inc. San Diego 800-846-4208 www.gateway.com | ALR 7200 | 500-MHz | Dual | 64M/1G | Three | Six PCI, one PCI/ISA | $2,439 up |
ALR 7300 | 500-MHz Xeon | Dual | 64M/1G | Three | Six PCI, one PCI/ISA | $2,799 up | |
ALR 8200r | 500-MHz | Dual | 64M/1G | Six | Six PCI, one ISA, one PCI/ISA | $2,699 to $3,744 | |
ALR 9200r | 500-MHz Xeon | Quad | 128M/4G | Six | Six PCI, one PCI/ISA | $6,099 to $7,144 |
Vendor | Product | Pentium III processors | Board design | Memory (standard/ maximum) | Hot-swap drive bays | Expansion slots | Price |
Hewlett-Packard Co. Palo Alto, Calif. 650-857-1501 www.hp.com | NetServer LC 2000/2000r | 733-MHz | Dual | 128M/4G | Six | Six PCI | $3,789 up |
NetServer LH 3000/3000r | 733-MHz | Dual | 128M/4G | 12 | Eight PCI | $4,619 up | |
NetServer LH 3 & 3r | 600-MHz | Dual | 128M/1G | 12 | Eight PCI, one PCI/ISA | $4,379 up | |
NetServer LH 4 & 4r | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 256M/4G | 12 | Eight PCI, one PCI/ISA | $8,559 up | |
NetServer LXr 8000 | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 256M/8G | 12 | Nine PCI, one PCI/ISA | $15,070 up | |
NetServer LXr 8500 | 550-MHz Xeon | Eight-way | 256M/8G | 12 | Nine PCI, one PCI/ISA | $20,660 UP | |
IBM Corp. Armonk, N.Y. 914-765-1900 www.ibm.com | Netfinity 3500 M10 Part No. | 600-MHz | Dual | 128M/1G | Eight | Six PCI/ISA | $2,379 up |
Netfinity 4000R Part No. 865222Y | 500-MHz | Dual | 1G/2G | Four | Two PCI, one PCI/ISA | $7,345 up | |
Netfinity 5000 Part No. 86598RY | 700-MHz | Dual | 128M/2G | Five | Five PCI | $3,589 up | |
Netfinity 5500 Part No. 86607SU | 550-MHz | Dual | 256M /1G | 10 | Seven PCI | $4,865 up | |
Netfinity 5500M10 Part No. 86615RY | 550-MHz | Quad | 256M/2G | 10 | Seven PCI | $7,095 up | |
Netfinity 5500 M20 Part No. 86624RY | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 256KM/4G | 10 | Six PCI | $9,889 up | |
Netfinity 5600 Part No. 86643RY | 667-MHz | Dual | 256M/4G | 10 | Five PCI | $5,045 up | |
Netfinity 7000 M10 Part No. 86803SY | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 256M/8G | Six | 12 PCI (hot-plug) | $14,745 up | |
Netfinity 8500R Part No. 86816RY | 550-MHz Xeon | Eight-way | 256M/16G | Two | 12 PCI (hot-plug) | $20,409 up | |
Intergraph Federal Systems Huntsville, Ala. 800-747-2232 www.intergraph.com | Zx1 Server | 700-MHz | Dual | 256M/1G | Three | Four PCI, one PCI/ISA, one ISA, one AGP | $4,712 up GSA |
Zx10 Server | 750-MHz | Dual | 256M/8G | Three | Six PCI, one AGP | $3,194 up GSA | |
Ion Computer Systems Inc. Hauppauge, N.Y. 631-630-0600 www.ioncomputers.com | CC440GX+ Server | 550-MHz Xeon | Dual | 64M/1G | Six | Six PCI | $3,475 up |
AC450NX Server | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 128M/8G | Two | 10 PCI | $12,910 | |
Micron PC Inc. Meridian, Idaho 888-208-1937 www.micronpc.com | NetFrame 5200 | 550-MHz Xeon | Dual | 128M/2G | Six | Six PCI, one ISA | $5,199 up |
NetFrame 6200 | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 256M/4G | Six | Six PCI, one ISA | $9,449 up | |
NetFrame 9200 | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 256M/8G | Six | Six PCI, one ISA | $13,999 up | |
NEC Computers Inc. Sacramento, Calif. 888-446-8632 www.nec-computers.com | Express5800 LS 2400 | 550-MHz | Dual | 128M/1G | Four | Three PCI, one ISA | $1,700 up GSA |
Express5800 LS 120Ld | 533-MHz | Dual | 128M/2G | Four | Three PCI, one ISA | $2,629 up GSA | |
Express5800 MC2400 | 600-MHz | Dual | 256M/2G | Four | Three PCI, one ISA | $4,464 up GSA | |
Express5800 120Mc2 | 733-MHz | Dual | 256M/4G | Four | Six PCI, one PCI/ISA | $4,920 up GSA | |
Express5800 HX 4600 | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 256M/4G | Eight | 10 PCI (8 hot- plug), 1 PCI/ISA | $11,396 up GSA | |
Express5800 MH4500 | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 256M/4G | Six | Seven PCI, one ISA | $6,828 up GSA | |
PC Club City of Industry, Calif. 626-913-2582 www.pcclub.com | Enpower EN992-PO5 | 500-MHz | Dual | 128M/1G | Five | Five PCI, one ISA | $2,199 up |
Enpower EN992-X06 | 550-MHz Xeon | Dual | 128M/2G | Six | Six PCI, one ISA | $4,299 up | |
Enpower EN993-X04 | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 128M/4G | Six | Six PCI, one ISA | $6,259 up | |
Perifitech Hinckley, Ohio 330-278-2070 www.perifitech.com | Aerial Dual Xeon Superserver | 550-MHz Xeon | Dual | 128M/2G | 12 | Six PCI, one ISA, one AGP, one PCI/ISA | $8,129 |
Aerial Quad Xeon Superserver | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 512M/4G | 23 | Seven PCI, one ISA, one PCI/ISA | $17,999 | |
Polywell Computers Inc. S. San Francisco, Calif. 650-583-7222 www.polywell.com | PolyServer 450NX4 | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 128M/4G | Nine | Seven PCI, one PCI/ISA | $9,995 up |
PolyServer 450NX9 | 500-MHz Xeon | Quad | 128M/4G | Four | Seven PCI, one PCI/ISA | $9,995 up |
Vendor | Product | Pentium III processors | Board design | Memory (standard/ maximum) | Hot-swap drive bays | Expansion slots | Price |
Quantex Microsystems Inc. Somerset, N.J. 732-563-4166 www.quantex.com | QX5000 | 750-MHz | Dual | 128M/1G | Five | Six PCI, one ISA | $2,599 |
QX6200 | 550-MHz Xeon | Dual | 128M/2G | Six | Six PCI, one ISA | $4,099 up | |
QX6400 | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 512M/8G | Six | Six PCI, one ISA | $6,999 up | |
SGI Mountain View, Calif. 650-960-1980 www.sgi.com | 1200 | 700-MHz | Dual | 128M/2G | Four | Two PCI | $3,881 up |
1400M | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 128M/4G | Six | Seven PCI | $8,584 up | |
Tangent Computer Inc. Burlingame, Calif. 888-826-4368 www.tangent.com | ProServ 1200 | 600-MHz | Dual | 128M/1G | Five | Four PCI, two ISA | $2,370 up |
ProServ 1400 | 600-MHz | Dual | 128M/2G | Five | Four PCI, two ISA | $2,841 up | |
ProServ 1600 | 600-MHz | Dual | 128M/2G | Five | Four PCI, two ISA | $2,823 up | |
ProServ 2000 | 550-MHz Xeon | Dual | 128M/2G | Six | Six PCI, one ISA | $6,714 up | |
ProServ 3000 | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 256M/4G | Six | Six PCI, one ISA | $9,420 up | |
ProServ 5000 | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 256M/8G | Nine | Six PCI | $16,864 up | |
Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. Irvine, Calif. 949-583-3000 www.csd.toshiba.com | Magnia 3010 | 600-MHz | Dual | 128M/1G | Four | Three PCI, one PCI/ISA, one ISA | $2,375 up |
Magnia 5010 | 550-MHz | Dual | 128M/1G | 12 | Three PCI, one PCI/ISA, one ISA | $4,503 up | |
Magnia 5100 | 550-MHz Xeon | Dual | 256M/2G | 12 | Six PCI, one ISA | $6,441 up | |
Magnia 7010 | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 256M/4G | 12 | Six PCI, one ISA | $12,690 up | |
Unisys Corp. McLean, Va. 703-556-5029 www.unisys.com | Aquanta ES2043 | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 256M/4G | Six | Six PCI, one PCI/ISA | $4,800 up |
Aquanta ES2085R | 550-MHz Xeon | Eight-way | 512M/32G | Two | 10 PCI | $19,000 up | |
Aquanta ES5043/ ES5043R | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 256M/4G | Six | Six PCI, one PCI/ISA | $5,550 up | |
Aquanta ES5045/ ES5045R | 550-MHz Xeon | Quad | 256M/8G | 12 | 10 PCI, one PCI/ISA | $8,200 to $9,700 | |
Aquanta ES5085R | 550-MHz Xeon | Eight-way | 1G/32G | Two | 10 PCI | $19,700 up |