The choice depends on what you want. Remember that both systems were
originally configured for NT, not for VMS nor Tru64. The point here is that
the white box alpha's may have controllers built-in that were never
supported by VMS or in fact had crippled firmware so that VMS and Tru64
wouldn't run on them. This applies especially for SCSI controllers found in
the 5000 and 7000 models.
Just don't panic now, see below...
The 3000 has an on-board SCSI controller that drives four slots for SCA (80
pin ultra wide) SCSI disks and a CD-ROM. Just above the CDROM there's a slot
free for another SCSI-2 device (50 pin connector and power are available).
Advantages:
- the built-in SCSI controller is supported by VMS and Tru64. The Mylex RAID
controller is supported by VMS but you need additional software to configure
it (I'm not a Mylex fan ;-).
- it has 256 MB, depending on the size of the memory boards you may be able
to install another 256 MB. The 3000 has 8 slots, each four slots must have
the same sized boards.
- the graphics card is not mentiones, usually that's an ELSA Gloria (aka
TRIO) card. Decent performance for DECwindows, period (but you don't buy an
alpha to play games, right?).
- fairly low power consumption; electricity is expensive and high power
consumption means a lot of heat generated by the machine.
Disadvantages:
- the cpu is an EV5 model, as opposed to the EV56 that's inside the 5305. So
the 3000 is slower than than the 5000, more than the 33 MHz difference in
clock speed would suggest.
- internal disks need special trays, these trays are unique to the DS 3000
and AS 800 and not easy to get. Occasionally available on eBay, usually
together with a Fujitsu disk, the RZ1CF-CF.
The 5000 has an internal drive bay that accomodates 7 drives, the SBB
bricks. Usually configured as a split bus configuration. There's an onboard
CSI-2 controller that drives the CD-ROM drive that lives in one of the two
top bays. The other bay is empty and you can put a SCSI-2 disk in there,
power and connector already inside. Most 5000's come with a SCSI controller
that is only supported by NT.
Mine was fitted with a KZPCM (dual UW SCSI and ethernet) to make it work
with VMS.
Advantages:
- up to 2 GB (4 GB?) memory
- two (fast) cpu's
- two power supplies
Disadvantages:
- uses a lot more power than the 3000
- you may need to shop around for a VMS supported SCSI controller
The 5000 is my favourite Alpha (then again my favourite VAX is the model
8550 so go figure ;-). It's the fastest Alpha you can get for free, if
you're lucky.
Before you start bidding on eBay, try Terry Bail (***@rogers.com). He
has a lot of used DEC gear and is an honest guy to deal with.
Check my site: home.zonnet.nl/hvlems
Good luck,
Hans
"jfragemann" <***@hotmail.com> schreef in bericht news:***@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Hello,
Post by H Vlemscheck Ebay for Digital Server auctions. The Digital Server 3000, 5000
and 7000 series are equivalent to the AlphaServer 800, 1200 and 4100.
Thanks for the suggestion. I can see that there are a couple on ebay
right now.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5834413668
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5834417436
Currently, no one seems to be bidding. Which system would you choose?
A Digital Server 5000
Part number: FR-K8F5W-AA
* Alpha 5/533MHz CPU
* 128MB Memory
* 3 x 4GB SCSI Discs
* Graphics Card
* CDRom
* Floppy Disc
OR
A Digital Server 3000
Part number: FR-K7F4W-WA
* Alpha 500MHz CPU
* 256MB Memory
* 4 x 9GB SCSI Discs
* Mylex Raid Controller
* S3 Graphics Card
* DE500 Ethernet
* CDRom
* Floppy Disc
* No O/S?
As a newcomer, I have no idea which system is perferrable to run
OpenVMS on. Also, I understand that they would need to be patched.
Well, "5000" sounds cooler and better, and the enclosure looks nicer,
but choosing a system based on that would be lame ;-)
Thanks for your help guys. I dunno why more people aren't interested in
VMS.
Regards, Jürgen