Last weekend I saw a copy of Linux (Something or the other) and they were
multiple vendors selling 500 mhz Alpha's for around $3K
* OK, there are lots of old obsolete Alpha chips out there. The only
* one that matters is the 21164a at >= 400MHz with 1MB or more of L3 cache.
*
* If you want one ASAP, go to a clone maker like Aspen Systems.
* A functional 500MHz box (minus screen) starts at circa $3500 with
* Linux or WinNT. You probably would want to soup it up a bit and get a
* screen so count on $5K or $6K. This is a "PC164a" motherboard with
* 1MB cache soldered on.
*
* A Personal Workstation (like mine) with new faster memory chip-set,
* SDRAM and 2MB L3 cache can be had from DEC for twice as many pesos and
* three weeks or so waiting.
*
* If you can wait a month or two, there will be sub-$3K machines with a
* new chip, the 21164PC, around. It's the same chip with bigger L1
* cache, L2 taken off-chip (i.e., L3 becomes L2), motion-video
* instructions and cheaper to make. Presumably a little slower for most
* stuff.
*
* If you have lots ($25K) of money AND you can wait, you can order a
* 600MHz 21164a version but they won't deliver it for a while. On the
* horizon for Autumn are machines with a xxxMhz 21264 which will be
* twice(ish) as fast.
*
* -- Wub.
-
There is no off position on the genius switch. ...David Letterman
<> tbyars@earthlink.net <>