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Pastimes : Dream Machine ( Build your own PC )

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To: Zeuspaul who wrote (40)	1/24/1998 12:03:00 AM
From: Gary Spiers	Read Replies (1) of 14778

I was browsing for threads and ran across this one and thought I would comment that I have an older SAG P133 machine that I use at work - it has performed faultlessly for almost two years now. I do seem to recall a configuration problem when it first arrived - but that might be because I added some additional components. I also thought I would throw in an alternate viewpoint while I am here: For screens showing multiple indicators and plots, the limiting factor for redisplay is possibly going to be the recalculation and reanalysis of the data rather than the video card speed. This is cpu and memory - the fastest single cpu on the planet is the DEC Alpha (currently available up to 600MHz). Based on predicted performance for Intel's next generation Merced cpu then existing Alpha cpus already surpass them. Alphas run NT4 (I'm using one now) and they will execute x86 (Intel) programs in emulation mode. FX32 (free from DEC) 'watches' x86 code run in emulation and then 'rewrites'the x86 code as native Alpha code so that the program executes more and more quickly with each optimization of the process. The net result is that the usual penalty of slow emulation speed is eliminated - a current 600MHz Alpha system even running an x86 program in emulation mode will still outperform the latest 300MHz Intel cpus. I have run a complete mixture of old Dos, WIn3.1, Win3.11, Win32S, Win95 and WinNT x-86 programs on my old first generation Alpha with few problems - most notable have been that some compilers will not run - not something most pc users will try anyway and if you have an Alpha then why not get an Alpha compiler! Memory - Alphas are RISC cpus which means lots of simple instructions quickly ie their programs are larger than the equivalent x-86 so you should get more than you would for an equivalent Intel machine say 64MB rather than 32MB or 128MB vs 64MB. Disk storage - Never can have enough of this stuff regardless of the type of cpu and of course it needs to be the fastest widest data path you can find (ie SCSI in almost all cases regardless of cpu). Upper end graphics cards are designed to provide blistering performance in manipulating and displaying complex shaped and shaded objects for games (or simulation in my business) and can probably handle the display a trader needs without even noticing the load (I have not seen any real traders screen layouts so I am willing to be told otherwise). Alpha machines can be had for ~$2000 - see for example dcginc.com where I will probably be getting my next one from (no previous experience with them - they just have an excellent reputation in the Alpha community). Finally if you really wish to pull out all the stops then ditch the Windows and go for Linux (on either platform) - but I only really expect to upset one fallacy here :-) GaryS Alpha - The choice of a GNU generation!

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