Compaq adds 90/100MHz Pentiums

Electronic News, Sept 19, 1994

HOUSTON - COMPAQ Computer Corp. last week introduced database servers which extend and enhance its high performance tower and rack-mountable ProLiant families. The new database servers include the 100MHz Pentium-based ProLiant 4000 Model 5/100 - billed as a "super-server" running four of the Intel MPUs - as well as new 90MHz Pentium-based ProLiant 4000 and ProLiant 2000 Model 5/90 systems. Existing ProLiant owners can upgrade to the faster MPUs.

The dual-CPU 90MHz ProLiant 2000 with 32MB of RAM and a 1GB external disk drive will be about $11,000; the four-CPU 100MHz 4000 with 64MB of RAM will be slightly more than $20,000. The 90MHz models will be available this month, while the 100MHz machine will not ship until 4Q.

Gary Stimac, senior VP and GM of Compaq's Systems division, called the products "a new class of database servers." With pre-installed operating systems and database software, Compaq is addressing transaction-oriented and other critical-mission minicomputer markets with systems offering redundant power supplies, integrated network management software and utilities for users to automatically configure systems.

Compaq's SmartStart CD ROM based method for con figuring, installing and optimizing OS software was extended to support Oracle Version 7.1 and Microsoft SQL Server database software. Compaq also is adding the latest version of Windows NT Version 3.5 to its next release of SmartStart, which begins shipping during 4Q.

For software integration, Compaq said it developed a third-level cache option called the Transaction Blaster wth 2MB of memory to improve the speed and efficiency of database transactions via processor scalability and minimal bus utilization. Compaq said the combination of four 100MHz MPUs and Transaction Blaster generates more than 600 transactions-per-second - 70 percent faster than a ProLiant 4000 Model 5/66 with four of the 66MHz Pentium MPUs.

In addition, all the new ProLiant models feature an enhanced 512KB second-level cache. When combined with a 100MHZ Pentium processor, performance is said to be 40 percent greater over ProLiant 5/66 models with their standard 256KB second-level cache.

Compaq also introduced into Asian markets its new Contura 400 line of notebooks, consisting of two color models based on Intel's 40MHz 486DX2 processor and user-upgradable to the 50MHz 486DX2. Standard features include 4MB of RAM (upgradable to 20MB), two PCMCIA slots and an upgradable hard drive.

Estimated selling prices range from to $2,599 to $3,299, with a choice of either dual-scan passive-matrix STN or active-matrix TFT color screens. The passive-matrix models are vendor-upgradable able to TFT, said Compaq.