Subject: FW: FW: Fastest computer 21164A
From: Scott Pincus <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 16:20:05 -0800

This post was a paraphrased from DeskStations response to me,  in response to the recent Alpha Wars discussion. I thought that the truest out there would be interested.  This is not meant to rekindle the war, only to add some minor clarifications. 

>From:  [email-masked][SMTP:[email-masked]]
>Sent:  Tuesday, January 30, 1996 12:54 PM
>To:  [email-masked]
>Subject:  Re: Fastest computer 21164A
>
>Scott,
>
>Thanks for your posting.  
>
>1.	Go into storage and pick-up Raptor 3 Literature
>2.	Read the third product.
>3.	It is a Raptor 3 with 333Mhz 21164
>	Conclusion: There is a 333Mhz 21164, NOT 300Mhz

Correct. There is a 333MHZ 21164 at a very high price. DeskSattion offers it
on their liturate but is honest in telling the customer base that we believe
it is not owrth the price for the performance increase ( unless of course
you do not buy the 21164/333MHZ and buy the 21164/300MHZ and jsut clock it up. )

>4.	Contact Digital
>5.	There is another Alpha chip that runs 366Mhz.

There is only one certified Alpha chip that runs at 366MHZ and it is not a
clocked up 21164 EV5. It is a 366MHZ 21164 EV56. DEC is not calling this the
21164A any longer.
>
>6.	Yes, there is another Alpha chip that has an "A" suffix.

Incorrect. From the last input we had from DEC the only "A" party is the 21064A.
The new 21164/366, 400 and 433MHZ parts from DEC will be refered to as EV56.

>7.	The 21064A is another Alpha chip.  It too is an EV5 chip but with different
>	voltage inputs. 

Incorrect. It is an EV45.

 You can NOT put the 21164A chip into a 21164 socket.

Correct. Different voltage levels.
>	Bad things happen.  Performance wise, the 21164A is similar to the
>	21164, 

Similiar yes but not identical. It is a die shrink of the 21164. This is why
they are going to offer more reliable ( Life tested ) 366,400, and 433MHZ
parts. The parts yield to faster speeds over temperature due to the die shrink.

unless you modify your board to take advantage of synchronus
>	cache and DRAM.  If  you do not modify the board to take advantage
>	of this cache change, the only difference is speed.  

And voltage levels. This  why the Alcor ASIC chip set in its current form
on the DEC reference designs ( the ones every one else is just reselling )
will not work with the EV 56.

>
>We have run EV5 chips as high as 400 and 433Mhz for lab testing.  We haven't
>shipped any. 

Why not? Because they will not run for very long over tempurature. How do I
know> Because we have done the same.

 >We have benchmarks showing the 400 and 433 posting some really
>awesome numbers. 

YES. :-)
 We have been shipping 333Mhz.  We have some 366Mhz 

He forgot to say EV 5. 

prototypes running
>at the VTU show, Autofact and other shows.  

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