IBM introduces family of 486-based PS/2s, new graphics, options optimized for advanced technology; function, performance, upgradeability

Business Wire

October 30, 1990

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- IBM Tuesday expanded the high end of the Personal System/2(a) family with a variety of new systems and options that deliver advanced functions and substantial performance gains over previous PS/2(a) models.

Designed to unleash the power of the Intel i486(a) processor, two new PS/2 members -- the PS/2 Model 95 XP 486 and the PS/2 Model 90 XP 486 -- combine the industry's fastest microprocessor with the Micro Channel(a) architecture, advanced graphics, known as Extended Graphics Array (XGA), high-speed memory that has been optimized for the i486, and significant storage capacities to satisfy customers' most-advanced computing needs.

An integrated design combines a new high-performance graphics subsystem, a unique processor-complex design that is upgradeable for future technology, and an advanced file subsystem with the i486 processor to deliver throughput rates that are up to two-and-a-half times faster than the top-of-the-line, floor-standing PS/2 Model 80-A31.

``The PS/2 Model 90 and 95 optimize their design around Intel's i486 technology, delivering a new level of computing power to IBM customers. And the flexibility of the Micro Channel architecture enables many of the options announced today to be used by customers who invested years ago in their PS/2 systems,'' said James A. Cannavino, IBM vice president and general manager, Personal Systems.

The systems feature a unique processor-complex design that allows the microprocessor, memory controller, memory cache option, and system input/output (I/O) control to be upgraded to accommodate advances in future technologies.

The Model 95 and the Model 90 are available with either a 25 megahertz (MHz) or 33 MHz processor, depending on customer requirements. Customers with 25 MHz versions of these advanced systems can easily upgrade to the power of the 33 MHz 486 with installation of the IBM PS/2 486/33 Processor Upgrade Option. In addition, an optional 256 kilobyte (KB) memory cache may be integrated to achieve even faster processing power. Both of these options were announced today.

The IBM PS/2 5 1/4-Inch Slim High Diskette Drive, an internal 1.2 megabyte (MB) drive, also introduced today, is available as an option on these models.

The systems come standard with 4 MB of high-speed, 70 nanosecond (ns) memory. Total system memory can be expanded to 32 MB on the system board, so no memory expansion cards are required. Customers may also use 80 ns and/or 85 ns memory, which will be automatically addressed through an automatic memory adjustment feature in the systems.

Both systems include several other enhanced features, such as an advanced memory design, which enables the system processor to address memory directly through its own 64-bit data path; serial and parallel direct memory access (DMA) ports for significant performance enhancements; and a selectable boot mode, which enables customers to boot the system from any hard file installed.

IBM also introduced today four new PS/2s -- three new models of the PS/2 Model 80 and a new version of the PS/2 Model 65 SX, in addition to price reductions on the PS/2 Model 70 486 and various PS/2 memory options.

All the systems announced today feature the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), which enables customers to install seven peripherals -- such as fixed disks, CD-ROM drives or tape backup -- through a single expansion slot. The Model 95 and the Model 90 include the IBM PS/2 Micro Channel SCSI Adapter with Cache, a 32-bit busmaster with a 512 KB cache for enhanced data I/O operations. The Model 80s and the Model 65 SX include a 16-bit busmaster, the PS/2 Micro Channel SCSI Adapter.

The PS/2 Model 95 XP 486

The PS/2 Model 95 XP 486 is a local-area network (LAN) server with plenty of memory, storage and advanced technologies to handle complex network-server tasks.

The floor-standing system can accommodate nearly 9 gigabytes (GB) of IBM storage options -- 1.6 GB is supported internally through inclusion of up to five 320 MB fixed disks; an additional 2.24 GB of storage is available through the PS/2 External Storage Enclosure for SCSI Devices, also announced today. Up to four of these enclosures can be attached to the system.

Both the 25 MHz version (the Model 95-OJD) and the 33 MHz version (the Model 95-OKD) come standard with a single 320 MB, 12.5 millisecond (ms) SCSI fixed disk, a single 1.44 MB diskette drive and the PS/2 Micro Channel SCSI Adapter with Cache. The 25 MHz system also is available with a 160 MB fixed disk (the Model 95-OJ9). Additional disk drives and options can be accommodated through the systems' five internal storage bays and six available 32-bit expansion slots.

These new high-end systems, coupled with the recently announced medialess PS/2 Model 55 LS, work together to further expand IBM's offerings for LANs and client/server computing.

In client/server computing, individual intelligent workstations, known as ``clients,'' can request services from a server, making the full resources of the network available to each user.

The Model 95s also have a built-in graphics busmaster, called the IBM PS/2 XGA Display Adapter/A. This busmaster provides a screen resolution of 1024 by 768 picture elements (pixels) with 256 colors at a speed that is 90 percent faster than IBM Video Graphics Array/Adapter (VGA), when running DOS applications in the low-resolution mode.

The PS/2 Model 95 XP 486 is supported by DOS 3.3, DOS 4.0, OS/2 1.2, OS/2 1.3, SCO UNIX System V/386 Version 3.2v2.0, Novell NetWare Version 3.1, and Banyan VINES Release 4.0. The Model 95-OKD is priced at $17,745; the Model 95-OJD is priced at $16,095; and the Model 95-OJ9 is priced at $14,145.

The PS/2 Model 90 XP 486

Delivering the same advanced performance as the Model 95, the PS/2 Model 90 XP 486 is the most powerful PS/2 desktop system. It is designed with greater storage and advanced technology to handle the complex computing tasks of customers involved in power applications, such as computer-aided design (CAD), financial modeling, or image and presentation graphics.

The system is available with either a 25 MHz or 33 MHz processor, and can accommodate up to 960 MB of internal fixed-disk storage through three bays; a fourth bay can accommodate additional storage devices, such as a CD-ROM drive or the 5 1/4-Inch Slim High Diskette Drive, also announced today. Similar to the Model 95, this desktop system can address nearly 9 GB of total storage through incorporation of four PS/2 External Storage Enclosures for SCSI Devices.

The 33 MHz system (the Model 90-OKD) comes standard with one 320 MB, 12.5 ms SCSI fixed disk, a 1.44 MB diskette drive, the PS/2 Micro Channel SCSI Adapter with Cache and three available 32-bit expansion slots. Two 25 MHz systems, featuring either a 16 ms, 160 MB fixed disk (the Model 90-OJ9) or a 17 ms, 80 MB fixed disk (the Model 90-OJ5) also are available.

A standard feature, the XGA busmaster is incorporated on the system board offering customers involved in image and presentation graphics fast, high-resolution graphics.

The PS/2 Model 90 XP 486 is supported by DOS 3.3, DOS 4.0, OS/2 1.2 and OS/2 1.3, SCO UNIX System V/386 Version 3.2v2.0, Novell NetWare Version 3.1, and Banyan VINES Release 4.0. The Model 90-OKD, -OJ9 and -OJ5 are priced at $16,695, $13,095 and $12,495, respectively.

The IBM PS/2 486/33 Processor Complex Upgrade Option

Available for the 25 MHz versions of the new PS/2 Model 95 and Model 90, the IBM PS/2 486/33 Processor Complex Upgrade Option offers customers an easy way to ``grow'' their systems as their computing needs grow.

But the PS/2 486/33 Processor Complex Upgrade Option is more than just a processor exchange. This full-size card, which resides in a dedicated slot on the system board, houses all the essential components to upgrade the system to take full advantage of advances in future technologies.

The 486/33 processor-complex design enables the memory controller, memory cache and system I/O controllers to be upgraded along with the processor.

The processor complex also features an internal memory cache controller, an internal 8 KB memory cache and an internal floating-point processing unit that performs the functions of an external 80387 math co-processor.

Priced at $2,500 with the return of the 25 MHz processor complex, the PS/2 486/33 Processor Complex Upgrade Option is supported by DOS 3.3 or higher, OS/2 1.2 or higher, SCO UNIX System V/386 Version 3.2v2.0, Novell NetWare Version 3.1, and Banyan VINES Release 4.0.

The IBM PS/2 XGA Display Adapter/A

The IBM PS/2 XGA Display Adapter/A is a high-performance, 32-bit busmaster, which is compatible with existing VGA software applications, but offers significant performance increases, and improved resolution and color content.

Busmasters are intelligent adapters or chip sets that allow tasks to be processed independent of the system's main processor. Through this XGA busmaster, customers running existing graphics applications will be able to produce high-resolution graphics in as little as half the time.

Optimized for use in Presentation Manager(a) and other windowing environments, the XGA design offers customers a screen resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels in addition to support for 256 colors. In comparison, VGA offers a resolution of 640 by 480 pixels with 16-color capability.

The XGA busmaster uses Video Random Access Memory (VRAM), an enhanced memory design that enables images to appear faster on screen than through conventional memory.

The adapter is configured with 512 KB VRAM, and can be expanded to 1 MB through inclusion of the IBM PS/2 Video 512 KB Memory Kit, also made available today.

A standard component of the new PS/2 Model 95, the PS/2 XGA Display Adapter/A is available as an option for all desktop and floor-standing 386(a), 386SX(a) and 486-based PS/2s.

The adapter is supported by DOS 3.3, DOS 4.0, OS/2 1.2, OS/2 1.3, and is priced at $1,095.