Digitals' New VAX Systems Deliver TPC/A 32-Bit Price Performance Leadership

MAYNARD, Mass. -- August 19, 1994 -- Digital Equipment Corporation recently announced four new powerful VAX systems: the MicroVAX 3100 Model 85, the VAX 4000 Models 505A and 705A, and the VAX 7000 Model 700 computers. These new systems incorporate the same leading CMOS semiconductor technology as Digital's Alpha AXP systems.

"The new VAX systems will be attractive to VAX users who may not be quite ready to move to Alpha AXP systems," said Pauline Nist, vice president, systems hardware group. "This announcement demonstrates Digital's commitment to its customers. The systems, which boast a tremendous increase in performance over previous models, outperform all 32-bit RISC-based systems on the market, according to audited TPC/A performance benchmarks."

MICROVAX 3100 MODEL 85 -- MORE PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE FOR THE DESKTOP

The new MicroVAX 3100 Model 85 system is 60 percent faster than the MicroVAX 3100 Model 80 system that it replaces. This desktop server is based upon a 16-nanosecond CMOS-4 chip design, offering customers 16 VAX Units of Performance (VUPs) and achieving up to an estimated 110 transactions per second (tps). It also offers increased disk capacity to 29.4 Gbytes for greater online storage.

In addition, Digital is offering exciting new packaged systems with networking software for MicroVAX 3100 systems and client/server applications to meet today's demanding server requirements. Customers can purchase systems bundled with specific network software, including DECnet, TCP/IP, and PATHWORKS, and such client/server applications as DECwindows Motif, ObjectBroker, DECmessageQ, and POLYCENTER Distribution Client software. With these packaged systems, users can connect the new MicroVAX system to Macintosh clients and to other vendors' MS-DOS, OS/2, and UNIX based systems. This will enable users to share and integrate information and applications throughout their organizations.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES AND BENEFITS OF THE MICROVAX MODEL 85 SYSTEM

• Faster Ethernet chip for higher network performance
• Support for optional second SCSI adapter for faster system response time
• Increased error correction code (ECC) memory of up to 128 Mbytes for higher reliability and support for larger applications
• Support for OpenVMS V6.1 and V5.5-2H4 so users can run existing applications that have not been updated to V6.1 of the OpenVMS operating system
• Rack-mountable configurations for easy integration with other systems

VAX 4000 MODELS 505A AND 705A SYSTEMS -- POWERFUL DEPARTMENTAL DATABASE AND LAN SERVERS

The VAX 4000 Model 705A system is the highest performing member of the VAX 4000 family and delivers delivers 280 tpsA at $5,011/tpsA. The VAX 4000 Model 505A system performs at 185 tpsA at $5,267/tpsA* for a 59 percent performance improvement over the VAX 4000 Model 500A system. These new VAX 4000 systems offer more power for customers' increasingly complex databases and growing PC LAN environments.

A new DSSI-to-SCSI controller combines DSSI cluster benefits with SCSI-2 technology. Customers can now take advantage of low-cost, high-capacity SCSI-2 disks.

The older VAX 4000 systems are upgradeable to the VAX 4000 Models 505A and 705A systems with a simple board swap, protecting customer investments in existing systems.

VAX 7000 MODEL 700 SYSTEM -- DATACENTER SYSTEMS FOR MORE POWERFUL TRANSACTION PROCESSING

The new powerful VAX 7000 Model 700 systems offer a 50 percent performance improvement over the VAX 7000 Model 600 series. A uniprocessor VAX 7000 Model 710 system provides 314 tpsA at $5,225/tpsA; a 6-CPU VAX 7000 Model 760 system provides an outstanding 1004 tpsA at $4,635/tpsA, breaking the $5,000 price/performance barrier. This system is expandable up to six symmetrical multiprocessing CPUs and provides customers with an effortless growth path from older VAX datacenter systems.

The VAX 7000 Model 700 system can be upgraded to AlphaGeneration systems through a simple board upgrade.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES AND BENEFITS OF THE VAX 7000 MODEL 700 SYSTEM

• Faster 137.5 MHz CPU -- the fastest 32-bit chip on the market
• Support of DSSI-to-SCSI controller for access to low-cost SCSI-2 technology in a DSSI cluster
• Continued CI and DSSI OpenVMS cluster support enabling customers to use existing peripherals from older systems in their OpenVMS clusters
• Alpha-ready design offering simple board upgrades
• Support of mixed clusters and network interconnects over CI, FDDI, and DSSI channels for clusters that extend across multiple locations
• Rack-mountable configurations for a smaller footprint and cost-effective space savings

PRICING

     Product:                        Entry System Price:
 
     MicroVAX 3100, Model 85             $  8,500
     VAX 4000, Model 505A                $ 43,000 
     VAX 4000, Model 705A                $ 61,000
     VAX 7000, Model 700                 $120,000**

These new VAX systems are available now.

* Transaction Processing Council Benchmark-A
** This is a system building block price

Digital Equipment Corporation is the world's leader in open client/server solutions, from personal computing to integrated worldwide information systems. Digital's scalable Alpha AXP platforms, storage, networking, software and services, together with industry-focused solutions from business partners, help organizations compete and win in today's global marketplace.

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Note to Editors:

Digital, the Digital logo, Alpha AXP, AXP, CI, DEC, DECnet, DECmessageQ, DECwindows, MicroVAX, ObjectBroker, OpenVMS, PATHWORKS, POLYCENTER ManageWORKS and VAX are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation.

OS/2 is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.

Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.

MS/DOS is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/Open Company, Ltd.

Editorial contact:

Judith Abrahamovich
(508) 264-5405