  Reprinted from   PC WEEK    February 1, 1993
   



   Alpha zeros in on Pentium
   Next-generation RISC systems may become platform of choice for NT

   By Larry J. Seltzer and David Berlind
   

   
   Digital Equipment Corp.'s upcoming desktop systems, based on its new 
   Alpha processors, will be the dream machines of the Windows NT world, 
   according to an examination of a preproduction unit by PC Week Labs.
   
   Expected to be released when Microsoft Corp.'s Windows NT is announced 
   in the second quarter, the Alpha AXP 21064-based system examined by the 
   Labs uses a minitower case and standard PC components and will cost 
   between $7,000 and $10,000, depending on configuration. DEC also has 
   plans for both lower- and higherend Alpha systems (see related story, 
   right).
   
   Side-by-side comparisons with a 25/50MHz 486DX2-based system running our 
   test release of Windows NT were no contest. The Alpha system, still far 
   from final optimal condition, was considerably faster than the 48,5 PC. 
   We compared the Alpha and 48,5 systems by running simultaneous 
   generations of fractal images on each, using the fractal demonstration 
   program included with the Windows NT Software Development Kit (SDK).
   
   The test was heavily floating point-math intensive, stressing one of 
   Alpha's strong features.
   
   PC Week Labs' test system ran at 125MHz, short of the 150MHz expected in 
   release-level systems. The NT Alpha compiler--and therefore the 
   applications we tested--still needs much performance tuning.
    
   DEC expects to offer higherend 200MHz Alpha systems by the end of the 
   year and has discussed plans for even higher clock rates. With the 
   exception of Sequent Computer Systems Inc.'s multiprocessing machines, 
   we would be surprised if Alpha does not end up the fastest NT platform 
   on the market. No other vendor in the microprocessor market has been 
   able to achieve quantity shipments of products running at such speeds.
   
   VMS-based Alpha systems running at 150MHz have been available since 
   November. An Alpha version of the OSF/1 implementation of Unix is 
   expected toward the end of the year.


   Power under the hood
   
   Some of the more interesting characteristics of the Alpha test system 
   are found "under the hood." Removing the cover revealed a gargantuan 
   chip, measuring almost 2.7 inches square, covered by a heavily tinned 
   heat sink. The heat sink is attached to two threaded pillars rising out 
   of the chip package itself (see photo, Page 1 ).
   
   512K bytes of high-speed static RAM cache surround the chip, and eight 
   sockets for standard 72pin single in-line memory modules are accessible 
   nearby.
   
   We were impressed with the design of the case, which did an admirable 
   and quiet job of cooling a system that generates a great deal of heat. A 
   large fan sucks air through vents in the back of the system,' across the 
   memory subsystem and processor, and out the front. Even when we ran the 
   AXP system at 125MHz, the Alpha chip remained cool to the touch. 
   Although the same case is used for some of DEC's 486-based systems, it 
   has been designed to accommodate high-frequency chips while still 
   receiving a Federal Communications Commission Class B certification.

   The standard system configuration contains 16M bytes of RAM, expandable 
   to 128M bytes. The system we tested had 32M bytes of RAM and a IC--byte 
   SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) hard drive.
   
   The system also had six Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) 
   slots, containing both EISA and ISA adapters. An Adaptec Inc. 1740 SCSI 
   adapter and a Compaq Computer Corp. Qvision video adapter were included 
   in our system.
   
   At the Comdex trade show last fall, DEC demonstrated a Creative Labs 
   Inc. Sound Blaster ISA sound card in a similar Alpha system.
   
   Interestingly enough, DEC will supply QVision as an option in EISA-based 
   Alpha systems. 
   
   DEC is also considering plans to support Intel Corp. 's Peripheral 
   Component Interconnect (PCI) local bus in future systems, including 
   plans to integrate a PCI controller in low-cost implementations of the 
   Alpha processor. However, DEC has no plans to implement the Video 
   Electronics Standards Association's VL-Bus specification in any Alpha 
   sytems, officials from the Maynard, Mass., manufacturer said.
   
   Other features of the system were pleasingly conventional, including two 
   serial ports, a parallel port, and PS/2-style mouse and keyboard ports. 
   The form factor of the motherboard was standard mini-AT size, making 
   system design easy for vendors that wish to license Alpha system boards 
   from DEC (assuming they can cool the board and maintain Class B 
   certification in another box).
   
   DEC officials said they plan to ship a final Alpha compiler for NT late 
   this month or in early March. They also are pursuing talks with 
   Microsoft to include Alpha development tools in the Windows NT SDK
   
   Inclusion of such tools in the standard SDK, combined with aggressive 
   marketing to developers, could enhance Alpha's credibility as a 
   mainstream NT platform by facilitating Alpha versions of NT applications 
   and development tools. The ease with which an Alpha version can be 
   created (generally just a recompilation) and distributed on CD ROM 
   should also facilitate Alpha versions of NT software.
   
   Summary
   
   DEC's upcoming systems based on its Alpha processor line appear to 
   fulfill the promise of the new high-speed chip. PC Week Labs found the 
   well-designed preproduction systems run Windows NT with impressive speed 
   and support industry-standard expansion hardware;
   
   Benefits of Alpha AXP
   
   o One of the fastest processors available.

   o Windows NT support; which will provide a large base of available 
     software.
   
   o Industry-standard system designs (EISA, PCI, standard DRAMs, standard 
     peripherals)
   
   o Moderate system cost for a workstation
   
   o VMS compatibility
   
   o 64-bit OSF/1 support expected later this year
   
   o Ambitious plans for Alpha's future with a substantial commitment from DEC   

   o Potential for alternate source availability of Alpha processors and 
     systems  
   
