13 Feb
2002
13 Feb
'02
5:04 a.m.
On Feb 13, 10:34, Tim wrote:
On an only slightly related note, IMHO the build
quality and general
longevity of Silicon Graphics hardware really isn't what you'd hope
of kit that cost so much new...
I've seen Sun boxes that have been through the mill several times by
the look of things, but flick the switch and you're up and running
(possibility of needing to solder a battery onto the PROM
notwithstanding.)
Doesn't sound like you've looked at many recent Suns. The Ultra5 and later
are built like cheap PCs. Not at all like the older ones.
Personal (limited, I grant you ;-) experience of Indys
on the other
hand suggest you need at least 3 candidates handy if you want to put
together a working combination of power supply, processor and mobo/PROM.
I've not had much trouble with them. I have three of my own, and was
responsible for "tidying up", reconfiguring, and reselling several dozen at
work. I admit the Nidex PSUs have a bad reputation, but I've only had two
(or maybe three) fail out of nearly 100 machines. You do know that a few
of the later graphics boards need 005, 008 or 010 PROMs? Same applies to
certain CPUs (the R5K needs an 010, for example, and that comes with the
upgrade kit).
Which isn't to say I don't love 'em, an
Indy is my main workstation at
home & the sight of SGI rapidly going down the tubes is deeply sad...
I spent this afternoon splitting an Origin 2000 apart to sell part of it
off :-(
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York