Subject: Multia (semi off-topic)
To: None <port-alpha@netbsd.org>
From: William O Ferry <WOFerry+@CMU.EDU>
List: port-alpha
Date: 10/16/1998 19:38:18
I've been toying with the purchase of a Multia, to be completely
honest not so much because I need a computer, but because it seems to be
a decent price, and I don't currently have an Alpha.. =) But I have
some questions I hoped somebody out here might be able to answer.
First off, I see NetBSD supports the Multia, is it well supported?
I mean is the onboard audio, video, IDE/SCSI, serial/parallel/PS2
supported? I take it the floppy wouldn't be supported past the SRM, or
is the floppy supported on the Alpha now? (I've only lightly followed
NetBSD/alpha progress)
Also, can anybody say exactly what kind of RAM it requires? The
unit I'm looking at would have no RAM. Does it just require 72-pin Nx36
parity SIMMs, or does it require something different? How many SIMM
slots does it have / does it require certain chip configurations or
speeds or such? (Biggest turn-off I guess would be if it requires some
exotic type of RAM) I take it it's designed to take some kind of
notebook-style internal IDE drive. Fortunately this shouldn't be a bit
problem, I work for a notebook manufacturer... =)
In general, how is the performance on a 166MHz Multia? I'm not
expecting anything blazingly fast, but hopefully it doesn't slow to a
crawl when running X or such? (Assuming somewhere in the ballpark of
32-64MB RAM) Having both a pmax and a PPro I'm pretty familiar with
both ends of the spectrum. =)
I'd appreciate any thoughts / suggestions. Thank you in advance.
Will Ferry