🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <9511161217.AA000a3@lindl.demon.co.uk>, Martin Parr
<martp@lindl.demon.co.uk> writes

>They tell me that their Pentium 120 holds an Intel Atlantis
>motherboard. Has anyone any knowledge of this MB, indeed any
>knowledge / comments on whether to purchase from ESCOM in the
>UK.

Right, I am now in a position to comment further on this setup; I've got
one :)

> The P120 is specified as follows:
> Intel Atlantis MB (on-board sound)
> 256K PBM cache

I haven't found this cache.  According to the manual, there is a socket
for a cache SIMM, but this is missing on my board.  The catalogue also
doesn't mention anything about cache.  Still, the computer itself is
speedy, and the 16k on-chip cache should take care of 80% of all cache
hits.  [FX: waits for JB to lynch this statement]

The sound board is SB Pro compatible (but with a 16-bit DAC), Windows
Sound System and MPU-401 compatible.  Be warned, though - it's P&P.

The rest consists of 2 ISA slots free and 2 PCI slots free.  The silly
boggers put the serial ports (both 16550) and parallel (ECP/EPP)
covering one of the PCI slots :(

> 8Meg RAM

You need 16Mb on a P120.  Watch out, though - there are only 4 SIMM
slots, so 16Mb fills them.  I see a market for 72-pin SIMMsavers :)

> 1 Gig HD (possibly Quantum)

It's a Seagate ST51080A.  Initial benchmarks put it at around 1700k/s
sustained random-seek transfer, or 3300k/s sequential.  I could post a
WInbench score, but I haven't got Winbench 96 yet.

> 1 Meg DRAM PCI Graphics card (origin unknown)

ATI Mach 64.  'S not bad, but I haven't benchmarked it yet.  The ATI
seems to have become the Escom standard, so I withdraw the remark I made
earlier about crappy Trident cards (being shipped - they are still
crappy cards).

> 14" NI Monitor

These are awful.  One branch (Newcastle) said they were now shipping
Tatung monitors, which another still had (I think) Mitac ones.  Both are
pretty terrible, which is why they only set them up for VGA.  The 15"
one is a Mitac, I think.  I shall find out on Saturday, when I get it.

> Keyboard (crappy!)

This is a Mitsumi Windows Keyboard (you know, short space bar, three
extra keys).  It's not too bad, but a bit light for my taste.  I prefer
a solid, metal base keyboard, so I will be sticking with my 1990 Trigem
keyboard.

> NO dos, NO software, NO mouse even.

I got this, but it came with Win95 already installed on the hard disk.
Fortunately, I already have a license for Win95, so I've just kept it.
The mouse retails at #5.88 inc VAT and is suprisingly OK to use.

One problem I do have ATM is that Win95 keeps insisting there is a PS/2
mouse port and installing a driver for it.  It resolutely refuses to
believe that the mouse I do have is a Logitech Cordless, so I am minus
the middle button.  Strangely, the motherboard manual claims that there
is no PS/2 mouse port on the board...

> Their price at the mo is 1099UKP+VAT

I quibbled about the 10% down, rest on April deal that it advertised on
the catalogue.  It only applies to the Commode-ore PC next to it.  So, I
got fifty quid knocked off the price.  Big deal :)


-- 
Marcus Bainbridge      http://uptown.turnpike.net/~marcus/
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