DEC yesterday launched a new mid-range Unix workstation series it hopes will pave its way into high volume sales. The DECstation Series 5000 Models 120 and 125 use the MIPS Computer Systems Inc R3000A chip running at 20MHz and 25MHz respectively, and have a removable CPU daughter board which allows for easy upgrades to faster processors. According to DEC, the 14 SPECmark systems have higher performance, memory and graphics options than the rival IPC Series from Sun Microsystems Inc, but are cheaper. They come with five different graphics options, including a new monochrome graphics controller, and support DEC’s Ultrix 4.2 operating system, introduced last month. Entry-level price stands at ?4,400 for the Model 120, or ?8,000 for a real system including 16Mb memory and CD ROM drive. As a result, the DECstation 3100 now becomes DEC’s entry-level system, with the 2100 to be discontinued. DEC carefully called the machine compatible, as opposed to compliant, with the ACE Advanced Computing Environment specification, as ACE specifies the MIPS R4000 chip and DEC’s Turbochannel bus and Unix version. DEC can’t claim compliance until the specification has a little more meat on it, but reckons it will have company in the market from other ACE consortium members by year-end. US prices start at $6,500 and they ship in June. There are also kits at from $4,000 for DECstation 2100 and DECstation 3100 users to upgrade to 5000s.
