DEC’s creating lower-priced versions of its mid-range AlphaServers by removing some expandability options from the existing 4100 Rawhide configuration. The 4000 5/300 and 5/400 models support one or two 300MHz or 400MHz Alpha 21164 processors rather than Rawhide’s four, and up to 4Gb RAM rather than 8Gb on the 4100s. The Unix, NT or OpenVMS servers are aimed at data mart, OLTP, enterprise email and PC LAN networking applications and use the same system drawer building block cabinetry as the 4100s. They’ve been previously described as versions of the two-way DemiSable servers upgraded to higher bandwidth Rawhide electronics. The 4000s support up to 2Gb RAM initially and 4Gb by November – enough to run the VLM database-in-RAM option – by which time the 4100s will support 8Gb RAM. A uniprocessor 5/300 starts at $40,000 with 128Mb RAM and 4.3Gb disk running Unix or $34,500 with Windows NT; the 400MHz unit is priced at from $44,500. Upgrades to the 4100 from 4000s start at $22,500 – 4000 5/300 and 4100 5/300 upgrades to 400MHz processors start at $10,000. The 4000 models also support DEC’s clustering solutions. Meantime, DEC says it will offer a 4Gb RAM option for its high-end one-to-12 way Unix and OpenVMS TurboLasers – the 8400 and 8200 models – from just under $100 per Mb in January. It’s also reduced pricing on its two-way Alpha 21164A upgrade modules for the 8000 series; 440MHz boards are $65,000, 300MHz versions are $40,000 each. DEC’s claiming a 12-way 8400 5/440 running Digital Unix and Oracle 7 achieves the highest single-system TPC-D rating with a 100Gb database configuration. There’s still no word on NT for the TurboLasers.
