Sequent is also introducing an Enhanced Quad Channel input-output controller, a SCSI-2 disk and tape controller it says increases input-output transfer efficiency across the 5000’s internal 240Mbps HSB Highly Scalable Bus by around 40%, and takes up one backplane slot. Each board can support 48 disks at 20Mbps per disk channel. The controller cuts the number of system bus cycles needed to process input-output requests and will sell separately from the 5000s – except for the SE100, where it’s integral – at $25,000 from June. Up to 1Gb RAM can now be configured per system slot via a new Symmetry high density memory controller. Used in conjunction with the input-output controller the new Dynix/ptx 4.1 Unix, the $100,000 controller enables up to 3.5Gb of memory to be configured on the SE70.
