Unisys Corp yesterday came out with new A4 and A6 models in its 48-bit MCP mainframe line that use the new Scamp Sing Chip A Series Mainframe Processor first introduced in the Micro A desktop mainframe at the beginning of last year. The company claims that use of the new microprocessor boosts the performance range of its entry level systems by over 50%, as well as greatly improving reliablity by cutting the component count by 75%. The company has also added a partitioning capability on the dual processor A6 KS and four processor A& KS models, so that the machines can be run as two separate operating environments under the control of its Personal Workstation/2 Model 500 personal computer, used as the console. Unisys reckons that on its version of the Ramp-C benchmark, the dual processor A6s are comparable in transaction processing performance to the top-of-the-line IBM AS/400 Model 70. The new As are available now except for the four processor, which arrives in April. Configured prices are UKP100,000 to UKP400,000.
