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- GRiD Systems Corp. introduced the GRiD-API/450e and GRiD MFP/450, desktop
- computers that incorporate the power of the Intel486 DX2 50 MHz
- microprocessor in expandable and cost-effective packages.
-
- GRiD is targeting the two products at very different markets. Both are
- designed to leverage the Intel 50MHz microprocessor and bring customers
- the latest in high-performance microprocessor technology at a very
- competitive price. The 50MHz Intel486 DX2 combine a general purpose
- processor, floating point unit and 8KB of four-way set-associative cache
- in a single component. Both products will support advanced operating
- systems such as Novell NetWare, Windows, OS/2 2.0, UNIX, the Santa Cruz
- Operations SCO UNIX and XENIX and even future operating systems such as
- Microsoft's Windows NT.
-
- "The 50MHz DX2 processor gives us the ability to deliver high-performance
- systems at very aggressive prices," said Kirk Cruikshank, GRiD's vice
- president of marketing. "Today's advanced operating systems demand
- tremendous processing power from both 'client' and 'server' type systems
- --power demands that arc more than met by the Intel 486 DX2
- microprocessor. But we know we can't present customers with one system to
- fulfill both roles. As a result, we came up with the APT/450e and its
- seven Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) slots for 'server'
- applications and the MFP/450 and its three Industry Standard Architecture
- (ISA) slots for 'client' applications."
-
- The APT/450e is the latest member of the Advanced Personal Tower series of
- computers, designed to blend the expandability of a "tower" system with a
- thoughtful ergonomic design that lets customers easily integrate the
- system into their office environment. The APT/450e -- like all members of
- the APT family -- will support multiple storage media (floppy, hard disk
- and optical disks) and can operate as a department file server, network
- hub or gateway. With five expansion bays, in a variety of configurations,
- the APT/450e can support up to 4GB of internal storage.
-
- Like the recently announced GRiD APT/425se, the APT/450e's incorporation of
- GRiD's unique ProChip technology exploits Intel's processor upgrade
- strategy by allowing future pin compatible upgrades without requiring a
- second socket. GRiD extends this utility with its ProSlot processor slot,
- which allows the entire processor subsystem to be contained on one ProSlot
- PC card. This ensures that future feature upgrades and new technology can
- be added as soon as they are available.
-
- By utilizing an EISA bus and seven EISA slots, the APT/450e maximizes the
- processing power of the 50MHz Intel 486 DX2 by making sure that I/O
- bottlenecks are eliminated, providing excellent peripheral support.
-
- David Claypool, GRiD's manager of desktop marketing, explained why GRiD
- chose this design. "We wanted the APT/450e to not only have a processor
- with the highest performance but also have the expandability and
- configurability to meet the needs of a wide variety of customers without
- forcing any of them to make any performance tradeoffs."
-
- Paul Otellini, vice president and general manager of Intel's microprocessor
- products group, said, "By incorporating the Intel 486 DX2 microprocessor
- into its product line, GRiD will be able to deliver its customers a
- high-performance system at a midrange price.
-
- "The APT/450e and the MFP/450 are good examples of how our customers can
- use Intel technology to develop systems that truly provide customers with
- effective computing solutions."
-
- The MicroFootprint (MFP) 450 packs the power of the 50MHz Intel 486 into a
- compact, space-saving footprint (H 4" x W 15" x D 15.5") that does not
- sacrifice system expandability.
-
- The MFP/450 has the advanced processing power for network-based graphics,
- image and multimedia applications.
-
- The MFP/450's 50MHz 486 processor is matched with three Industry Standard
- Architecture (ISA) expansion slots for an extremely powerful and versatile
- computer that offers network and standalone users outstanding processing
- power and configurability in a package that actually fits on a desktop.
-
- The APT/450e comes standard with the 50MHz Intel 486 DX2 microprocessor,
- 4MB of RAM, seven 32-bit EISA expansion slots, five expansion bays,
- including one 2.88MB, 3.5-inch floppy drive, high-speed Integrated Drive
- Electronics (IDE) hard disk interface, dual serial, parallel and mouse
- ports, a 16-bit VGA card with 512K video memory supporting 640 x 480 in
- 256 colors, or 1024 x 768 non-interlaced in 16 colors. Options include up
- to 64MB of RAM, a SCSI hard disk drive interface and additional video
- memory of up to 1MB to support 1024 x 768 in 256 colors.
-
- In standard configuration, the API/450e is priced at $4,499.
-
- The MFP/450 comes standard with a 50MHz Intel 486 DX2 microprocessor, 4MB
- of RAM, three ISA-based expansion slots, one 1.44MB 3.5-inch floppy drive,
- two free expansion bays, 16-bit VGA integrated on main logic board,
- enhanced 101-key keyboard. Options include up to 32MB of RAM and up to 1MB
- of video memory to support 1024 x 768 resolution in 256 colors.
-
- In standard configuration, the MFP/450 is priced at $2,599.
-
- Both computers will start shipping later this month. The APT/450e will
- support a variety of hard disk options capable of delivering up to 4GB of
- internal storage. The MFP/450 will support a variety of hard disk options
- capable of delivering up to 1GB of internal storage.
-
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