Do you really need a Pentium?

Many personal computer users are now experiencing another technology shock as the current offerings of computer vendors incorporate new computer chips that promise another "quantum leap" in processing power. The commercial trade computing press is full of news that the Intel 486 processor, considered until recently a standard for office and personal computing, is now being eclipsed by the Pentium (586) class computer chip and other presently available offerings such as the PowerPC (601 chip) of Motorola, IBM, and Apple Computer. There is little doubt that computers with these new processors are "faster" in many performance tests than the "older" 486 Intel chip architecture which attained its reputation based on price/performance comparisons with Intel 386 class computers. However, the immediate actual usefulness of this increased computing power in a standard office environment is still very debatable. There is always a professional dilemma for managers in selecting quickly advancing technology for implementation within slowly changing business requirements. One would like to stay professionally productive but still balance any alleged increased productivity gained from buying-in to changing technology against the human and business costs inherent in organizational change and the acquisition of new equipment.

There are definitely automated business applications that can profit immediately from increased computational or information processing power. Such applications obviously include those situations where presently constrained business processes are time intensive due to the slowness of a computer system. Examples may include searching large database indexes, faster optical character recognition, or quicker computer screen refreshing when a graphical drawing is manipulated. There are also new opportunities presented by faster information processing when the increased speed of a business process allows for a particular job to be performed by different personnel or redesigned. An example might be the ability of faster processors to allow forms or documents to be compressed and transmitted on a network by the creator rather than by printing the form on paper for someone else to spend time sending it by FAX.

Most business processes do not change nearly as fast as does the variety of new technology that confronts office workers each day. Invoices must be paid, phone calls are still made by human beings, and there will always be a need to have some meetings in person. However, there are lessons to be learned in this present avalanche of new computing products that can serve to guide one through what will be a continuing cycle of changing technology well into the next century. The goal is to assure that money and time are well spent when making decisions on implementing new personal computers, optical/imaging systems, automated records management systems, or a new word processing software. "Let the buyer beware!"

IS SPEED REALLY POWER?

How important is a fast computer and what makes a computer faster? Which is most important--the central processing unit (CPU), the amount of computer chip cache memory, the amount of on-board randomly accessible memory (RAM), the speed of the video card, the bus type of the motherboard, or the speed of the disk drive? Or must all of these interrelated components work together in a good configuration that matches the actual needs of the computer user's application? The best answer is a "yes" to the last question. All computer components are important, and each individual component helps enhance different business or scientific applications. For this reason, computer users must be careful to place emphasis in their decision-making where they will get the most value for the dollar, when considering their own individual business applications' needs.

Faster CPUs do generally make applications faster, but not in every case. If a database is being searched for information, using a computer with a faster processor coupled to a slow disk drive may not perform the task any more quickly, as database retrieval is primarily a disk-intensive operation that just reads data by pulling it into memory. Calculations are performed when an index to the database is created or altered, but very little computation is needed to simply recall existing data from the disk media. What is needed may be a faster disk drive. Similarly, a faster CPU will not necessarily speed up an automated application that is graphics-intensive. Just adding a faster video card to the computer system may be a better solution, as such a video card will contain its own special fast computer chip on the card itself to optimize graphics display for very fast screen refreshes of edited pictures or drawings.

For these reasons, one should not necessarily assume that a new Pentium or PowerPC will necessarily perform all operations faster than the existing computer system or that one is even needed. Most all applications will probably run at least somewhat faster on a newer technology machine rather than an older computer. But this may be in part because the new computer system has had all of its new components optimized to be similar in performance to the increased performance of the faster processor. This means that the video card, monitor, disk drive, RAM, cache memory, and motherboard of the new machine are all faster or better than what one might expect to find in an older machine. It also means that one might save considerable expense and staff time by simply upgrading a single slow performing component of an older computer system. This assumes that one is sufficiently familiar with the exact operational performance deficit of the old system to make such a decision.

The most important question has not been asked. Are there presently some real identifiable business bottlenecks that are known to be able to benefit from a faster computer system? Or is a fascination with the new technology occurring due to an assumption that faster is always better. For computer users to be happy with the performance of their systems and managers to be happy with the performance of their "bottom-line," some serious analysis of options and technology trends should be undertaken before committing to new computing architectures and new training for systems maintenance staff.

CHIPS AND ENVIRONMENTS

There are some present dilemmas in the new chip architectures that are well worth noting should one decide that these faster computers are needed. These dilemmas often occur when any new technology is being pushed out the door to meet the demands of potential customers and present stockholders. New computers must work reliably within organizational constraints and already operational software environments, and they do not always arrive in the best of health. Some industry surveys indicate that problems with new computers are not uncommon. In a poll conducted by PC World magazine between October 1993 and the press time for the June 1994 issue's release, "Almost one quarter of the 45,000 people who responded to our survey experienced some kind of problem. Of this group, nearly 29 percent said the problem occurred within the first month after they purchased their PC. Further, 7 percent of all respondents reported one or more components dead on arrival."(1)

One current concern is reflected in the considerable industry discussion about the 5 volt chips in 60 and 66 megahertz (MHz) Pentium chips overheating, as opposed to the more stable and less power intensive 3.3 volt 486 and 90 or 100 MHz Pentium chips that are now being offered. Since most of the first 60 MHz Pentiums have been in use less than a year, it is difficult to draw precise conclusions from users' experience. However, "Intel builds the 90 MHz CPUs with a 0.6-micron process, and the chips run at 3.3 volts rather than 5 volts. The significance of the new chip is twofold. Its smaller process size delivers a CPU roughly half the size of its 60 MHz sibling, and its 3.3 volt operation lower the chip's power consumption from 13 watts on the 60 MHz to 4 watts according to Intel."(2) Less heat in electrical components generally means that they will last longer. In addition, there are already procurement regulations for many organizations to favor buying "Green PCs" that are environmentally friendly due to their limited energy consumption. These are to be preferred over systems that consume excess energy.

With the increased performance of a processor often comes a requirement for a faster performing motherboard. As the CPU is plugged into the motherboard, all information must reach the CPU and exit through the motherboard and is subject to its speed limitations. Thus enters the new Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) motherboard architecture that is accompanying Pentium computers. Although this design will probably become a standard for future computers, many current peripherals such as video cards or network cards may or may not take advantage of this architecture. For this reason, many Pentiums are offered with both PCI compatible or Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) type slots for cards.

In the end there is debate that one might be better off with a 486 DX4/100 based computer (a very fast 486), as this is simply a well tuned version of "tried and true" technology. This chip (3.3 volts) generates less heat than a 60 MHz Pentium (5 volts) and compares favorably in performance tests. One will get "similar performance, less heat, and better power management with a DX4 than with a Pentium..." and later upgrades to the Pentium Overdrive processor are possible.(3) It seems to be true that "...the DX4 motherboards are fully optimized and generally more stable than Pentium ones."(4)

Another consideration for many buyers is that they may be interested in Apple's Power Macintoshes as these use the new PowerPC 601 chip (at 60, 66, and 80 MHz), the major competitor to the Pentium chip. A claim being made for the PowerPC chip is that it will operate both Macintosh and Windows programs by using special software for Windows emulation. The reality is, however, that it only runs Windows programs slowly in a limited Standard mode, which very few individuals have ever used to any extent. Even though Windows Enhanced mode operation (recommended by almost all contemporary programs) may be soon available for this chip, full Windows performance is probably out of consideration for the immediate future.(5) "You won't be able to run your favorite PC applications unassisted on PowerPC systems. Chances are, though, that you will be able to support them through a program called an emulator--albeit with a performance penalty that eliminates any speed advantage."(6)

A final and very important consideration is that few business software or applications are presently programmed or optimized to take advantage of the strong advanced internal processing features of these chips. Such software will come over the next few years, but for the time being these processors will be used to run existing applications faster by running presently used software that was probably developed two or three years ago or more. "In the case of both the PowerPC and the Pentium processors, that strength is in certain calculation-intensive task-image editing, three-dimensional rendering, and certain spreadsheet functions--also known as floating point operations...Most everyday computing tasks, though, don't require these intensive calculations."(7) The message is simply that for standard word processing, spreadsheets, and small databases, using a faster and more expensive computer does not necessarily improve a user's job performance. After all, a fast computer does not make one type faster.

It is also important to observe that this change in chip offerings occurred within a 6-month to one-year period. Technology offered for public consumption is assumed by customers to have undergone reasonable efforts to get the bugs out. However, the computer hardware and software industries are well-known for occasionally releasing less than optimum products in a struggle to stay competitive by having products that are available for purchase. The actual reliability of newly developed hardware architectures cannot be known until there has been considerable use in present business operating environments.

Should some of the new equipment fail, it is always nice to have had the foresight to have kept some of the older machines and software on stand-by status for emergencies. Most organizations do not keep expensive modern equipment (like a Pentium) sitting around, just in case someone's computer dies. Keeping the old computer equipment around for at least a few months will allow quickly equipping a frustrated computer user with enough computing power for them still to be able to perform basic tasks if their new PC's motherboard dies unexpectedly. Don't throw those older machines away until the new ones have proven stable.

TECHNOLOGY LIFE CYCLES

There are several questions that could protect new computer buyers from the bleeding edge of technology if they seek adequate answers:

1. Does the computer trade press say that vendors have gotten the bugs out?

2. Has the price come down as far as it probably will over the next few months?

3. Do my office mates already know something about this technology?

4. Is my computer maintenance organization trained to work on the disk drives, monitor cards, or other components?

5. Is this technology becoming stable without major rapid market changes occurring and significantly new products being offered every few months?

Hopefully, the answer to all questions is "yes." For deciding on answers to questions one and two, the computer industry trade press such as those journals cited in this article, do an excellent job of ferreting out questionable products as their readership expects detailed technology analysis. Consult these sources and information on rapid price changes will also be found, as well as additional computing technology information. The answer to questions three and four determine whether or not one will be "going it alone." It is always best to have someone with experience "down the hall" with whom to consult on confusing questions about new equipment or software. Toll-free vendor technical support is nice, but it is best if in-house computer maintenance personnel do not learn about new technology by studying yours. Question number five lets one know if better price/performance can be had by waiting a few months to purchase the equipment so that offerings can become more standard across vendors.

There will always be concerns about defacto standards, overall performance, system maintainability, new training, and the disposition of old equipment. These issues should temper decisions rather than prevent the progress inherent in using new and more productive equipment. For personal computer users facing continual upgrades to modern and more resource demanding software, faster is usually better and the new Pentiums and PowerPCs will offer solutions to many of today's system performance challenges such as advanced graphical desktop publishing and high-use multi-user local area network servers.

Buyers needing only slightly faster machines to run present applications a little more quickly can probably do well with the 486/66 MHz machines for another year or two that vendors will be selling for less as time passes.

These computers are still very fast by any standards. Those individuals and organizations needing to plan for what they already know will be increasing computer system demands (such as multi-user networks or high end graphics) should probably go ahead and start buying Pentiums or new computers with similar performance gains. However, most office workers should not discard those 386-or 486-based systems, as they will be useful for years to come for word processing, reading electronic mail, data entry tasks, and other standard office operations.

Each year one should ask: 1) Is my computer system causing me frustration and not meeting my needs? and 2) Are there things that I need to be doing that I cannot do because of my present computer system? If the answer to both questions is "NO," then one probably DOES NOT NEED A NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM. It is good to stay abreast of technology that is available because there may be activities to perform or product enhancements to offer that could improve one's professional services. But until there are identifiable (and quantifiable) reasons to upgrade or buy a new computer system, it may be best to watch the waves for a while rather than deciding to set sail and ride them.

REFERENCES

1. Daniel Tynan and Christina Wood, "Most Likely to Succeed...or Fail," PC WORLD 12(6), June, 1994, p. 119.

2. Bill O'Brien, "Smaller, Cooler, and Faster--Intel's Latest Pentium Ushers in the '90s," Computer Shopper, 14(8) Issue 173, August, 1994, p. 134.

3. Bruce Brown, "Which Should You Buy: DX4 or Pentium?," Computer Shopper, 14(7) Issue 172, July, 1994, p. 156.

4. Bruce Brown, "News Update," Computer Shopper, 14(7) Issue 172, July, 1994, p. 148.

5. Rich Santalesa, "Power Mac vs. the Pentium," Computer Shopper, 14(6) Issue 171, June, 1994, p. 148.

6. John Clyman, "Battle for the Desktop," PC MAGAZINE, 13(10), May 31, 1994, p. 115-118.

7. Steve Morgenstern, "FASTER THAN EVER," Home Office Computing, 12(7), July, 1994, p. 54.

Copyright Association of Records Managers and Administrators Inc. Jan 1995
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