HP Introduces Three New High-Performance Pentium Pro Vectra PCs

PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA. JANUARY 22, 1996 -- Hewlett-Packard Company today
introduced three new HP Vectra PCs based on Intel's Pentium Pro processor;
the HP Vectra XU 6/180 and XU 6/200 PCs and the HP Vectra VT 6/200 PC.

Using HP-designed motherboards and the latest processor technology, the
180MHz and 200MHz Pentium Pro Vectra PCs provide unprecedented speed and
performance in 32-bit environments previously seen only in more expensive,
workstation-class computers.

The HP Vectra VT 6/200 PC takes advantage of the fastest processor
available on uniprocessor systems to provide expert users with increased
power, performance, upgradability and expandability at mainstream prices.

The HP Vectra XU 6/180 and XU 6/200 PCs offer Pentium Pro performance
through processor scalability, optimized memory architecture and enhanced
I/O design. The uniprocessor HP Vectra XU 6/200 PC delivers SYSMark/NT
performance of 672 vs. 300 SYSMark/NT for a 133MHz Pentium- based PC.

"If you're looking for Windows NT performance in a PC or a workstation, you
owe it to yourself to evaluate these Pentium Pro-based HP Vectra XU and VT
PCs," said Boris Elisman, workgroup PC marketing manager of HP's Grenoble
PC Division. "You'll get maximum performance, expandability and built-in
networking plus the reliability you expect from HP."

The European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN) located in Geneva,
Switzerland, recently tested the new XU 6/200 PC as part of its
benchmarking program. CERN tests comparable PC systems industrywide,
across a broad platform of scientific-intensive, 32-bit applications.

"The recent testing of the Vectra XU 6/200 PC showed a clear breakthrough
of PC technology for scientific computing," said Svere Jarp, senior
computer analyst at CERN. "According to our results, this unit has twice
the uniprocessing power of the XU 5/133 PC. Additionally, the dual
processor throughput for the XU 6/200 is approximately 90 percent better
than a uniprocessor configuration. The combined effect is remarkable."

The following table shows the CERN testing results.

System                    CERN Units

HP Vectra XU 5/133 UP PC     18
DEC 3400 Workstation         18
SGI Challenger               20
HP Vectra XU 6/150 UP PC     31
IBM low end PowerPC 604      39
HP Vectra XU 6/200 UP PC     41
DEC 3900                     5

HP Vectra XU PCs -- Optimized Performance Features

Advanced Memory Architecture -- HP's memory architecture offers the
high-end user two primary benefits unavailable in most Pentium Pro
processor systems: great performance with data integrity and expandability
with flexible upgrade.

Greater performance is achieved by using 64-bit industry-standard DIMMs
(dual in-line memory modules), rather than the more common 32-bit SIMM
(single in-line memory module) architectures. This creates a 128-bit-wide
path to memory and a performance boost of up to 10 percent compared to
SIMMs. Data integrity is achieved through the use of ECC (error correcting
code) memory, which keeps critical applications running while detecting
and correcting memory errors.

HP's DIMM architecture also allows greater expansion flexibility than
SIMMs. For example, customers can add any pair of identical
industry-standard DIMMs when upgrading -- a level of flexibility that is
not offered in competitive SIMMs-based designs. Further, the HP Vectra XU
6/150 PC is upgradeable to 256MB RAM through eight industry-standard DIMM
sockets for the most demanding applications.

DUAL PROCESSOR SUPPORT -- The HP Vectra XU 6/180 or XU 6/200 PC has a
second ZIF (zero insertion force) socket on the motherboard for adding a
second processor. This can boost performance significantly. This is
particularly true in the case of 32-bit applications running under Windows
NT Workstation, which is optimized for dual processing, multitasking and
multithreaded applications, or for situations in which power users elect
to run multiple applications concurrently, such as running database,
e-mail and printing applications simultaneously.

ULTRA SCSI FAST 20 -- An Ultra SCSI Fast 20 controller is embedded in the
system motherboard, providing high-end users with 20MB/s throughput. Ultra
SCSI also allows customers to continue to use their existing SCSI
peripherals. In addition, an Enhanced Master IDE controller provides high
burst-mode performance in multitasking environments.

EXPANDABILITY -- HP Vectra XU 6/180 and XU 6/200 PCs come in an expandable
but compact minitower package with seven mass-storage shelves (five
front-accessible) and six full-length expansion slots: three PCI, two ISA
and one PCI/ISA combination slot.

LAN CONNECTIVITY -- A PCI-based 10Base-T/100VG AnyLAN network interface
card bundled with the HP Vectra XU 6/180 and XU 6/200 PCs lets power users
rapidly access and transfer large amounts of data. In addition, the Vectra
XU 6/180 and XU 6/200 PCs have extensive security features for corporate
network environments and integrated selectable boot protocols for Novell,
NetWare and Microsoft LAN Manager.

TOP-OF-THE-LINE GRAPHICS -- Powerful video performance is achieved by
bundling a Matrox Millenium graphics card that integrates graphics, video
and 3-D acceleration and provides resolutions of up to 1,600 x 1,200 in
256 or 65,000 or 16.7 million colors. Also, dual-ported Windows RAM
improves video performance 50 percent compared to VRAM -- and at a lower
cost to the user.

INDUSTRY-LEADING AUDIO -- A Creative Labs 16-bit audio processor and a Wave
Table socket for connection to a Wave Table interface card are integrated
on the motherboard. This integrated audio solution improves sound quality
7dB over an add-on card. All models also include a 4X CD-ROM drive.

The HP Vectra VT 6/200 PCs include the same HP-designed motherboard as the
HP Vectra XU PCs and include many common features such as
industry-standard DIMM-based memory, integrated audio and the high- end
Millenium Matrox graphics card. The HP Vectra VT PC, however, differs from
the HP Vectra XU 6/200 PC in that it is only offered in uniprocessor
versions without ECC memory, SCSI or a LAN card. This provides the
advanced user with a powerful, Pentium Pro-based system at mainstream
prices.

The HP Vectra XU 6/180 and XU 6/200 PCs, and HP Vectra VT 6/200 PCs are
expected to ship in early March. HP Vectra "V" and "X" line PCs are
covered by a three-year, limited warranty with one-year, on-site coverage.
The Vectra XU PCs will be bundled with Windows NT Workstation.

U.S. Prices(1) and configurations for all models will be as follows:

Processor   Package     Hard Drive   RAM    Graphics   LAN   Price
VT 6/200    Minitower   NA           32MB   Millenium  NA    $5,200
            Minitower   2GB/IDE      3

HP offers a broad family of industry-standard PCs in its Vectra PC line.
Products range from entry-level VE/VL/VT PCs for professional users
running standard applications to the Vectra XM line of network- ready PCs
to the high-end Vectra XU PCs for the most demanding of expert
professional users.

Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global manufacturer of computing,
communications and measurement products and services recognized for
excellence in quality and support. HP has 102,300 employees and had
revenue of $31.5 billion in its 1995 fiscal year.

Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web
at:  http://www.hp.com.

(1) All prices are estimated street prices in U.S. dollars.
 
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