System Specifications

System Overview
Features and Benefits
Standard Features
Technical Specifications

Apricot reserves the right to alter specifications without prior notice.

The information contained in these specifications was correct at the time of compilation.

System Overview

As more organisations discover the benefits of workgroup computing, a strong demand has emerged for solid, high power systems that measure up to the role of a localised server. Drawing on considerable experience in networked systems, Apricot has produced the FT//ex to meet the new demand. This impressive floor standing tower system offers top level performance and cavernous fault tolerant storage capacity at a price to suit the cost conscious buyer.

Performance to Match All Expectations

The FT//ex is offered with three choices of processor ranging from the Intel 486DX2-66 to the Pentium-90 so that the correct cost/ performance mix can be matched to the job in hand. As you would expect, the initial choice of processor is not a limiting factor as each model can be upgraded at any time using the modular processor system.

Practicality By Design

The ingenious casing of the FT//ex offers complete access to all areas of the system for quick configuration and maintenance.

A large lockable side door opens to reveal the whole of the system interior, including the expansion slots and the drive connections. Meanwhile at the front of the system, a unique double-hinged door opens either left or right to allow full access to the eight 3.5" quick change drive bays, a further three 5.25" slots are concealed by another dual opening door panel.

Current Configuration, Future Potential

The FT//ex is a solid performer with the ability to keep on growing. Seven 32-bit EISA slots - two of them with VL Local Bus extensions - provide full compatibility with a wide range of high performance EISA and ISA peripherals.

Two drive size options are offered: 540Mb and 1Gb which may be ordered in various configurations to form reliable, performance drive arrays. The drives are connected to the integrated dual channel SCSI controller. This sophisticated sub-system has the potential to concurrently control up to 14 devices. One such device provided as standard is the dual-speed CD-ROM drive which is now an essential server item to access the many multi-user operating systems distributed by CD.

Features and Benefits

Range of Performance Processors

The processor options for the FT//ex begin with the well-proven Intel DX2-66. At the high-end of the scale two versions of Pentium processor are offered, running at 60 or 90MHz. All models use a unique modular processor system for easy upgrading.

EISA & VL Local Bus Expansion

True PC server potential is offered by seven full-length EISA expansion slots. Each slot offers bus mastering facilities to intelligent peripheral boards so that transfer rates of up to 33Mb per second can be achieved. When using one of the optional EISA Ethernet controllers, this potential is exploited to the full to provide excellent network performance. All EISA slots are also fully compatible with ISA peripherals to allow access to the largest range of boards and controllers available. VL extensions provide two of the EISA slots with the ability to accept powerful graphic controller boards and other local bus options.

Dual SCSI Controller

The FT//ex is equipped with an advanced SCSI-II interface system centred around the Adaptec AIC-7770 controller. SCSI-II allows sustained data transfer rates of 10Mbytes per second to be achieved. The FT//ex provides two separate SCSI channels, each supporting up to seven standard SCSI and/ or new SCSI-II devices.

Memory and Cache Expandability

486 based models are equipped with 8Mb as standard, while the Pentium options arrive with 16Mb, both are expandable to 256Mb. Industry standard 36-bit SIMM modules are used throughout.

Multiple Drive Bay Configuration

The unique design of the FT//ex provides eight full-height 3.5" drive bays. Each of the bays features a quick release sledge onto which the drives are mounted to allow quick changeovers, especially when using the optional Fault Tolerant RAID system. Three 5.25" bays are provided to accommodate the CD-ROM and optional backup devices.

Dual Speed CD-ROM as Standard

A SCSI dual speed CD-ROM is provided as standard so that the FT//ex is ready to accept any of the multi-user operating systems now distributed on CD-ROM.

350W Power Supply

The massive expansion capacity and the resulting need for power is more than satisfied by the heavy duty, switched mode 350 Watt power supply.

High capacity, high speed hard drives

The SCSI-II architecture of the FT//ex provides compatibility with a large range of high capacity performance drives. To begin the configuration, Apricot provide two sizes of SCSI drive, 525Mb and 1Gb.

Standard Features

Mass Storage

1.44Mb floppy drive
Selection of high speed SCSI hard drives and arrays

Graphics

Local Bus Enhanced VGA graphics
1MB Video RAM

Expansion

Seven full-length EISA 32-bit expansion slots
One half-length EISA 32-bit expansion slot (486 only)
Two VL Local Bus 32-bit slot extensions
Two RS232 serial ports
One bi-directional parallel port
One PS/2 compatible mouse port

Peripherals

14" or 17" low radiation monitors
Enhanced layout 102 keyboard
High resolution two button mouse

Technical Specifications

All Model Details