port, 24-bit colour graphics adapter and 17-inch colour monitor, selling for $10,000. Alpha-based systems Later, when Windows NT was ported to the Alpha architecture, DeskStation created a flexible computer platform known as Uniflex that allowed CPUs and other elements of the system to be swapped either during production or by the end-user, thus supporting MIPS and Alpha CPUs, and thereby providing the possibility of upgrading a MIPS-based system to use an Alpha CPU. The platform employed the PCI bus. The machines offering these capabilities were introduced as part of the Raptor series and included the Raptor 3, along with various Raptor Reflex models. DeskStation introduced its Ruffian RPX line of workstations and servers in 1997, based around the Digital Semiconductor 21174 core logic chip, permitting the initially supported 600 MHz Alpha 21164 CPU to be replaced with faster parts from Digital, Mitsubishi or Samsung, with the motherboard offering six PCI slots, Ultra-Wide SCSI, a total memory capacity of up to 768 MB of RAM and up to 2 MB of "fast synchronous cache". Systems were fitted with a Matrox Millennium graphics card as standard, upgradeable to a S3 Graphics or OpenGL-capable card, and were priced from $5,995. DeskStation also initiated an OEM strategy, selling its RPX 164-2 motherboard to such systems manufacturers for $1,350 and aimed to license the technology to other systems developers. In 1998, DeskStation licensed its motherboard designs and chipsets to Samsung, a DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation) Alpha licensee, following on from a previous initiative "promoting and expanding the market for Windows NT systems based on Alpha processors", with DeskStation having been developing systems based on Samsung's Alpha 21164 processor module. See also MIPS Magnum MIPS Computer Systems Acer PICA ShaBlamm! Nitro-VLB References Further reading External links American companies established in 1989 American companies disestablished in 2000 Computer companies established in 1989 Computer companies disestablished in 2000 Defunct computer companies of the United States Defunct manufacturing companies based in Kansas