Confused about your upgrade options ?   

I called the Agilent 800# the other day and asked about upgrade opportunities for HP/Agilent GC and GC/MS systems.   The sales person on the other end didn't know the answer but put me in a queue to get a call back from someone that could help me out.  Several days later, this is what I found out, thought you might be interested to hear the latest: 

Your HP 5970, 5971, 5972, 5988 and 5989 is no longer supported by Agilent (that's why CSS Analytical exists).  Of course they would be pleased to sell you a brand new 5975 mass spec system.  Otherwise........

OPTION ONE:    If you have a 5973A and 6890 GC running on G1701AA (Microsoft Win 95) or G1701BA (Microsoft Win NT4)  you can upgrade to the latest Chemstation G1701EA, which is for LAN only, but you will have to purchase additional pieces from Agilent.  You will need the Performance Upgrade for the 5973 MSD ($13,057) which will get your 5973 upgraded to the latest electronics and give you additional features like being able to run SIM and SCAN in the same run.  Fast scan acquisition rates: 10,000 amu/sec for fast GC.  LAN communication protocol.  More signal response and four more years of support for your 5973A.   Currently your 5973A is out of support. You will also need to upgrade your 6890 to LAN ($807) and the new G1701EA software ($1,438).  This adds up to a total of  $15,302.

OPTION TWO:   If your 5973 is already “LAN” ready, just buy the new software G1701EA and you are good to go.

Important Note:   As you know, the “Chemstation” for GCs is NOT THE SAME as the “Chemstation” for GC/MS .  The current GC software is G2070BA B.03.01 .

OPTION THREE:   If you have a 5890 or  6890, with various detectors (FID, NPD, etc….)  currently running on G2070AA (on windows 95 or NT4) with the HPIB protocol,  your options are a little less expensive.   Buy the software upgrade to the latest G2070BA ($1,368) and a new PC.  You will have to buy Microsoft Windows XP Pro for your PC as Vista doesn’t support HPIB.  You must also have the G1512 Autosampler Controller and “C” version Tower and Tray.    BE ADVISED:   this is the last software upgrade that will support your 5890 GC.

OPTION FOUR:    If you have a 6890, with various detectors (FID, NPD, etc….)  currently running on G2070AA (on windows 95 or NT4) with the HPIB protocol and wish to go to LAN or a PC with Microsoft Vista you will need to purchase the LAN upgrade for the 6890 ($807) and also the new software ($1,368).  Again, you will have to have the G1512 Autosampler Controller and “C” version Tower and Tray  if you don’t have integral Autosampler control.

IMPORTANT NOTE:    Buying the new GC Chemstation will only get you MEDIA.  You will have to have a previous, LICENSED,  version of Chemstation and have the registration number to “unlock” it off of the CD ROM.