From owner-freebsd-chat Fri Aug 15 20:23:49 1997 Return-Path: Received: (from root@localhost) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.5/8.8.5) id UAA04815 for chat-outgoing; Fri, 15 Aug 1997 20:23:49 -0700 (PDT) Received: from obie.softweyr.ml.org ([199.104.124.49]) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.5/8.8.5) with ESMTP id UAA04810 for ; Fri, 15 Aug 1997 20:23:44 -0700 (PDT) Received: (from wes@localhost) by obie.softweyr.ml.org (8.7.5/8.6.12) id VAA27279; Fri, 15 Aug 1997 21:18:04 -0600 (MDT) Date: Fri, 15 Aug 1997 21:18:04 -0600 (MDT) Message-Id: <199708160318.VAA27279@obie.softweyr.ml.org> From: Wes Peters To: "Jordan K. Hubbard" CC: chat@freebsd.org Subject: Re: speed test In-Reply-To: <13234.871558788@time.cdrom.com> References: <13234.871558788@time.cdrom.com> Sender: owner-freebsd-chat@freebsd.org X-Loop: FreeBSD.org Precedence: bulk Jordan K. Hubbard writes: > I'm not sure what the bus speed is, but the memory width is 64 bit. > You have to use 8 SIMMS at a time with the Durango motherboard, > nothing smaller. Uh, no. The registers are 64 bits wide. If you use 8 SIMMS at a time, the memory bus width is 8x32 = 256 bits wide. Think in terms of refilling cache; you get to read 256 bits/cycle. This is pretty typical of high-end RISC processors, and one of the reasons why they're faster in real-world, multitasking use than PC systems with 32- and 64-bit wide memory buses. Of course, they cost a lot more, too. > > If so, then that alpha better not have cost more than 2000 UK pounds (or > > $2000 I suppose considering the price of hardware here.) > > It's less than that and remains a pretty good deal. Don't forget that > memory speed isn't the only benchmark it wins. :-) Can you say "floating point?" Sure, I knew you could. Actually, in terms of price/performance, FreeBSD/AXP would scare the pants off just about any system in the world. ;^) Is Carrera Computers still kicking around? A couple of years ago, they were busting up DEC's performance numbers with their AXP systems. -- "Where am I, and what am I doing in this handbasket?" Wes Peters Softweyr LLC http://www.xmission.com/~softweyr softweyr@xmission.com