Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997 15:14:30 -0600 (MDT) From: Wes Peters - Softweyr LLC <softweyr@xmission.com> To: jakob@teligent.se (Jakob Alvermark) Cc: questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: K6 or 6x86 ? Message-ID: <199706172114.PAA24863@xmission.xmission.com> In-Reply-To: <Pine.BSF.3.91.970617142403.9715E-100000@datorn.teligent.se> from "Jakob Alvermark" at Jun 17, 97 02:29:43 pm
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Jakob recently asked:
> I've got plans to buy a new processor. I've done some research, and
> found that I should get either an AMD K6 or a Cyrix 6x86. Now I have
> to choose.
>
> That's the problem. Both of them are quite cheap and seems to be quite fast.
>
> So, anybody, which one should I go for? Any recomendations?
The 6x86 and K6 are *very* different processors.
The 6x86 is essentially a souped-up 486, with Pentium-class speeds. In
the 166 and 200 Mhz variants, it runs quite hot. Integer performance
is near the claimed "Pentium rating," but floating point performance is
quite a bit lower. I'm loathe to use the 6x86 because of the heat
factor; most PCs already run too hot and yet make too much noise due to
the inefficient layout of the case and various other stupidities that
are a given in the PC world.
The AMD K5 is a Pentium-class processor with good performance at low
cost. I have several K5 FreeBSD machines here at home and at work, all
of them are quite impressive. The K5/166, with slightly better
performance than the Pentium 166 in most areas, is selling for about
$95 around here. Quite a bargain.
The AMD K6 has performance in line with the Pentium Pro/Pentium II
range, and includes a version of the "MMX" instructions. While it has
quite good performance, it is slightly more expensive than the Pentium
Pro. The K6 also fits the Pentium-standard "socket 7." I haven't
tried FreeBSD on a K6 yet, because I don't have $350 to spend on a
processor (when I can buy a K5/166, motherboard, and 32 Mb RAM for the
same amount!).
So, if you're looking for a good performance bargain, I think the K5
will outperform the 6x86 for the money, up to about PR166.
--
"Where am I, and what am I doing in this handbasket?"
Wes Peters Softweyr LLC
http://www.xmission.com/~softweyr softweyr@xmission.com
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