Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997 01:30:34 -0700 (PDT) From: Howard Lew <hlew@www2.shoppersnet.com> To: Wes Peters - Softweyr LLC <softweyr@xmission.com> Cc: Jakob Alvermark <jakob@teligent.se>, questions@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: K6 or 6x86 ? Message-ID: <Pine.BSF.3.91.970618012532.5118A-100000@www2.shoppersnet.com> In-Reply-To: <199706172114.PAA24863@xmission.xmission.com>
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On Tue, 17 Jun 1997, Wes Peters - Softweyr LLC wrote: > 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 newer 6x86Ls (low voltage version of the 6x86) are pretty much cool to the touch (feel the heatsink), so heat is no longer a problem. A switching voltage regulator on the motherboard will also substantially reduce internal computer heat. > > 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 Hmmm.... If I'm not mistaken the Pentium Pro 200 (256K) is more expensive then the K6-200 which is under $400 now. > 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. Yes, the K5 is a bargain.
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