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From: Brian Shellabarger <[e-mail]>
To: "'John Crookshank'" <[e-mail]>,
        lightwave
     <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: Info on low price Alpha systems
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 1995 15:08:37 -0600
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>on 10-Sep-95 16:52:13, CARRERA1 ([e-mail]) Emailed:=20
>>It does contain the good AXP processor, but only has 64-bits of=20
>> addressibility between main memory, cache and the processor.=20
>> Systems such as the Carrera Cobra, Aspen Alpine, DCG, and NekoTech M2
>> have the same 21064 processor but a whopping a whopping 128-bit
>> datapath.
>> Although the "dream machine" will be priced agressively, it is not as
>> fast for rendering as the Cobra, Alpine, DCG or NekoTech M2. =20

>Hm, not only has the older 21064 but only a 64-bit data bus? Have any
>guesses as to the performance drop when compared to a 21064 @128-bit or =

>the newer 21164 CPU @128-bit?

I can't see where there would be too much of a speed difference between =
the two mainly because in order to take advantage of the wider datapath, =
the software needs to be specifically compiled for the 128 bit system. =
The downside to this (the same reason I tell people not to buy Pentiums) =
is that if you compile something on a 128 bit data path, it won't work =
with -any- of the older systems. In other words, in order to get the =
speed you payed for, you're going to have to find a program written =
specifically for the 128 bit system. Mind you, this program won't work =
on the older systems (so whatever program you might buy isn't on the =
market yet.. and probably won't be for at least a year while the =
software companies decide there is enough support for the 128 bit =
systems that they won't lose their shirts releasing a product to take =
advantage of it).

The same thing happened with the Pentium. It's a 64 bit machine, but =
there isn't any software to take advantage of the Pentium's superior =
architecture, so (aside from having done away with clock doubling) the =
Pentium is no better than the 486. The PC world is just barely getting =
their first 32 bit operating system - It's going to be a long time =
before someone releases a 64 bit operating system - simply because such =
an upgrade would mean changing the industry standard.

I wouldn't even bother with the 128 bit machine until someone writes =
something to take advantage of it (which could be years).

Brian


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