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- Path: daily-planet.execpc.com!usenet
- From: jeffsj@execpc.com (Jeffery S. Jones)
- Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
- Subject: Re: x86 must die it's over-priced junk
- Date: 8 Feb 1996 23:15:59 GMT
- Organization: Exec-PC BBS - Milwaukee, WI
- Message-ID: <3432.6612T1028T2566@execpc.com>
- References: <Pine.SUN.3.91.960207172950.9405A-100000@pasta> <Pine.BSD/.3.91.960208091306.27921A-100000@ecf2.puc.edu>
- NNTP-Posting-Host: oberon.execpc.com
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-
- On 08-Feb-96 09:38:26, :=Rob=: <rldickin@puc.edu> wrote:
- >> You can get a 486DX2-80 for about 20 quid + VAT. This CPU is faster than a
- >> 40mhz '040 and probably faster than the '060. In six months time DX4-120s
- >> will be just as cheap.
-
- >NOT! Sure the '486 has a higher clock rate, sure it has faster
- >instructions, but thats not all that counts. Have you ever compared the
- >68000 series instruction sets with the 8086 series instruction sets?
- >Motorolas instructions are much more flexable and operate on so much more
- >in the same instruction that Intels processors. For example, compare the
- >68000 with the x86 in simple data moves. The 68000 can move 32 bits from
- >memory to memory in one instruction where the x86 has to move it into a
- >register first, then to memory. Besides the fact that the 68000 has 31
- >general purpose 32-bit registers and operates on 32-bit data where old
- >compatable x86 software runs with two 16-bit registers that have limited
- >uses.
-
- To add a few notes: The DX2-80 is running at the SAME bus/clock speed as
- the 040-40 (40MHz), but the 040 has a faster FPU, cache, pipeline, and
- instruction set. And it never "falls back" to 16 bit mode to access the system
- hardware :)
-
- And while the Pentiums push the limit of this hardware, Motorola has gotten
- sidetracked from doing the same with the 68xxx series, spending time making
- faster PPC chips (which are faster than Pentiums, fastest vs. fastest at any
- given clock speed).
-
- Then, if we really want to get into the whole x86 is obsolete thread: DEC
- Alpha and MIPS processors :)
-
- >> You've got to admire the x86 series, it's the only thing PCs have going
- >> for them.
-
- >I despise x86 processors, particularly the Pentium and P6. The pentium
- >has a third more transistors than the '060 and is larger in die size.
- >Moreover, a 50MHz 68060 is as fast as a 100MHz Pentium running the same
- >software. Not to mention the fact that software on PCs is oversized,
- >inefficient and memory/diskspace/CPU intensive. I dont get these fools
- >(yes FOOLs) that rave about their Pentium 120 or PMac 8100/110 and then
- >go find the best diskcaching utility (thats not the prob) but then turn
- >on virtual memory. They want to use diskspace for memory, AND memory for
- >diskspace? Duh.. how does that work? Ill tell you. Its called SLOW
- >CITY. Where did that 120MHz go? Where did that PowerPC go?
-
- >I know the Amiga isnt perfect, I didnt say a word about Amiga above. But
- >these brainless fools that think they know a good peice of hardware need
- >some major lessons.
-
- If Motorla could turn out a 100MHz 060 (or even a 75) it would go a long way
- to compete with the new P6 chips. I use an 060, and find its speed in use
- quite comparable to a Pentium 100; this is subjective, but in similar
- environments (Amiga OS and Win95) they seem about equal.
-
- I do like the Amiga better of course :)
-
- However, there is little hope for a compatible successor to the P6, which
- BTW is slower at "old" applications than a P5 at same speed (16 bit DOS
- stuff). Any successor should be able to emulate the DOS/Win95 environment at
- decent speed, and the x86 as such will die. It isn't logical to include 16
- bit hardware in a 64 bit processor <G>.
-
- <tsb> *Starfire*
- *-___________________________________________________________________-*
- Jeff Jones email:jeffsj@execpc.com *//* Amiga Lives!
- *TFG*Starfire*Design*Studio* *\\//* 1985-1994, born again 1995!
- --
-
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