Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!microsoft!michaelt
From: michaelt@microsoft.UUCP (Michael THURLKILL)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms
Subject: Re: Window Graphics
Keywords: Will Math Coprocessor help?
Message-ID: <55875@microsoft.UUCP>
Date: 17 Jul 90 15:42:30 GMT
References: <4937@milton.u.washington.edu>
Reply-To: michaelt@microsoft.UUCP (Michael THURLKILL)
Distribution: na
Organization: Microsoft Corp., Redmond WA
Lines: 20

In article <4937@milton.u.washington.edu> yjkim@milton.u.washington.edu (Yong Kim) writes:
>I am wondering whether the graphical display will fly with the help of
>Math coprocessor.  Screen updates and drawing graphical image will
>involve a lot of number crunching.  Do you have any second thought?  I
>checked the manual, but it does not mention anything about the
>coprocessor.  Please let me know the TRUTH, nothing but the TRUTH.
>Thanks
Windows uses integer arithmetic exclusively. There are well defined
algorithms to generate curves and other graphic images that might      
otherwise require floating point calculations, and I believe the
integer algorithms are faster than the floating point algorithms, even
on machines with co-processors. That last is an issue for the graphics
gods though. Anyway, normal Windows operation won't improve with the
addition of a co-processor. However, any applications that do floating
point operations (like Excel) will benefit.

Mike Thurlkill

Disclaimer: These are my opinions. They should not be mis-construed 
as being correct or as having any relation to my employer.