Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!snorkelwacker!usc!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!psuvax1!news From: melling@cs.psu.edu (Michael D Mellinger) Newsgroups: comp.sys.next Subject: Re: SOME ADVICE FOR NEXT Message-ID: Date: 29 Sep 90 04:04:43 GMT References: <340@atncpc.UUCP> Sender: news@cs.psu.edu (Usenet) Distribution: comp Organization: /home/server2/melling/.organization Lines: 61 In-Reply-To: bruce@atncpc.UUCP's message of 27 Sep 90 16:29:31 GMT Nntp-Posting-Host: client5.cs.psu.edu In article <340@atncpc.UUCP> bruce@atncpc.UUCP (Bruce Henderson) writes: you can pretty much rest assured that this isn't going to happen. I don't think that MIPS or raw CPU horsepower is going to be a concern for a while. Reasons: 1) the 040 at 25MHz is a pretty fast chip. Any guesses how the 33MHz (or 50MHz) version will be? DEC is rumored to be releasing a 40 mips machine based on the MIPS R4000 within the next six months. RISC architetures that process several instructions in one cycle are being developed by Moto., MIPS, etc. I think the IBM RS/6000 can do 4 instructions in one clock cycle(ideally). A CPU that runs at 50MHz and completes 4 instructions (on average) a cycle is going to give you 200 mips. DEC is rumored to be releasing a 40 mips machine based on the MIPS R4000 within the next six months(MIPS has a 55 mips machine in beta). RISC architetures that process several instructions in one cycle are being developed by Moto., MIPS, etc. I think the IBM RS/6000 can do 4(I think. Maybe only 2) instructions in one clock cycle(ideally). A CPU that runs at 50MHz and issues completes 4 instructions (on average) a cycle is going to give you 200 mips( x4 and you have a Cray in a Cube). 2) Re-working EVERYTHING for a binary incompatible CPU would be a multi-year nightmare. Not only that but you effectively upset all of your customers who have invested big $$$ in software, peripherals, etc, when you inform them that none of it works with the new hardware (binary incompatibility) The software problem can be solved by packaging two binaries with your product. Hopefully in a year another viable way of distributing software will be found(20 MB floppies, DAT, Optical, CD ROM). 3) NeXT doesn't need to be the fastest machine in the world. If speed is what you crave, buy a Cray... 8-) Right, they just have to remain competitive. Sun, DEC, HP, and IBM aren't just going to watch NeXT take a huge bite out of their markets. Expect to see some faster machines from them. 4) NeXT has the capability to sell a 100 MIPS binary compatible machine within the next 12 months. Stay tuned for details. Does the new cube have all the hardware necessary to support multi-processing? Bruce Henderson Ashton Potato Goon Squad Is Ashton Tate planning to port FullWrite to the NeXT? I've heard a lot of good things about it. The main complaint was that it was slow. Probably wouldn't be slow on an 040 NeXT :-). -Mike