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From: rfutscher@pbs.org
Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms
Subject: re: Floating point 80x87 for windows
Message-ID: <1991Jan8.225341.11258@pbs.org>
Date: 9 Jan 91 03:53:41 GMT
References: <1991Jan3.080328.1@acad3a> <1991Jan7.153421.25502@sunee.waterloo.edu> <1991Jan7.164119.10490@news.iastate.edu>
Organization: PBS:Public Broadcasting Service, Alexandria, VA
Lines: 18

In article <1991Jan7.164119.10490@news.iastate.edu>, i1neal@exnet.iastate.edu (Neal Rauhauser -- ELT Computer Applications Group) writes:
> 
> 
>     Does windows use a floating point chip if its present? I have no
> programs that specifically require one, but $300 for a 387sx would
> be much easier to take than upgrading my sx to a full size machine.
> I'd like to here from someone who has done a side by side comparison
> of two identical machines except that one has a 387. I'll post
> results if they're interesting enough
> 
> 
Windows is not math intensive.  I use Drafix CAD for windows and it was really
slow before I added a 80x87 chip.  Windows seamed to run at the same speed 
when I added the chip. Some of the slowness with CAD may be because windows
uses software to emulate a 80x87 if you don't have one. You may have seen
a program with 87 in its name in the windows directory.

  Robert Futscher    rfutscher@pbs.org