Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!hellgate.utah.edu!csn!kessner!david From: david@kessner.denver.co.us (David Kessner) Newsgroups: comp.unix.amiga Subject: Re: Amiga 3000UX, X, OpenLook, Motif, Color, A2410, Etc. (somewhat long) Keywords: Amiga 3000UX, X, OpenLook, Motif, Color, A2410, etc. Message-ID: <1991Mar16.214414.1802@kessner.denver.co.us> Date: 16 Mar 91 21:44:14 GMT References: <19887@cbmvax.commodore.com> <1991Mar15.063527.595@kessner.denver.co.us> <19928@cbmvax.commodore.com> Reply-To: david@kessner.denver.co.us (David D. Kessner) Organization: Kessner, Inc Lines: 47 In article <19928@cbmvax.commodore.com> jesup@cbmvax.commodore.com (Randell Jesup) writes: >In article <1991Mar15.063527.595@kessner.denver.co.us> david@kessner.denver.co.us (David D. Kessner) writes: > Dhrystone is very susceptible to 64K+ caches, since it ALL gets sucked >into the cache. Also, note that Dhrystone 1.1 is quite susceptible to >compilers "over"-optimizing it. You should use dhyrstone 2.x to get >reasonable measurements (1.1 numbers can show a massive skew on some compilers/ >machines, I thikn up to 50% faster than the "should"). See comp.benchmarks >for more info (and source code for 2.x). I honestly dont know what Dhrystone version I was using, but would assume 1.1. When trying several variations of compilers and optimizing, the LOWEST value I got was about 10,000-- using the AT&T compiler and no optimization. I'll try to find dhrystone 2.x... Also, under a multitasking OS a large external cache is more useful when the system is loaded-- and it keeps SEVERAL "loops" from several programs in the cache. Here is where the small internal cache of the 030 fails... > Once people start making them, cache should be easy to add (that 200 >pin connector is made for it (and other things)). Cache boards aren't really >complex, though testing them can be (and you have be very timing-concious). > > There's also the board space issue. Look at an A3000 motherboard >sometime: it's quite packed. It owuld have been very tough to fit it. I think C= could have spent more time developing UNIX on the Amiga-- perhapse designing a separate hardware platform for it. The UNIX software is obviously "not quite ready"-- with the B&W X11R3 and all. It is too bad, since this is C= first shot at UNIX and everyones first impression is very important-- and I want C= to succeed... While it is true that there isnt much space on the A3000 motherboard-- it also shows that the A3000(UX) was not designed as a UNIX machine from the start. But it is adiquate. I think that C='s next attempt at a UNIX machine ought be a 68040 in a tower case-- with a stronger power supply, more drive bays, more slots, several serial/parallel ports on the motherboard (with a REAL UART), and an external cache (even with the 040's internal cache). That would be a nice UNIX machine! >Randell Jesup, Keeper of AmigaDos, Commodore Engineering. >{uunet|rutgers}!cbmvax!jesup, jesup@cbmvax.commodore.com BIX: rjesup -- David Kessner - david@kessner.denver.co.us | do { 1135 Fairfax, Denver CO 80220 (303) 377-1801 (p.m.) | . . . If you cant flame MS-DOS, who can you flame? | } while( jones);