Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!ogicse!milton!uw-beaver!uw-june!robertb
From: robertb@cs.washington.edu (Robert Bedichek)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.m88k
Subject: Re: Data General Aviion 7000, 8000
Keywords: New Data General 88K machines
Message-ID: <15515@june.cs.washington.edu>
Date: 20 Mar 91 00:45:02 GMT
References: <1991Mar14.183029.11714@neon.Stanford.EDU> <1991Mar16.151948.14745@dg-rtp.dg.com>
Reply-To: robertb@june.cs.washington.edu (Robert Bedichek)
Distribution: comp
Organization: University of Washington, Computer Science, Seattle
Lines: 23

Would someone from Data General give a serious explanation for the
claimed 117 MIPS figure for the new workstations?

Just saying "everybody lies, so do we" doesn't cut it.  The number must
come from somewhere.  Even outrageous numbers have some basis.  What is
the basis for 117 MIPS from the new DG machine?

I read that the workstations use four 25 MHz 88100's.  Given the
optimistic figure of 17 MIPS for a 20 MHz part (the figure given by
Motorola) implies each 25 MHz 88100 yields 21.25 MIPS, x4, that is 85
MIPS.  I believe that Motorola claims 60 MIPS for their four-CPU 20 MHz
systems.  Given this, that would put the DG machines at 75 MIPS.  And
scaling the MIPS figures with clock speed assumes that the memory
system can be sped up without problems.

And of course, these DG figures are aggregate MIPS, not single CPU
MIPS, so it is meaningless to compare a 40 MIPS SUN to a ?? MIPS DG
machine.  If the load is single thread, the fastest SUNs, MIPSco
machines, and the IBM RS/6000 will win.

Someone from DG, please help us understand your company's claims.

	Robert Bedichek                robertb@cs.washington.edu