Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!uupsi!pbs.org!TALOS!jerry
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: Coprocessors - Business?
Message-ID: <1720@TALOS.UUCP>
From: jerry@TALOS.UUCP (Jerry Gitomer)
Date: 3 Apr 91 14:11:06 GMT
References: <2892@megatek.megatek.uucp>
Distribution: world
Organization: NPRI, Alexandria VA
Lines: 24

mark@megatek.UUCP (mark thompson) writes:

|Whenever I read architecture manuals for (eg. the Moto 68000 series), they invariably
|support several coprocessors. Also invariably, one of those coprocessors is for
|floating point.

|Often, the other is an MMU or some other silly system controller.

|Has anyone tried to do something wonderful with one of the undedicated coprocessors,
|examples of wonderful being I/O channel controllers or a business instruction set?

	Looking at the ratio of I/O to computation for most business
	applications leads to the conclusion that a coprocessor for a
	business system doesn't buy much (if anything) in the way of
	additional performance.  It also leads to the conclusion that the
	best business coprocessor is probably an intelligent disk
	controller with built-in caching.

				Jerry

-- 
Jerry Gitomer at National Political Resources Inc, Alexandria, VA USA
I am apolitical, have no resources, and speak only for myself.
Ma Bell (703)683-9090  (UUCP: (until 4/15)  ...uupsi!pbs!npri6!jerry