Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!ukma!psuvax1!news From: melling@cs.psu.edu (Michael D Mellinger) Newsgroups: comp.sys.next Subject: Re: RISCy NeXT (was: Low End NeXTs) Message-ID: Date: 3 Apr 91 02:42:36 GMT References: <14483@life.ai.mit.edu> <4753@lectroid.sw.stratus.com> <34936@athertn.Atherton.COM> <14575@life.ai.mit.edu> Sender: news@cs.psu.edu (Usenet) Distribution: comp Organization: Penn State Computer Science Lines: 34 In-Reply-To: petrilli@geech.gnu.ai.mit.edu's message of 3 Apr 91 00:59:04 GMT Nntp-Posting-Host: sunws5.sys.cs.psu.edu In article <14575@life.ai.mit.edu> petrilli@geech.gnu.ai.mit.edu (Chris Petrilli) writes: I don't know that I agree with teh RISC approach in general, and I think a multi-processor approach is much more sound, and in the end better. A quad-'040 machine would dust the new HP (which, BTW, is VERY impressive), especially if they attached 4 56001 chips to it. I 4 * 15 = 60. The new low-end HP's that cost $12,000 will do 57 mips. I think NeXT would be much better off with a quad-RISC Cube. think this is they way NeXT is going, and I think it is the right way. If they decide to go RISC (God forbid), then I hope they stay away from Sparc, it is not "infinitely extensible" as it's proponents claim, and I see it as the least suitable choice. My preference is for the MIPS set, perhaps the new R4000 due out next year I belive, or perhaps the PA-RISC from HP (also quite good). The 88K is also a pretty good processor, but I'm not sure its the best, but then who knows what kind of deal Motorola would cut, if they could get 50MHz 88K processors out the door, they would be a force to be reckoned with. I agree, MIPS is the best choice. It is estimated that the R4000 will perform 50 mips while only running at 25MHz. MIP's mips always seem to be close to the actual SPECmark rating too. Motorola has made big promises for the 88K, but who knows when they're going to deliver. In the meantime, Intel is readying the 50MHz 486 for this summer, and a 486SX is due out soon. Moto. is getting thoroughly trounced. However, Intel is going to release the N11, the sucessor to the i860, in June, and it will have double the performance of the i860. I don't suppose NeXT will ship NeXT Dimension in July with the N11 attached instead of the i860? -Mike