Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!spool.mu.edu!uunet!tellab5!chinet!saj From: saj@chinet.chi.il.us (Stephen Jacobs) Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st Subject: What's a fair comparison? Summary: proposed standards for speed and price Keywords: Atari Motorola Intel GNU C ZEOS benchmark Message-ID: <1991May30.145023.1684@chinet.chi.il.us> Date: 30 May 91 14:50:23 GMT Article-I.D.: chinet.1991May30.145023.1684 Organization: Chinet - Chicago Public Access UNIX Lines: 19 I seem to be involved in what is fast becoming a shouting match about relative price and performance of Atari computers vs those based on Intel chips. One of the main problems is knowing what to compare with which. So how about we pick some fair yardsticks. Atari isn't 'Joes Garage Computer Manufactorie', and shouldn't have prices compared with it. I'll suggest ZEOS as a company whose prices are widely advertized, and whose quality is comparable to Atari (I rate both of them very good for service, by the way. Start your own thread if you want to talk about service). Often as not, ZEOS machines are the least expensive ones included in those comparative reviews magazines have so much fun with. Cross-platform benchmarks are damn near impossible (Byte magazine has had several articles on the subject), but I'll modestly propose as a benchmark the time for GNU C to compile itself, with all temporary files on hard disk. Any other suggestions? Ok now: I personally have none of these things: GNU C source distribution, TT or 80486 box. The people I know who have them I trouble enough over more serious issues. Anyone care to post about how long it takes GNU C to compile itself on the TT? Steve saj@chinet.chi.il.us