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Path: utzoo!utcs!lsuc!pesnta!pertec!peregrine!mike
From: mike@peregrine.UUCP (Mike Wexler)
Newsgroups: net.micro.att
Subject: Re: AT&T Micro Anouncement
Message-ID: <131@peregrine.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 11-Jun-85 15:17:43 EDT
Article-I.D.: peregrin.131
Posted: Tue Jun 11 15:17:43 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Jun-85 10:23:14 EDT
References: <453@rtech.UUCP> <624@houxu.UUCP> <368@petrus.UUCP> <1087@ihuxn.UUCP> <372@petrus.UUCP>
Organization: Peregrine Systems, Irvine, Ca
Lines: 41

> > The WE32100 Microprocessor line is a line of full 32-bit
> > (32-bit addressing and 32-bit data paths and registers) machines with 
> > a full complement of support chips.  Do not confuse these chips with
> > "32 bit" chips that need extra registers to address more than 64K !!!
> 
> I really don't care much if a chip is "32-bit" or not. Touting the number of
> "bits" on a microprocessor is a bit reminiscent of the practice of
> advertising the number of tubes in old-time radios.  If it doesn't improve
> the price/performance ratio of the product, it becomes a red herring.  Anyway,
> I always look first at non-performance related issues like:
> 
> 1. A large, flat address space
> 2. Support for virtual memory
> 3. Availability of reasonable system software and program development tools
> (e.g., 4.2BSD)
> 4. Second sources on the chips and support tools
> 
> The 68K either equals or surpasses the BigMac32 (oops, WE32000) on each of
> these points.
> 
> Only THEN do I look at how fast the thing runs C benchmarks (something that
> can be affected by the word size). Unless your $400 32-bit WE32000 can run C
> at least 26.67 times as fast as my $15 68K (which I seriously doubt), you
> get more bang for your buck with the 68K.
> 
> Phil

*** MESSAGE THIS LINE WITH YOUR REPLACE ***

This comparison is not fair for two reasons.  First of all it doesn't consider
the "glue" chips it takes to make either of the processors work.  Second,
the 32100 is brand new. How much did the first 68000 cost?  I agree with
you that 4.2BSD is nicer for development than System V, but System V is
catching up.  It now has demand paging, sdb(a symbolic debugger and predecessor
of dbx) and many others new features.
-- 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Wexler(trwrb!pertec!peregrine!mike) | Send all flames to:
15530 Rockfield, Building C              |	trwrb!pertec!peregrine!nobody
Irvine, Ca 92718                         | They will then be given the 
(714)855-3923                            | consideration they are due.