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From: mjs@sfsup.UUCP (M.J.Shannon)
Newsgroups: net.arch,net.micro.att
Subject: Re: AT&T MIPS claim
Message-ID: <286@sfsup.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 30-May-86 02:12:49 EDT
Article-I.D.: sfsup.286
Posted: Fri May 30 02:12:49 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 31-May-86 07:27:16 EDT
References: <577@scirtp.UUCP> <266@comm.UUCP>
Reply-To: mjs@sfsup.UUCP (M.J.Shannon)
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Information Systems, Summit N.J.
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Xref: watmath net.arch:3338 net.micro.att:1235

In article <266@comm.UUCP> dave@comm.UUCP (Dave Brownell) writes:
>In article <577@scirtp.UUCP> dfh@scirtp.UUCP (David F. Hinnant) writes:
>> ...  They made this interesting claim that the UNIX PC gives
>> you "75% of the power of a VAX 11/780" for "only 7% of the cost".
>> Arrgh.  ...  Is this the MIP rating for the
>> 68010 as compared to the VAX?  Looks like it.  One really couldn't ask
>> for a better example of the Meaningless Index of Performance.  I've seen
>> many a 780 run with more than 20 users.  I'd like to see you put that
>> many on a UNIX PC that I found can barely support one.
>
>This is Apples and Oranges ... a MIP, however meaningless, is a CPU benchmark,
>and a "user" is a rather ill-defined I/O benchmark ... and I do believe
>the I/O on the 7300 is not up to the CPU.

On the other hand, if you stuff 8 Meg into a UNIX PC, put an RP07 or an RA81
or similar sort of large, fast disk on it, you get the quoted horsepower at
a considerable, but less than 100% cost of the 780.  If you don't consider
"optional" equipment when comparing 2 boxes, you aren't REALLY comparing them.
If you don't consider "equivalent configuration" you're in the wrong ballpark.
Not that I'm defending the claim in the glossy literature -- I'm not (and
can't) -- but, with similar configurations, the claim is accurate in its
description of the power of the UNIX PC.  Dave Brownell's comment also applies.
-- 
	Marty Shannon
UUCP:	ihnp4!attunix!mjs
Phone:	+1 (201) 522 6063

Disclaimer: I speak for no one.

"If I never loved, I never would have cried." -- Simon & Garfunkel