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From: levy@ttrdc.UUCP (Daniel R. Levy)
Newsgroups: net.arch,net.micro.att
Subject: Re: AT&T MIPS claim
Message-ID: <928@ttrdc.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 7-Jun-86 12:41:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: ttrdc.928
Posted: Sat Jun  7 12:41:23 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 8-Jun-86 05:22:43 EDT
References: <577@scirtp.UUCP> <266@comm.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T, Computer Systems Division, Skokie, IL
Lines: 28
Xref: watmath net.arch:3391 net.micro.att:1272

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.  Maybe when someone comes up
>with a realistic I/O benchmark we can really start comparing UNIX hardware.
>(Yes, that marketing claim is absurd.)
>    Dave Brownell
>    EnMasse Computer Corporation
>    {genrad,harvard}!enmasse!comm!dave

It only appears absurd to those who take it to mean what it doesn't mean.
The CPU does have that much 'crunch power'.  I/O is a separate animal.
-- 
 -------------------------------    Disclaimer:  The views contained herein are
|       dan levy | yvel nad      |  my own and are not at all those of my em-
|         an engihacker @        |  ployer or the administrator of any computer
| at&t computer systems division |  upon which I may hack.
|        skokie, illinois        |
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