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From: rbl@nitrex.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: 64 Vs 32
Message-ID: <437@nitrex.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 20-Mar-87 13:33:56 EST
Article-I.D.: nitrex.437
Posted: Fri Mar 20 13:33:56 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 22-Mar-87 16:24:31 EST
References: <3810013@nucsrl.UUCP> <985@rpics.RPI.EDU> <1310@ucbcad.berkeley.edu> <784@ames.UUCP>
Reply-To: rbl@nitrex.UUCP ( Dr. Robin Lake )
Organization: The Standard Oil Co., Cleveland
Lines: 31
Keywords: memory, address space
Summary: Lots o' applications need real memory

In article <784@ames.UUCP> lamaster@pioneer.UUCP (Hugh LaMaster) writes:
>In article <1310@ucbcad.berkeley.edu> faustus@ucbcad.berkeley.edu (Wayne A. Christopher) writes:
>:
>>
>>What we need to ask is, who will need more than ~1G of memory?  ...
>There could be other applications besides the often mentioned scientific
>and graphics programs which could potentially benefit from machines with
>larger address spaces.  Consider database applications, for example.
>...
>... What other applications  .. have people encountered that needed more 
> more than 1 GB?
Possible applications needing more than 1 GB:
o AI rule bases (close to a database)
o Text files (sometimes data for an AI application)
o Signal processing and image processing, including seismic.  I've heard that
one seismic series can be a semi trailer full of mag tapes.
o Interpretation of spectra from chemical analytic instruments.
o Dynamic system modeling, including weather forecasting, atmospheric dispersion
of hazardous materials (Chernobyl anyone?).
o Statistical analyses.

What would the net present value of "real" memory be if the "tape farms" and
"disk farms" could be replaced?  Allow for maintenance charges for electro-
mechanical equipment and operator time if the tape library is not automated.

Disclaimer:  I never have done seismic.  Any opinions are my own professional
thoughts and are not those of my employer.

Rob Lake
decvax!cwruecmp!nitrex!rbl
(cwruecmp soon to be domain-ized)