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From: whm@arizona.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.unix.wizards
Subject: Re: Vax 86xx FBOX decision
Message-ID: <1600@megaron.arizona.edu>
Date: Sat, 28-Mar-87 14:24:38 EST
Article-I.D.: megaron.1600
Posted: Sat Mar 28 14:24:38 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 29-Mar-87 17:15:14 EST
References: <3431@cisunx.UUCP> <15735@sun.uucp>
Organization: U of Arizona CS Dept, Tucson
Lines: 13

I've heard from good authorities that the 8600 FPA does integer multiplications,
so that's a source of potential speedup.  They apparently did this after
finding that a lot of programs do a lot of integer multiplies, but it's
also good for sales(!): "We don't do much floating point, so we don't need
an FPA."  "Well if you do integer multiplies, our FPA will help you out!"

There was an issue of the Digital Technical Journal (?) that was devoted to
the 8600 and I think there was an article on the FBOX in there.  Your
friendly DEC salesman can probably get you a copy.

					Bill Mitchell
					whm@arizona.edu
					{allegra,cmcl2,ihnp4,noao}!arizona!whm