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Re: Hi

Tristan Day wrote:
> 
> I have a genuine Intel P200 MMX, with 32mb RAM
> 
> It runs v. well in Linux but in Windows it's disappointing unless you have a
> really nice graphics card (like at least 8 meg) but anyway, memory and hard
> drive speed is what slows down my computer, so I'd recommend 64meg and an
> ultra-fast-wide-scsi hard drive as swap memory is always needed. Those two
> things in my opinion are essential if you want to exploit the potential of
> the cpu because I don't think my machine would run any faster even with a
> PII because swap space on hard drive is used as memory and slows the whole
> thing down, so even a P200 isn't working to 100% usage most of the time.

Maybe we need to take a little course in hardware.  Most of the time the
CPU is doing very little (ie less than 1% utilization).  Only when an
application or the OS needs CPU cycles does the CPU do anything.  Most
modern OS`s do not use many CPU cycles.  It does not matter what CPU you
have if you don`t do anything.  Once you start using the CPU you WILL
notice a faster CPU.  The extra RAM and a UW SCSI disk are nice. 
Although most people will never notice a UW SCSI disk.  BTW, I happen to
own one.  I actually use it.  The jab about swap space only comes into
play when you run out of physical RAM.  Look carefully at your swap
utilization under Linux.  You will probably rarely use it.  Under
windows, that is entirely different.  Then again Microsoft is still
trying to figure it out.  Should only take another 10 years :)

> 
> Anyway, try your best to get a PII because you won't be able to upgrade much
> at all, and socket 7 motherboards will become obsolete. This is my problem.

Like you are going to be able to upgrage a socket 1 motherboard.  Dude
do you even know what you are talking about?

> 
> The MMX instruction set is what speeds up an MMX CPU, and Linux doesn't use
> this, because MMX is really aimed at Win95 people for games and graphics
> (Corel 8 is MMX enhanced) anyway, MMX claims to be 20% faster for any _non_
> MMX application anyway (ie a P166 MMX is 20% faster than a normal P166 in
> linux or unix or anything.)

Apparantly the newest binutils does, but you know that because you are a
developer, correct :)  It is not aimed at win95 people.  MMX is a very
poor attempt by intel.  Where do you get the 20% from.  Of all the
benchmarks I have seen (many, many) there is around 6% increase, due to
the extra internal cache.  You knew that, right :)

> 
> The AMD K6 is quite good and I think it's much cheaper but its performance
> varies. With some benchmarks and applications it runs faster than intel but
> others it doesn't. I wouldn't but a K6 purely because of higher performance
> because I'm not convinced.

Faster integer performance, slower floating point performance. 
Understand the architectural differences and you will know why.

> 
> >>In other words, the difference between a P200 and a P200MMX is nada.<<
> 
> no no no! It's 20% faster!

The 20% is pure speculation on your part.  Show me some SPEC numbers!

> 
> Good luck, try to find a cheap P2 so you'll be able to upgrade,

Upgrade to what?  Look at the intel roadmap for the next 12 months.  Not
much to upgrade to.  Pentium II is fast right now, but in 12 months
current PII won`t be top.  Oh the life cycle of the computer.  Gotta
love technology.  Looks like its time to replace the old Pentium 262mhz
:)

> 
> Tristan
> 
> |******************************************************** |
> | This message was sent using                                 |
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> |
> |
> |
> | "You're Not Our Brightest Year" - Mr Boon,           |
> | Headteacher of St Bede's, Cambridge                 |
> |
> |
> |  "Tristan you're soo annoying!!                                |
> |  I'm sorry, you're not really,  you're very sweet"      |
> |  -Mrs Myers, Maths Teacher                                    |
> *********************************************************
> 
> --
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How`s about getting a little hardware knowledge before giving out the
wrong info.  Make the world a better place.

Regards,
-- 
Bruce Jackson

Linux:  because reboots are for hardware upgrades!!


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