Re: linux-image for i586

[Johan Kullstam <kullstj_ml@verizon.net>]

Sthu Deus <sthu.deus@gmail.com> writes:

> Good day.
>
> Just wanted to ask, Why there is no linux-image package for i586,
> especially w/ MMX support - but only for i486, then for i686 and up?

I don't think all that many people have i586 boxen.  They were current
in the timeframe 1995 through 1997.  That's over a dozen years ago.

The i486 kernel will run on an i586 box.  Even if you compile the kernel
for i586 how much speed are you really going to get?  A few percent?
And how much time do you spend in kernel as opposed to userland?  Maybe
3-20 percent depending on what you are doing right?  So, in rough
numbers, that's a 10% off on 10% of what you do for a net of roughly 1%.

If you actually care about speed, you might upgrade to a new cpu.
People should be giving away pentium-iii and early athlon boxes for
free.  (Depending on where you live &c.)

> Thank You for Your time.

-- 
Johan KULLSTAM