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Re: Parallel computing?

Vaughan Pratt wrote:

> >From: "Greg E. Priest-Dorman" <>
> >I went from a 486DX2/50 based system to a CELL P166.  Not sure if I
> >would go back.  I am very happy with the way it uses power.
>
> Greg's probably right on this.  The x86 architecture keeps improving in
> both performance and efficiency.  I'm looking forward to being able to
> use a 586 in the JUMPtec form factor, which is mind-bogglingly tiny for
> a PC clone.

Something that I would like to see, just for the sake of size, is a DimmPC
based on the Cyrix Media GX-- An x86 Proc with all the external controller
hardware in chip, with the exception of Ethernet.

> >I know when I did the compairson with several 486 and 586
> >pc104 boards the P166 came out that I would have to go to a 486/33 to
> >get better power use.
>
> The AMD Elan SC400, JUMPtec's CPU, is a 100 MHz 486, though to get
> the last 34 MHz of that requires a heat sink.  The DIMM PC module
> including the two serial ports, parallel port, and floppy controller
> draws 400 milliamps from its single 5v supply at full bore and 160
> milliamps when idling.  That should be enough to make a comparison with
> the P166.  (We don't have the latter, the one Cell PC machine we have
> is the P233, which needs no heat sink even at 233 MHz!  In contrast
> we have 10 Jumptec's at this point, and 10 VGA/ethernet modules to go
> with them.  Incidentally the 340MB IBM Microdrive works with these,
> even runs Win95, it's a really tiny package!  Will put something on
> http://wearables.stanford.edu about this in a few days.)

This is where the x86 arch loses it coolness, both literally and
figuratively..  After the high megahertz, the Intel CPUs become so
inefficient that's its almost funny.  Hence my boosting of the PowerPC
Architecture for IBM and Mot.  Though, for mobile use, Motorola versions
Are more efficient (IBM Chips are geared towards the server market).  A
400mhz PPC 750 uses just 4 watts ( the desktop CPU, mind you), and a
desktop PII-400 uses 23 watts.  Granted, the PII is faster in pure
computing and uses the 100mhz system bus, but a  750/400 with a 66mhz bus
has FPU performance that the PII can only dream of.

--
-LX

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