Subject: Re: NetBSD with 4mb ram
To: None <port-vax@netbsd.org>
From: Dave McGuire <mcguire@neurotica.com>
List: port-vax
Date: 05/25/2002 22:29:14
On May 26, Ken Seefried wrote:
> > now you've got me wondering if NetBSD runs on VAX 11/730.  0.3 VUPS.
> > probably the slowest 32bit machine aside from the microvax I.  :) 
> 
> There is a Sun2 NetBSD port.  68010-based, not more than 12MHz (I would 
> guess 8MHz), Multibus I.  I can't imagine it's faster that an 11/730 (a 
> 386/16 is a relative speed deamon in comparison, even in the SX variety). 

  Sun2 systems run at 10MHz.  I ran both many years ago; the Sun2
seemed quite a bit faster at most things.

  My old VAX-11/730 would kick the crap out of pretty much any i386,
though, when actual multitasking was involved.  Don't underestimate
the power of a well-designed architecture like the VAX.  Or, more to
the point, don't OVERestimate the suckfulness of a horribly-designed
architecture like x86!  The only way the PeeCee weenies get any CPU
performance at all out of those machines is by cranking them up to
utterly ridiculous clock rates in compensation for a poorly designed
processor. :)

        -Dave

-- 
Dave McGuire                       "Actually, I've found that I rarely wear
St. Petersburg, FL                    pants in Florida." -Sridhar