Messages in this thread |  | | Date | Sat, 21 Dec 1996 17:03:38 -0800 (PST) | From | Rob Glover <> | Subject | re: AMD (fwd) |
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On Sat, 21 Dec 1996, Jim Nance wrote:
> > Forwarded message: > > > > What is it missing that makes it non-pentium-class? > > > > > > Jim > > > Well look at what he just said: > > > > its a 486 CPU that just has its internal clock quadrupled.... > > > > here is an example.. a 486dx2-66 is just a 486 33MHz CPU with its internal > > clock DOUBLED, to make it 66MHz. The same idea as above.. the CPU above > > is jsut a 486-33 class CPU with its internal clock QUADUPLED. 33 * 4 = > > 132. <they do a bit of funny math to work it up to 133 :> > > OK, let me phrase my question a little better, and give my motiviation for > asking it. I frequently see statements that AMD and Cyrix 586 processors > are not "real" pentium CPUs, and there is usually the implication that > that this is a bad thing. I am trying to figure out how much of the > difference it really a bad thing, and how much is marketing hype. > Perhaps I should have asked if a Pentium was more than a fast 386. > > Here are my questions, and what I know about the answers, in a little > more detail: > > 1) Are there any instructions available with the Pentium that are not > available with the AMD chip. How important are they? Does the > AMD part have useful instructions that the Pentium does not? > > The only thing I can think of that might fall into this catagory is > the 4M page table stuff, but I am not well versed in this subject. > > 2) Can the Pentium perform tasks that can not be performed with the AMD > processor? > > I dont think so. I believe that each of them can address the same amount > of ram, the registers are the same size, etc. The Pentium may be better > for SMP stuff, but I suspect that you dont even have the choice of using > and AMD processor if that is the case. > > 3) Is the Pentium a better value for the money? > > I suspect that the Pentium will run faster at a given clock speed, and > I suspect that the AMD part is cheaper. I am just guessing though. > > > Thanks, > > Jim > > Pentium = All Pentium optizmizations AMD 5x86 = All 486 Stuff, no Pentium stuff.
A Pentium is a Pentium, a AMD5x86 is a 486, just made run to quadrupled in speed, no added Pentium instructions or anything.... AMD5x86 can do everything a 486 can, but can't do everything a Pentium can, because it dosen't have any Pentium instructions. here are answers to your questions, in order:
1) No. AMD5x86 only has 486 instructions. Pentium has Pentium instructions.
2) A AMD5x86 can't do everything a Pentium can, because it doen't have any Pentium instructions.
3) I would say the Pentium is worth the extra $$$. If you get that 5x86 now, you'll regret it later down the road. If you get the Pentium, you'll regret it a lot later down the road :>
Hope this clarifies things :>
-Rob
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