[SunRescue] SS4/SS5/SS10 compatibility?

[Björn Ramqvist]

I've had experience with some of these machines and from what I can
tell, I can't agree totally with Dave McGuire on all points in this
discussion.
Looking at the official peak integer and floating point calculation rate
specs:

CINT95 Rates:
SPARCstation 4/110 & 5/110    1.59
SPARCstation 5 Model 170      3.53
SPARCstation 10 Model 40      1.13
SPARCstation 20 Model 71      3.11

CFP95 Rates:
SPARCstation 4/110 & 5/110    1.99
SPARCstation 5 Model 170      3.00
SPARCstation 10 Model 40      1.38
SPARCstation 20 Model 71      3.10

The FMI TurboSPARC was designed to do integer-based performance,
day-to-day usual application tasks. (Noone seriously want to render
complex scenes on a low-end SPARCstation)

Of course many factors depend on the overall speed and "feel" on the
machine, but with pure numbercrunching these can compete with eachother.
Put to count the built-in SX on the SS20, dual-Mbus, an extra Sbus-slot
and all that.
This is, of-course, uni-processor. A dual-cpu SS20-712 would definitly
beat a SS5/170 in CINT-rates.
I'd say, if it's filled with enough RAM, go for the SS5/170. If you want
SX (24-bit) capability, more Sbus, MP-capability, go for the SS20.

/Bjorn

Ken Hansen wrote:
> 
> Reasonable advice, my exp. w/170 MHz SS/5 is very limited, and I
> defer to Dave...
> 
> Ken
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rescue-admin at sunhelp.org
> [mailto:rescue-admin at sunhelp.org]On
> Behalf Of Dave McGuire
> Sent: Monday, April 02, 2001 6:22 PM
> To: rescue at sunhelp.org
> Subject: RE: [SunRescue] SS4/SS5/SS10 compatibility?
> 
> On April 2, Ken Hansen wrote:
> > If you can only get one of the three machines, the SS/10 is
> *most likely* your best bet, unless, of course, the SS/5 is a
> 170 MHz system, then the SS/5 is your best bet.
> 
>   I haven't checked the benchmarks, but I've found that an SS10
> with
> an SM71 or SM81 will knock the teeth out of any SS5, 170MHz or
> not.
> 
>   And, before you say "but Bob doesn't HAVE an SM71 or SM81!" he
> can
> upgrade to one later...which is a capability that no SS4 or SS5
> has.
> 
>   Thus, my advice...sell the SS4 and the SS5 to someone who's
> just
> getting started in the Unix world.  Take that money and buy a
> good
> processor for that SS10.  You will not be disappointed.
> 
>          -Dave McGuire
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