Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!uwvax!oddjob!hao!gatech!mcnc!rti!sas!jcz From: jcz@sas.UUCP (John Carl Zeigler) Newsgroups: comp.arch Subject: Re: Applications for consuming processor power Message-ID: <171@sas.UUCP> Date: Mon, 6-Jul-87 10:03:38 EDT Article-I.D.: sas.171 Posted: Mon Jul 6 10:03:38 1987 Date-Received: Tue, 7-Jul-87 05:02:36 EDT References: <8222@amdahl.amdahl.com> <8866@bu-cs.BU.EDU> Organization: SAS Institute Inc.,Cary NC,25712 Lines: 28 Summary: Some need MegaMIPS . . . Here are two pragmatic reasons why high powered processors ( mips * 10eX ) are indeed necessary, and do have a larger niche than weather forcasting: 1. Software performance tuning is expensive. If you can get 'acceptable' performance with a fixed cost processor, then you don't need those expensive performance gurus. "Who cares if we're only using 75% of the machine? My nroff is done by the time I hit return !!!!!" 2. User interface. This is an expanded version of the graphics argument. Many business and other 'volume' applications are becoming more complex internally to provide less complexity and better communications to the user. If want to present something visually to the user, or audially, or in a tabular form that allows them to make their next move very quickly, (I'm not talking 'bout hunt and peck menus here . . ) AND perform the complex sequence of calculations they specified in a decent amount of time, then you need more processing power than is currently available. As fast machines become smaller and cheaper, these two considerations will affect a lot of purchase decisions. -- --jcz John Carl Zeigler SAS Institute Inc. Cary, NC 27511 (919) 467-8000 ...!mcnc!rti!sas!jcz