🚀 go-pugleaf

keiths@cae.wisc.edu (Keith Scidmore) writes:

>1. The DEC Alpha includes a conditional move instruction that they claim
>   can be used to avoid using branches and the associated branch penalties.
>   I'm trying to evaluate the usefulness of this feature.  Can someone tell
>   me where I might find articles that discuss this or raw data that can be
>   used to calculate the advantages of such an instruction.  I'm not into
>   compilers, and I need to know what kinds of situations an optimizing
>   compiler could make use of this instruction.  Is it even practical?  Are
>   there any compiler writers out there with opinions on this?

You might try asking the HP people.  They were discussing the benefit of
their conditional execution 'branches'.  Other people to ask, if you're
brave enough, are the ARM people.  In their assembler, almost every inst.
is conditional.

>3. Cray has annouced intention to build a 300 Teraflop machine based on the
>   alpha.  What is the word for 1000 teraflops?

I believe it's Etaflop from the progression: 
				Units	Prefix Suffix
				10-18	atto	a
				10-15	femto	f
				10-12	pico	p
				10-9	nano	n
				10-6	micro	u (greek mu, sorry)
				10-3	milli	m
				10 3	kilo	k
				10 6	mega	M
				10 9	giga	G
				10 12	tera	T
				10 15	eta	E

I can't find a chart with higher entries.  Sorry, but the computer
industry isn't *allowed* to get any faster than 999 eta(something).
It's a physical law. :)

Maybe it's time for a trip to the library.  Anyway, I hope this helps.

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willmore@iastate.edu | "Death before dishonor" | "Better dead than greek" | 
David Willmore  | "Ever noticed how much they look like orchids? Lovely!" | 
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