🚀 go-pugleaf

ianst@qdpii.ind.dpi.qld.gov.au (Ian Staples) writes:

>As a matter of interest, does anyone know how many number combinations are
>affected by the bug?  I would imagine there is some readily defined series
>of number pairs which would demonstrate the error.

I think there are about 2500 possible combinations which show up as 
faulty (out of about 10^13 combinations). There is a simple formula 
describing most of the faulting dividends/divisors. Look at 
comp.sys.intel or an archive of it and look for lengthy articles (I read 
one about 200 lines describing an in-depth look at why it is buggy, which 
tells you what format the "buggy numbers" are in).

>Also, when did Intel start shipping fixed chips?  Two of my colleagues here
>in Oz bought PCs with bad Pentiums quite recently (the Biometrician is *very*
>pissed off indeed, as one would expect in view of his trade in numbers).

Hopefully Intel wasn't lying when they told us the bug was fixed in 
October (or was it September?). Given that this is Oz and fewer Pentiums 
are going to sell here than in the US, I suspect bug-free Pentiums will 
crop up in January or February...

I guess that my 386SX-25 will have to do until then....

P.S. Read the "Pentium humor" (gratuitous American spelling used) in 
comp.sys.intel...contains some funnies. I have a copy and will post it 
here upon demand....