🚀 go-pugleaf

Craig Dewick wrote:
> relax1 <relax1@geocitties.com> writes:
> >1. What are the differences between these model number(ex: Sparc2,
> >Sparc5,UltraSparc,...). Are they how we call the CPU 386,486,... in
> >Intel architecture?
> 
> Sort of. The Sparc 2 comes from the sun-4c line, which is the oldest series
> of machines supported in current versions of SunOS.
> 
> The Sparc 5 comes from the sun-4m family, which is newer than the Sun-4c',
> but older than the Ultrasparcs, which are the sun-4u family.

More specifically...

 generation: sun4c (1989 - 1992)
 machines: SS1, SS1+, SLC, SS2, IPC, IPX
 processor: original SPARC (Cypress601)
 microarchitecture: simple 5-stage scalar pipeline
 clock speed: 15 - 40 MHz
 performance compared to competitors of same generation:
   2x the speed of Intel 486 for int, 3x for fp
   50% faster than Motorola 68040 (Mac Quatra, NeXT)
   10-20% slower than MIPS R3000 (SGI IRIS)
 notes: Quite old, but processor is upgradable to 80 MHz Weitek which will
   keep these systems alive in a crunch. Can only take 64 MB of RAM unless
   you're willing to use strange hybrid Sbus cards etc.

 generation: sun4m high-end (1992 - 1995)
 machines: SS10, SS20
 processor: SuperSPARC (ss) or HyperSPARC (HS)
 microarchitecture: superscalar (3-issue for SS, 2-issue for HS).
 clock speed: 36 - 85 MHz for SS, 66 - 200 MHz for HS
 multiprocessing: up to 4 processors per system
 performance compared to competitors of same generation:
   SS is 50% faster than Pentium at same clock, but only goes to 85 MHz
   HS is 20% faster than Pentium for int, 2x for fp
   SS is 80% faster than PowerPC 601 (PowerMac 6100-8100)
   HS is 50% faster than PowerPC 601 (PowerMac 6100-8100)
   Both are 50%+ slower than Alpha 21064 because of Alpha's faster clock
 notes: Cheap multiprocessor capabilities and large RAM capacity will keep
   these systems viable for a long while yet. A 200 MHz HyperSPARC still
   outperforms the fastest Pentium's, and you can have up to 4 of them!

 generation: sun4m low-end (1993 - 1995)
 machines: Classic, LX, SS4, SS5
 processor: MicroSPARC
 microarchitecture: simple 5-stage scalar pipeline
 clock speed: 50 - 110 MHz
 performance compared to competitors of same generation:
   slower than Pentium at same clock, and only goes to 110 MHz
   similar to PowerPC 601 (PowerMac 6100-8100)
 notes: Cheap machines competitive with slower Pentiums, but processor
   is not upgradable. A motherboard swap to the 170 MHz TurboSPARC will
   keep them viable for a few more years, but without multiprocessing
   they'll die off long before the SS10/SS20 does.

 generation: sun4u (1995 - now)
 machines: Ultra-1, 2, 5, 10, 30 and 60
 processor: UltraSPARC
 microarchitecture: aggressive 64-bit superscalar 4-way with VIS for gfx
 clock speed: 143 - 400 MHz
 multiprocessing: Ultra-2 and Ultra-60 can take dual processors
 performance compared to competitors of same generation:
   20-40% faster than Pentium-II for int, 2x for fp, 2x for graphics
   similar to PowerPC 750 (G3) for int, 50% faster for fp, 2x for gfx
   similar to Alpha 21164 of 1.5x clock speed, but 2x faster for gfx
 notes: Very nice machines. Hard to beat except in high-end FP, where the
   Alpha rules supreme. The VIS instructions make a huge difference for
   graphics and imaging operations. Optional 3DRAM-based high-end 3D
   graphics is competitive with SGI's top Octane systems.


> >2. Can a program written on an old machine run on new machine?

Yes. All systems are binary compatible for user software. As time goes
on, some companies will start producing 64-bit versions of database
software etc, which will only run on the 64-bit systems (UltraSPARC).

> >3. Which model number is the newest one right now?

For a desktop workstation I'd recommend the Ultra-10/Creator3D or perhaps
an Ultra-10 clone from one of the many clone vendors. Great performance
at around the same price as a top-end PC.

The Ultra-5 is slightly cheaper, but doesn't have the ability to take
the high-end 3D graphics. If you've got tons of money, an Ultra-60
will allow you to have dual processors, but it costs three times the
price of a similar Ultra-10, so it's not very cost effective.

> >6. How much is the whole Sparc system that its performance is about
> >equavalent to Pentium II 300MHz?
>
> You can't compare Sun's to PC's...

While direct comparisons depend on the software you are using, I'd
suspect an Ultra-10/300 is what you'd be wanting. This would be about
20-40% faster than the P-II at integer work (compiling software, text
manipulation, data compression etc), about twice as fast at floating
point work (raytracing, science simulations), 2-3 times the speed at
2D graphics (Photoshop, MPEG playback), and several times faster at
3D graphics if you choose to get Creator3D or Elite3D graphics. This
is compared to a standard P-II/300 that you might buy at MYERS etc.

> >7. Where can I buy Sparc system that is equivalent to Pentium II
> > 300 MHz with the best price?

An Ultra-10/300 costs about the same as a top-end PC, say about $7000.
Apcom (USA) have a good deal on their Ultra-10/300 clone at the moment
($3750 US) and it has UltraWide-SCSI on the motherboard. I'd recommend
getting Creator3D (or at least Creator) graphics rather than the stock
PGX card (which is only 8-bit). Their web site is http://www.apcom.com/ 

Other factors you should be thinking about include the cost of software
(since your PC or Mac software will not run on a SPARC). Depending on
what you do, you might be able to use freeware (GNU compilers etc), or
you may need to purchase several expensive packages.


JASON PATTERSON
 jason@pattosoft.com.au  http://www.pattosoft.com.au/jason

 Imagine that CRAY decides to make a personal computer. It contains 16
 Alpha based processors executing in parallel, has 800 megabytes of RAM,
 9 Gigabytes of disk storage, a resolution of 4096 x 4096 pixels, does
 24bit 3D graphics in realtime, relies entirely on voice recognition for
 input, fits in your shirt pocket and costs $300. What is the first
 question the computer community asks?

 "Is it DOS compatible?"