Robert J,
I guess you agree with the 200-300 dollar hit at least. Intel's own web site shows that the Pentium Pro performs 40% to 60% faster than Intel's Pentium Processor. Cyrix claims that the M2 will be twice as fast as its 6x86 for 32-bit applications. Intel claims that the Pentium Processor with MMX Technology (P55), will be 20% faster for non-MMX enabled software, slower than a Pentium if their is significant switching between MMX and Floating Point instructions, and up to 60% faster for MMX enabled applications, though current tests on sampled P55's show a 20% improvement. Cyrix's M2 will see a similar boost in MMX, and a factor of 2 improvement in 32-bit application performance.
Intel's Klamath isn't supposed to be any faster than the Pentium Pro, just MMX enabled and lower cost due to the removal of L2 cache. It will take significant effort on Intel's part just to make-up for the performance hit when the L2 cache is removed, and the increasing of the L1 cache isn't going to make-it up alone.
If you do the math, Cyrix's M2 will be 30% to 50% faster than Intel's Pentium with MMX Technology. It also looks like it will be faster than the Klamath chip.
Intel has a history of introducing chips at similar performance speeds in a new technology. When the Pentium was introduced at 60 MHz, it was the same speed as a clock tripled 33MHz 486 (i.e., the DX100).
Is there anything in here, I have stated incorrectly?
Bob |
