Originally posted by vanguard
itanium,
You're really off target here. As I look at your link it even offers an explanation. The G3 was configured with a larger L2 cache. The actual truth is that the G3 needs an extra advantage to compete with the G4. (My mind wanders to a Quiznos commercial where they use a blowdart to get a woman to choose the untoasted sub). On a level playing field the G3 is slower than the G4.
Just like your explaination of interger operations of the G4 compared to the G3? So its ok that the G4 has an advantage over the G3 in interger operations but its not ok that the G3 has a L2 cache advantage over the G4 in the eMac and iMac? Hmm...? I would consider that since the MHz were the same in both CPUs that the level playing ground had been estab lished. Once again, in response to this statement,
The G4 is faster even if the app isn't optimized for Altivec., you are incorrect. Changing your argument now doesn't change the fact.
As for your consumer prices, they typically don't have much in common with bulk purchase prices. For that reason, the links you provided with consumer prices are not relevant.
Since I don't buy CPUs in bulk and I'll take a wild guess and assume neither do you, then I would consider the bulk cost of G3s and G4s irrelevant. What I do consider relevant is that a single G3 of the same MHz is cheaper than a single G4 and this has been proven. Also, if a G3 can keep up with a G4 in non Altivec operations at the same MHz which has also been proven, then I as a consumer may find purchasing a G3 Mac for several hundered dollars less to my advantage.
Finally, regarding SMP, your "where there is a will there is a way" and your "magical transitors" arguments imply that have more to learn about CPU design (then again, doesn't everybody?). It's difficult to design chips that can maintain cache coherency without spending all of their cycles doing it. If the G3 wasn't designed to do it, than it will not do it well without a lot of redesign. On the other hand, you can build a motherboard that handles all the trouble on behalf of the chip but it will be a slow piece of junk. Truthfully, I don't know how easily it can be used in an SMP configuration. However, given that it's never been done I'd bet that it wasn't designed for it.
Vanguard
The G3 and G4 aren't that much different other than Altivec according to the website below.
http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/G3CARDS/XLR8G4/G4vsG3.html
MPC7400's core is essentially the same as the MPC750's...
Of course, this is the original G4 but as it evolved, why couldn't have the G3? I don't know how much redesign would be necessary but since you yourself "don't know", I hardly see how you can say it would take "a lot." You should heed your own advice and stay away from making false assumptions when you just "don't know."
PS I made a great effort not to stoop to your level of personal attack. ("read 'em and weep" nonsense) I hope you set a better example in the future.
That's very nice of you but I would consider the following personal attacks.
...but sadly your post is mostly fact free.
...might not been an modarator butt I'm no dummy.
PS I reread my post and it sounded kind of like a flame. It wasn't meant to attack...
When you yourself have to point out that your post isn't a flame or attack, one has to wonder. Also, what me being a Moderator in a different forum has to do with any of this is anyone's guess.
For future reference, unless I quote you, I'm not responding to you. My original post wasn't in response to you personally, it was in response to this thread as a whole. You for whatever reason just took it personally.
