aps@decvax.UUCP (Armando P. Stettner) (07/24/83)
I should point out that with each VAX announcement, there circulated rummors about DEC adding extra micro-cycles (or micro-nop's (POLYD?)) to make this processor not encroach upon the price/performance range of another. Examples are: cycles added to the 780 so it did not hit into the 20 market; or slowing down the clock on the 750 or 730 so they would not step on each other or their big sister's space. This is just not true (as far as I can tell from by being involved in DEC Phase reviews (somewhat like design reviews) as well as by talking to friends directly on the projects. It is true that 750's did somethings faster than the 780 and it is even true that some 730 operations come close to 780 speed. Differences in implementation design and technology differences (they are not all the same as someone in this list suggested) account for these variations. Besides, VAX processors are slow enough without doing anything to them! aps. P.S. Australians should be seen ...