jml@druny.UUCP (10/31/83)
"The Pascal integers are 32 bits; the C ints are 16 bits." I'm don't know what 68000 machine was used in the MicroVAX Pascal vs. 68000 C micro comparison, but, we have two different UNIX micros both with Unisoft's Sys III and both compilers generate a 32 bit int. This severely hinders the machines when doing multiplys because the compiler generates a "jsr lmul" instruction and does the multiply in software. Our internal benchmarks indicate that using shorts on 68000 based machines can improve performance by a factor of 5 to 10. I don't like the idea of having to know that. However, the only programs we ever run that use multiply and divide are the benchmarks. Interpretation of benchmark results are in the eye of the beholder and I would be interested in seeing more comparisons by independent partys. I am not an advocate of any particular microprocessor or microcomputer since we have several kinds and I use them all. The MicroVAX on paper looks like a nice computer especially since my DEC rep says that they are going to announce support of System V sometime next year for the whole VAX line. John Leon AT&T Information Systems Labs Denver, CO. druny!jml