[comp.sys.next] Why slower memory in a NeXT?

tvz@zandtwerk.Princeton.EDU (Timothy Van Zandt) (06/02/91)

In article <1991Jun1.143627.15471@alf.uib.no> PPSTL@livid.uib.no writes:

  [ Some stuff about using SIMMS of various types and speeds in a cube]
>
>Of course, the machine operates at the speed of the _slowest_ memory
>in the machine, thus I get a message "100ns" memory on boot - not 80 or 70.
>
>Hope this helps.
>Thor Legvold
>University of Bergen
>Norway
>me@fiol.uib.no <- NeXTmail, er du snill.


Question: Why does NeXT use 100ns memory, when, for example, a MAC IICI
requires 80ns memory and most other workstation manufacturers use 80ns
or 70ns memory. Did NeXT add wait states to make this possible? Did NeXT
forgo improved performance just to save a few pennies by buying slower
memory?

Tim Van Zandt
tvz@princeton.edu

PPSTL@livid.uib.no (06/03/91)

------------------------- Original Article -------------------------
Path: alf.uib.no!ugle.unit.no!sunic!mcsun!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rphroy
From: tvz@zandtwerk.Princeton.EDU (Timothy Van Zandt)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: Why slower memory in a NeXT? (Was: Shouldn't 70 ns SIMMs work...?)
Message-ID: <10317@idunno.Princeton.EDU>
Date: 1 Jun 91 22:05:28 GMT
References: <1991Jun1.143627.15471@alf.uib.no>
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In article <1991Jun1.143627.15471@alf.uib.no> PPSTL@livid.uib.no writes:

  [ Some stuff about using SIMMS of various types and speeds in a cube]
>
>Of course, the machine operates at the speed of the _slowest_ memory
>in the machine, thus I get a message "100ns" memory on boot - not 80 or 70.
>
>Hope this helps.
>Thor Legvold
>University of Bergen
>Norway
>me@fiol.uib.no <- NeXTmail, er du snill.


Question: Why does NeXT use 100ns memory, when, for example, a MAC IICI
requires 80ns memory and most other workstation manufacturers use 80ns
or 70ns memory. Did NeXT add wait states to make this possible? Did NeXT
forgo improved performance just to save a few pennies by buying slower
memory?

Tim Van Zandt
tvz@princeton.edu
----
Well, I'm guessing here, but if I recall correctly, at the time NeXT
announced the cube (Aug 1988 according to Byte, Nov 88) 100ns was the
fastest readily available memory - but I'm not sure.  Maybe someone
who knows better will post...?

Thor
UiB
Norway
me@fiol.uib.no <- NeXT mail, er du snill!