[comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc] How fast is fast?

jokim@jarthur.Claremont.EDU (John H. Kim) (10/18/90)

Being new to PCs, I'm having a small problem picking a system.

The 386s come in 16, 20, 25, and 33 MHz.  Add to that the
complexities of SX vs. DX, memory cache, and a math co-
processor.  I understand all that.  But I still don't have
a feel of how fast any of these machines are.

How much is sufficent for word processing?  Organizing a
database?  Calculating a spreadsheet?  Editing pictures on
a paint program?  Designing a cruise missle on a CAD program?

At how many MHz does a memory cache become advantageous?
What speeds would be considered overkill for the above
applications?  How about programs that don't fall into the
above categories (like Windows 3.0)?

And what else can you do with expansion slots aside from
memory expansion, video card, drive controller, and (maybe)
a mouse?

Thanks.  E-mail is probably best since most of the people who
read this group aren't novices like me.
-- 
John H. Kim                 | (This space to be filled when I
jokim@jarthur.claremont.edu | think of something very clever 
uunet!jarthur!jokim         | to use as a disclaimer)