From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Message-ID: <38554B1B.2D3C2BF2@netx4.com> Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 14:38:03 -0500 From: Dan Malek MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Paul Austin CC: "'linuxppc-embedded@lists.linuxppc.org'" Subject: Re: IBM 40x and no L2 cache References: <531CE033A25BD3119E610000F6AF15FB04FF1E@wsexch02.dev.madge.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Sender: owner-linuxppc-embedded@lists.linuxppc.org List-Id: Paul Austin wrote: > We're currently debating whether to use x86 or PPC. There are lots of > reasons for wanting to use an IBM 40x for our board. Unfortunately, however, > the 40x can't support an L2 cache. The comments about the L2 cache are usually directed to high performance workstations using 7xx PowerPCs. If you can't see the value in the features provided by the embedded PowerPC over any x86, you are completely missing the boat. If you are doing any type of data communication protocols, the 8xx or 8260 will perform tasks thought impossible even on high end PCI workstations due to their specialized communciation processor and external interfaces. The 8260 has local memory features much more important than any L2 cache in an embedded environment. -- Dan ** Sent via the linuxppc-embedded mail list. See http://lists.linuxppc.org/