G4 vs. G3

[Robert Serphillips]

Most of the source I grab is not optimized. I know the videolan media player has just recently added altivec optimizations. Mot has released a altivec aware gcc over at altivec.org.

The 7400 does offer better bus performance even in 60x mode over the 750. I believe it allows for multiple outstanding transactions and the ability to prioritize and bump certain requests.  You'll notice this when you upgrade and your memory throughput increases by about 20%. This should be somewhat noticeable as linux is pretty I/O intensive. My kernel compiles went from 14 minutes to about 12 minutes going from a G3 400 to a G4 400 on a 45Mhz bus

-Rob

On 14 Apr 2002 17:25:16 -0400
Bob Beaton <bob@keyengine.com> wrote:

> MJF,
> 
> Good question, and I'd like to know the answer as well. I have a G3
> upgraded with a MaxPowr G4/500 card. Using the standard OF boot-up
> procedure, the AltiVec functionality does not get turned on. Thus, I've
> basically got a 500 MHz G3. Hopefully I've just missed a step in fully
> utilizing my processor under YDL, but it's not been obvious to me what
> the solution is.
> 
> Bob
> 
> On Sun, 2002-04-14 at 16:48, Michael J Flaherty wrote:
> > I'm curious about the usefulness of AltiVec in Linux.  I'm about to buy 
> > another G3 (or G4) card for this 7300 (w/Nexus 128 and ATA100 card already).  
> > Looks like a G4/450 will cost about $100 more than a G3/500.  
> > 
> > Is it worth the extra money ?  I've noticed that AltiVec support is an option 
> > that can be compiled into the kernel, so I'd like to know exactly how much 
> > difference it makes in reality.  When and how is it useful in Linux ?  Does 
> > it make as much difference as it supposedly does with OS X ?  
> > 
> > I'm leaning towards just getting a G3, although the G4 would, I suppose, be 
> > better if I want to play with OS X on this machine.  If Linux also runs 
> > significantly better on G4's, then I'll swallow hard and go for it.  Sorry if 
> > this has been covered before.
> > 
> > TIA for any advice, 
> > 
> > MJF  
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