From: zeisset@Informatik.TU-Muenchen.DE (Stephan Zeisset) Subject: Re: To cache or not to cache. Which machine to buy. Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1993 11:32:27 GMT
In article <1993Feb2.145017.20877@ra.msstate.edu>, dnewcomb@whale.st.usm.edu (Donald R. Newcomb) writes:
|> Sorry to bother everyone with this. I've scanned the linux newsgroups
|> and faq files for the answer to this question without finding the
|> answer.
|>
|> The cost of 386 systems is finally low enough so that I can afford to
|> consider replacing my old XT compatible. I would like to get a machine
|> that will make a good Linux host. The faq files tell me what type of
|> processor I need, how much disk and memory but I can't find an answer
|> to my question about cache. The lowest base price I can find for a
|> 386/25 (no cache) is $499 and the 386/33 (with 64K cache) is $599.
|> (Hard disk, above 1 MB, monitor are extra) I'm trying to figure out
|> if I (being on a limited budget) should spend the extra for the cache
|> and faster processor or put it into more memory and disk.
Invest your money into more memory.
As with any other Unix System, Linux's system performance
will drop dramatically when it starts swapping due to a
lack of sufficient main memory.
The 386/33 will give you less than 25% speedup and often
none at all when the speed is limited by the disk transfer rate.
Recommendation: min. 4 MB RAM, 40 MB Harddisk
Bye, Stephan.