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<META HTTP-EQUIV="Expires" CONTENT="Tue, 14 Jul 1998 21:29:02 GMT">
<meta name="Author" content="William Henning">
<meta name="Description" content="www.cpureview.com: computer hardware reviews">
<meta name="KeyWords" content="amd cyrix ibm idt intel 686 k6 P2 PII review reviews motherboard video card chip processor magazine">
<TITLE>Linux Kernel Compilation Benchmark</TITLE>
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<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF">
<H1>Linux Kernel Compilation Benchmark</H1>
<FONT FACE="Comic Sans MS">
by <A HREF="mailto:editor@cpureview.com"><I>William Henning</I></A><BR>
Editor, <A HREF="http://www.cpureview.com">CPUReview</A></FONT><BR>
Copyright July 1, 1998<BR>
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED<BR>
<P>I have purchased a K6-2/266Mhz processor and a Soyo 5EHM Super7
motherboard specifically so that I would be able to benchmark the K6-2
against Intel PII and Cyrix processors. Since I have been running Linux
since the v0.10 days, I thought it would be useful to perform some
benchmarks under Linux. Here are my findings.</P>
<P>As I have time (and access to equipment) to add additional results, I
will update this page. Soon I hope to add PII results (ABIT LX6, 64Mb 10ns
Hyundai SDRAM, Riva 128, same 1.6Gb WD hard drive).</P>
<H2>System Description - Super Socket 7</H2>
<UL>
<LI>Soyo 5EHM motherboard (MVP3, AGP, 1M cache, Super7)</LI>
<LI>64Mb 10ns SDRAM (Hyundai, 2x32Mb sticks)</LI>
<LI>1.6Gb Western Digital hard drive</LI>
<LI>Asus 3DExplorer AGP (Riva 128)</LI>
</UL>
<H2>System Description - Slot 1</H2>
<UL>
<LI>ABIT LX6 Slot 1 motherboard</LI>
<LI>64Mb 10ns SDRAM (Hyundai, 2x32Mb sticks)</LI>
<LI>1.6Gb Western Digital hard drive</LI>
<LI>Asus 3DExplorer AGP (Riva 128)</LI>
</UL>
<H2>Methodology</H2>
<UL>
<LI>'make clean; make dep; time make zdisk'</LI>
<LI>using the same kernel configuration under Redhat 5.0 </LI>
<LI>Linux v2.0.32, with this <A HREF="config.txt">.config</A> file</LI>
<LI>GCC v2.7.2.3</LI>
</UL>
<P> <HR> <P>
<H2>Cyrix/IBM PR233 Results</H2>
<P> <HR> <P>
<TABLE WIDTH="80%" BORDER="1">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">PR Rating</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">Voltage</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">Setting</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">BogoM</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">User</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">System</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">Elapsed</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">CPU util</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">PR200</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">2.9</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">2.5X66</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER">166.30</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">283.22</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER">21.26</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER">5:28.56</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">92%</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">PR233</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">2.9</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">2X100</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER">199.88</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">236.4</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER">17.48</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER">4:35.97</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">91%</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">PR233</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">2.9</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">2.5X75</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER">187.19</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">257.99</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER">20.17</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER">5:01.32</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">92%</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">PR266</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">2.9</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">2.5X83</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER">207.67</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">233.75</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER">19.51</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER">4:35.40</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">91%</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<H2>AMD K6-2 266 Results</H2>
<TABLE WIDTH="80%" BORDER="1">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">PR Rating</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">Voltage</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">Setting</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">BogoM</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">User</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">System</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">Elapsed</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">CPU util</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">166</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">2.3</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">2.5x66</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER">332.60</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">274.57</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER">24.11</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER">5:22.43</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">92%</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">187.5</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">2.2</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">2.5x75</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER">374.37</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">244.5</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER">20.38</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER">4:47.52</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">92%</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">200</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">2.3</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">3x66</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER">398.95</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">242.10</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER">21.42</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER">4:37.33</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">91%</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">210</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">2.2</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">2.5x83</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER">415.33</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">221.5</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER">19.96</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER">4:18.61</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">93%</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">233</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">2.3</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">3.5x66</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER">465</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">220.53</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER">19.55</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER">4:24.61</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">90%</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">250</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">2.2</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">2.5x100</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER">499.71</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">183.13</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER">17.64</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER">3:43.42</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">89%</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">266</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">2.3</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">4x66</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER">530.84</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">199.90</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER">19.55</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER">4:04.19</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">89%</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">280</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">2.2</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">2.5x112</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER">558.69</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">164.17</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER">15.29</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER">3:23.83</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">88%</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">300</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">2.3</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">4.5x66</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER">598.02</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">187.84</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER">19.63</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER">3:51.50</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">89%</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">300</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">2.3</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">4x75</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER">598.02</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">176.94</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER">19.26</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER">3:37.84</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">90%</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">300</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">2.3</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">3x100</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER">599.65</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">161.73</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER">15.06</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER">3:20.87</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">88%</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<H2>Intel Pentium-II 233 Results</H2>
<TABLE WIDTH="80%" BORDER="1">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">PR Rating</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">Voltage</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">Setting</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">BogoM</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">User</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">System</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">Elapsed</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">CPU util</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">233</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">Default</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">3.5x66</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER">233.47</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">197.46</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER">15.25</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER">3:57.26</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">89%</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">262.5</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">Default</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">3.5x75</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER">262.14</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">180.75</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER">12.73</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER">3:38.96</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">88%</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">291.7</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">Default</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">3.5x83</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER">291.64</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">157.49</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER">11.69</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER">3:12.69</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">87%</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<H2>Simulated Celeron Results - Intel Pentium-II 233 with L2 Cache disabled</H2>
<TABLE WIDTH="80%" BORDER="1">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">PR Rating</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">Voltage</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">Setting</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">BogoM</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">User</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">System</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">Elapsed</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">CPU util</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">233</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">Default</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">3.5x66</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER">233.47</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">324.07</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER">20.19</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER">6:08.43</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">93%</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">262.5</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">Default</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">3.5x75</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER">262.14</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">291.43</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER">16.96</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER">5:32.61</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">92%</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="67" ALIGN="CENTER" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">291.7</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">Default</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">3.5x83</TD>
<TD WIDTH="55" ALIGN="CENTER">291.64</TD>
<TD WIDTH="54" ALIGN="CENTER">262.19</TD>
<TD WIDTH="52" ALIGN="CENTER">16.10</TD>
<TD WIDTH="58" ALIGN="CENTER">5:02.45</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" ALIGN="CENTER">92%</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P> <HR> <P>
<H2>Discussion of results</H2>
<P> <HR> <P>
<P>Please note, in the comparisons below, only the "User" time of the
kernel compilations is used.</P>
BogoMips is equivalent to the megahertz it is running at, and the AMD K6-2
has a BogoMips rating that is twice the megahertz it is run at.</P>
<P>In order to be able to make a direct, Mhz-to-Mhz comparison of the
processors, I underclocked the K6-2 to run at 2.5x75 (Cyrix PR233 rating)
and 2.5x83 (PR266 rating). Comparing the total elapsed time for the
compilation, we find that:</P>
<H3>Comparison by actual Mhz</H3>
<TABLE WIDTH="50%" BORDER="1">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="84" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">CPU</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">Cyrix</TD>
<TD WIDTH="56" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">Amd</TD>
<TD WIDTH="92" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">Amd % faster</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="84" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">2.5x75</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60">257.99</TD>
<TD WIDTH="56">244.5</TD>
<TD WIDTH="92">5.23%</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="84" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">2.5x83</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60">233.75</TD>
<TD WIDTH="56">221.5</TD>
<TD WIDTH="92">5.24%</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P>The AMD K6-2 processor seems to be 5.25% faster than a Cyrix MX
processor at the same clock speed. The PR rating system would not seem to
apply to Linux kernel compilations.</P>
<H3>Comparison by PR rating</H3>
<TABLE WIDTH="50%" BORDER="1">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="84" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">CPU</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">Cyrix</TD>
<TD WIDTH="56" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">Amd</TD>
<TD WIDTH="92" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">Amd % faster</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="84" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">PR233</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60">257.99</TD>
<TD WIDTH="56">220.53</TD>
<TD WIDTH="92">14.52%</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="84" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">PR266</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60">233.75</TD>
<TD WIDTH="56">199.90</TD>
<TD WIDTH="92">14.48%</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P>The AMD K6-2 is 14.5% faster than a Cyrix/IBM 686MX when comparing
a K6-2 at the same Mhz as a Cyrix chip is PR rated for.
</P>
<H2>How about the Pentium II?</H2>
<P>
I wanted to see how the P2 would compare to the K6-2. As I only have
a P2-233, I had to overclock it to approach 300Mhz. Please note, I used
an extra 3" fan blowing air at the CPU.
</P>
<H3>Comparison between P2 and K6-2</H3>
<TABLE WIDTH="50%" BORDER="1">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="84" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">CPU</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">P2</TD>
<TD WIDTH="56" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">Amd</TD>
<TD WIDTH="92" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">P2 % faster</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="84" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">266Mhz #1</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60">180.75</TD>
<TD WIDTH="56">183.13</TD>
<TD WIDTH="92">1.3%</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="84" BGCOLOR="#80FFFF">300Mhz #2</TD>
<TD WIDTH="60">157.49</TD>
<TD WIDTH="56">161.71</TD>
<TD WIDTH="92">2.6%</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P><FONT SIZE="-1">NOTES</FONT></P>
<OL>
<LI><FONT SIZE="-1">P2 at 262.5Mhz (75x3.5), K6-2 at 250Mhz (2.5x100)
</FONT></LI>
<LI><FONT SIZE="-1">P2 at 291.6Mhz (83x3.5), K6-2 at 300Mhz (3x100)
</FONT></LI>
</OL>
<P>
The P2 was faster for compiling the kernel by less than three percent.
There is no point in comparing the K6-2 to the Celeron - see the
simulated Celeron benchmarks on the previous page. The Celeron is not
suitable for use as a Linux development machine.
</P>
<P> <HR> <P>
<H3>Price Comparison</H3>
<P> <HR> <P>
<P>As we all know, absolute performance is just part of deciding which
processor to get. If cost was no object, we would all be running Kryotech
Alpha 767's, or dual PII-400's. For reference purposes, here are some
prices, in US$, as 1:14pm PST of July 5 from PriceWatch. </P>
<TABLE WIDTH="50%" BORDER="1">
<TR>
<TD BGCOLOR="#80FFFF" ALIGN="CENTER">CPU </TD>
<TD BGCOLOR="#80FFFF" ALIGN="CENTER">233</TD>
<TD BGCOLOR="#80FFFF" ALIGN="CENTER">266</TD>
<TD BGCOLOR="#80FFFF" ALIGN="CENTER">300</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD BGCOLOR="#80FFFF" ALIGN="CENTER">Cyrix</TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER">$49</TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER">$74</TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER">$96</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD BGCOLOR="#80FFFF" ALIGN="CENTER">AMD K6-2</TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER">n/a</TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER">$113</TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER">$163</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD BGCOLOR="#80FFFF" ALIGN="CENTER">AMD K6</TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER">$68</TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER">$93</TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER">$125</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD BGCOLOR="#80FFFF" ALIGN="CENTER">Pentium II</TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER">$158</TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER">$177</TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER">$235</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<H2>Conclusion</H2>
<P>There is no question that the Cyrix processors provide excellent
performance for a low cost. The K6 (non-3d) processors are also an
excellent value, however as I don't have such a CPU I was unable to run
tests on one - but I would expect that on the same motherboard with
similar memory and hard disk the performance of the plain K6's would be
very close to the K6-2's.</P>
<P>The K6-2 appears to be an excellent value for a developer's machine. A
14.5% increase in speed over the 686MX is difficult to ignore.
The P2 is less than three percent faster than the K6-2 at comparable
speeds. I do not think that such a small difference in speed justifies
the price differential between the P2 and the K6-2.</P>
<P>I hope you found this article to be of use. Please remember that I
welcome feedback on this (or other) articles. I can be contacted at
<A HREF="mailto:editor@cpureview.com">editor@cpureview.com.</A></P>
<P>Regards,</P>
<FONT FACE="Comic Sans MS">
<A HREF="mailto:editor@cpureview.com"><I>William Henning</I></A><BR>
Editor, <A HREF="http://www.cpureview.com">CPUReview</A></FONT><BR><BR>
<!--===================================================================-->
<P> <hr> <P>
<center><H5>Copyright &copy; 1998, William Henning <BR>
Published in Issue 32 of <i>Linux Gazette</i>, September 1998</H5></center>
<!--===================================================================-->
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