Hard?ware - it's a trick!

[worker201]

I was running memtest today on my work computer, to see if there were any issues. The memory test passed, but the program reported some very interesting statistics that disturbed me quite a bit.

First, the processor: a Pentium 4, running at 2386 MHz. I expected that. But the FSB is only 132 MHz. I don't know all that much about hardware, but this looks like crippleware to me. Put in these fast processors, and keep the costs down and expectations low by putting in ridiculously slow buses. My PPC G3 at home has a 900 MHz processor, with a 300 MHz FSB. That's a much more sensible ratio.

Next, check out the following memory info:
L1
8(bytes?)
19560 MB/S

L2
512K
16687 MB/S

Memory
1535M
1480 MB/S

Reserved
772K

Again, I don't know hardware all that well. But it looks like they allocated most of the memory space to the slowest part of the memory. If they can make memory that runs at 16687 MB/S, why do they give me 1.5GB of the slow stuff? Again, a scam to keep costs down.

I've always believed that Intel was scamming us pretty bad. They've probably got TerraHz chips on their shelves right now, just waiting for the P4 market to die down. But this info looks like proof that they are selling us junk hardware at competitive prices. Where is the real technology? And why do consumers put up with this?

Comments welcome.

[Void Main]

What is the make/model of the server or is it a home brew?

[Tux]

Simple answer, L2 cache is superfast ondie cache that costs craploads to make. So you dont get much of it, unfortunately the amount of it you have can affect system performance greatly. Remember those [censored] old Celerons Intel first made...

[worker201]

What is the make/model of the server or is it a home brew?

This is a Dell Dimension 8250 desktop computer.

[Void Main]

I wonder if your speed check program is giving the wrong information? It looks like that machine should have 533Mhz FSB and the 8300 should have 800Mhz FSB:

http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kds?$=main ... ll8250.htm
http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kds?$=main ... ll8300.htm

[worker201]

Of course the 8250 is fully customizable. That's the box, alright, but I see a few differences. One, he has a 2.8 P4, while mine is a 2.3. Also, he mentions the possibility of spending money for a hyperthreading chip, which had not become commercially available at the time this computer was purchased. Finally, I don't recall the exact name, but 850E chipset doesn't sound quite right.

Analysis - the computer specs described here are for a much newer version than the one I have. The name and model number are really for the case design anyway - another Dell scam.

[Void Main]

I still can't imagine a FSB that slow for that machine. Ah well, I guess that's why I don't buy name brand and build my own when it's for me. I get exactly what I want/need that way.

[Void Main]

Actually according to Dell's specifications for the 8250 you can have either a 400Mhz or a 533Mhz FSB on the 8250:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/s ... tm#1105370

What you have is probably the 533 (133 x 4). You should have 8K of L1 and 512K of L2 cache.

[Tux]

Yeh, the FSB will be on a multiplier to stop the PCI, USB, etc buses going into meltdown.

[worker201]

Okay, so it's probably a little bit higher than originally reported. That doesn't change the fact that all the numbers I reported are much lower than a person with ~unlimited university funds living in the 21st century ought to expect from an x86 machine.

[Void Main]

If you have unlimited funds what the heck are you doing messing with an x86?

[worker201]

Sadly, Windows required

[Void Main]

No sense getting all morbid. I didn't really need to hear that.

[worker201]

Trust me on this: if I was in charge, things would be very different around here.