[Info-vax] RealWorldTech on Poulson

[MG]

On 4-7-2011 17:54, Michael Kraemer wrote:
> That was the Mips R4000.
> And given the RAM constraints of that time,
> 64bit addressing was almost useless.

The 'big metal' Cray/NUMA-linked SGI super-computer racks, like the
Onyx, would utilize it nicely (i.e. beyond ~3 GB of RAM).  I think the
first Onyx could take up to 8 GB RAM.

But yes, for a so-called 'deskside' or workstation, more than hundreds
of megabytes didn't become commonplace until the Indigo² (though, not
at first) and Octane/Octane2.  Even my Tezro 'only' has 8 GB, which is
little in comparison to the 24 GB in my rx2600s.

A strange thing about the MIPS R4000 (and R4400), is that --- while it
was 64-bit, or capable --- IRIX for long was still mostly 32-bit (o32
COFF and eventually n32 ELF binaries).  The O2 was practically sold and
restricted to exclusively run as a 32-bit system, despite the technical
capabilities of the CPUs.  (I'm not sure about the earlier workstations
--- like the Indigo, Indigo², Indy, etc. --- though.)

So, in that regard Alpha was the first 'true 64' (sic) architecture
and platform.  It's he same deal with x86-64 today, where the majority
of software still appears to be for x86 ('IA-32').

  - MG