Re: Cyrix 6x86MX and Centaur C6 CPUs in 2.1.102

Phil's Kernel Account (kernel@eiterra.nls.net)
Mon, 18 May 1998 13:14:24 -0400 (EDT)


On Mon, 18 May 1998, Alan Cox wrote:

#> GAH! No! Evil! C6! Run! Hide! Don't Put Quarter In Vending Machine! ;)
#Im planning to get a C6 to play with some Linux optimisations for it. So
#if there are some less humerous thoughts behind that comment let me know
#even if in private...

Well, I'll voice 'em so everyone can hear. I *HATE* that thing's name. C6
AKA Winchip! *WINCHIP!* Oh, and supposedly, it puts out a LOT of heat, and
responds BADLY to high-speed bus (ie; 75MHz, 83MHz). But I haven't used
one, so I can't confirm or deny this. ;P

#The Centaur preliminary databook explicitly lists the TSC bug (and gives
#the div by 0 in Linux as the known problem they cause). It states it is
#fixed/will be fixed in stepping 1. No workaround is provided in the datasheet
#I have. Its available from in PDF from www.winchip.com

Okay, so then all we really have to do is worry about C6's @ stepping 0.
Now, that leaves the Cyrixes. I think I'll have to drop 'em a line today
sometime, and see what they've got. I'll also have to try and grab an
updated databook, but it's unlikely I'll have a hard copy. (I am NOT
printing out all 180+ pages on a fscking inkjet! Somebody donate a laser
printer or a fast dot matrix!;) However, IIRC, they HAVE updated the
6x86MX databooks recently, and I believe they DO mention this issue now.
(They better after I screamed at 'em for over a week.};)

Ugh, where's my coffee? (I have to fix X first.:P)

-Phil R. Jaenke (kernel@nls.net / prj@nls.net)
TheGuyInCharge(tm), Ketyra Designs - We get paid to break stuff :)
Linux pkrea.ketyra.INT 2.0.33 #15 Sat Apr 18 00:40:21 EDT 1998 i586
Linux eiterra.nls.net 2.0.33 #15 Fri Apr 17 00:22:13 EDT 1998 i586
- Linus says for 'brave people only.' I say 'keep a backup.' - :)

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