The Register: P4: first Sandra 2001 benchmarks

Being properly optimised for Screaming Sindie's second set of extensions (SSE2) makes a startling difference to the P4's Sandra scores. Overclocked to 1.6GHz, our P4 with 256MB of PC800 RDRAM managed an overall performance rating of just PR563 with Sandra 2000. With Sandra 2001 this increased to PR1916.

View from an Iowa Homestead: Still Runnin'

I was afraid that my oldest server, the one that's been running since 1992, would not start up again after the move. I hooked up the ethernet, plugged in the power cord, flipped the switch, and...nothing. Aargh. I tried whacking it while I flipped the switch. On the third try, the drive began to spin...and it's up!

It's a Macintosh SE/30!

I've just booked a place on a Computer Assisted Assessment Workshop at Strathclyde:

The focus of these workshops will be on presenting the findings and assisting people develop a framework for the effective implementation and delivery of web-based assessment.

Shame it's not before some major assessments that I need to arrange in the next week or so.

I missed out on the Round One Workshops:

The first round of dissemination events that SCAAN were running were designed to introduce people to web-based assessment.

I probably know most of the background but if need be I can catch up with the help of the PowerPoint slides linked from that page.

A couple of weeks ago I vented my displeasure with the Unlimited Freeserve service. Well, the connection success rate in the evenings and during the weekends has got worse if anything so I have signed up with another ISP for unmetered access at these times. So far so good with the new service although the sample size is small ;-)

Even though this is going to cost me another £12 a month I often found myself having to connect to Freeserve using a pay-for-connect modem number. So I might just break even. Not to mention the benefit of less hassle and wasted time waiting for BT network capacity or a free modem.

Doc Searls Weblog: Zope that lasts

I just noticed that the four sites that have been up longest at the largest hosting location (Exodus in Santa Clara, CA) are all Zope's. They're at 384+ days and counting.

In a comment about leJOS: Java based OS for Lego RCX Karl-Martin has news of his 'cool' application for a TINI system ;-) Brrr!

Doc Searls found embedded Linux in all kinds of stuff at Comdex:

In most cases, the companies didn't even give me reasons why they built their boxes with Linux. It was like I asked why they used a TCP/IP stack or plastic in their cases. Clearly, embedding Linux is getting to be less of a brainer every day.

Colin pitches in with news about a couple of Pentium 4 articles about the latest member of the Intel family. There will no doubt be a plathora of industry comment about the P4 so I'll start to keep a list of links brought to my attention or I've stumbled on myself. Starting with:

• http://www.aceshardware.com/Spades/read.php?article_id=15000196
• http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/00q4/001120/index.html
• http://www.hardocp.com/reviews/cpus/intel/pentiumfour15z/
• http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=1360
• http://www.planethardware.com/features/cpu/p4_1500_firstlook/
• http://www.sharkyextreme.com/hardware/guides/pentium4/
• http://firingsquad.gamers.com/hardware/p4preview/default.asp
• http://www.hothardware.com/hh_files/CCAM/p4.htm
• http://www.gamersdepot.com/hardware/systems/p4/001.htm
• http://www.dansdata.com/p4.htm
• http://www.jc-news.com/parse.cgi?pc/news/big/200011/18
• http://www.digit-life.com/articles/pentium4/index.html
• http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/3/14840.html
• http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/3/14842.html
• http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/3/14843.html
• http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/3/14846.html - contains a further 24 links to The Register coverage of the P4.
• http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/3/14852.html - a round-up of some of the verdicts that are already in about the P4.

I think that the equivalent of the http://friday.editthispage.com CAD assignment this year will be one comparing the Pentium 4 with A N Other processor.

How Microprocessors Work

This interactive site is based on a real-life exhibit installed in the Intel Museum in Santa Clara, California.

Great Microprocessors of the Past and Present

Recent Processor Architects

via SiT: What Makes a Successful Online Student? (with self-assessment links and other useful info)