On Thu, 5 Sep 2002, Hartvig Ekner wrote: > The technical benefits of n32 over o32 are: > > * More argument registers => less memory traffic, less D-cache use, > => faster code Generally, since the stack is usually frequently accessed it tends to stick in the primary cache so the extra cost is null. But a set associative cache with an LFU or at least an LRU replacement algorithm is needed for this to be effective. Too bad such caches are rare for MIPS processors... So the win might actually be bigger than it should be. > * 64-bit datapath of CPU can be utilized with big impact on certain > applications But an old program doesn't make use of them, so it won't normally benefit. For new development it's true, but you don't absolutely need to cut long to 32 bits for new stuff. > * 32 floating point registers instead of 16 (and more efficient > parameter passing as well) Yes, that's true -- I missed it previously. -- + Maciej W. Rozycki, Technical University of Gdansk, Poland + +--------------------------------------------------------------+ + e-mail: macro@ds2.pg.gda.pl, PGP key available +
