From: tkoenig@netcologne.de   
      
   Dan Cross  schrieb:   
   > In article <44okQ.831008$QtA1.573001@fx16.iad>,   
   > Scott Lurndal  wrote:   
   >>[snip]   
   >>We tend to be spoiled by modern process densities.   The   
   >>VAX 11/780 was built using SSI logic chips, thus board   
   >>space and backplane wiring were significant constraints   
   >>on the logic designs of the era.   
   >   
   > Indeed.  I find this speculation about the VAX, kind of odd: the   
   > existence of the 801 as a research project being used as an   
   > existence proof to justify assertions that a pipelined RISC   
   > design would have been "better" don't really hold up, when we   
   > consider that the comparison is to a processor designed for   
   > commercial applications on a much shorter timeframe.   
      
   I disagree.  The 801 was a research project without much time   
   pressure, and they simulated the machine (IIRC at the gate level)   
   before they ever bulit one.  Plus, they developed an excellent   
   compiler which implemented graph coloring.   
      
   But IBM had zero interest in competition to their own /370 line,   
   although the 801 would have brought performance improvements   
   over that line.   
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