From owner-freebsd-arch@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Apr 1 11:08:41 2013 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-arch@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:1900:2254:206a::19:1]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id C2889E29; Mon, 1 Apr 2013 11:08:41 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from m.e.sanliturk@gmail.com) Received: from mail-vc0-f179.google.com (mail-vc0-f179.google.com [209.85.220.179]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 741066A3; Mon, 1 Apr 2013 11:08:41 +0000 (UTC) Received: by mail-vc0-f179.google.com with SMTP id gf12so2178519vcb.24 for ; Mon, 01 Apr 2013 04:08:35 -0700 (PDT) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20120113; h=mime-version:x-received:in-reply-to:references:date:message-id :subject:from:to:cc:content-type; bh=J0Rg/rEkVXgp5Zgkb0YgagSbrQP2gnt3buSkhK6R6Kw=; b=BCVxWLNPlmjhhunl4wjjLvbBVYQVVLBOR3JyABwox9k22KYgYbBFPeji79p3OhKAev F6+WculKS9fnGg1LR2LdBdBogHFpNLvvQZYeyc0Igk/tR2KDc+4DKjlCbFtOhRX1qlNu 6FnBcAgtgm0QBtjDa69+CohBXeM4SkQJEXflVnyC2AbzVmnfDPQ+0I71qd0wphwPPGfS iz7+URfwh8iQ+Fl3Mn2M3upiTIUa2emgtEMbIFPKPB9GVtklcnM7uGFPyXCWwdSEVpHS DyoBEeGDeY/7KvuatlioK24nGSCvRvJAabcJYaCYdTEU6/uCmMizLX5jEguHYPSUFNZ9 DBKw== MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Received: by 10.52.68.116 with SMTP id v20mr7307593vdt.126.1364814515218; Mon, 01 Apr 2013 04:08:35 -0700 (PDT) Received: by 10.58.132.203 with HTTP; Mon, 1 Apr 2013 04:08:35 -0700 (PDT) In-Reply-To: <86wqsmpmb0.fsf@ds4.des.no> References: <86wqsmpmb0.fsf@ds4.des.no> Date: Mon, 1 Apr 2013 04:08:35 -0700 Message-ID: Subject: Re: considering i386 as a tier 1 architecture From: Mehmet Erol Sanliturk To: =?UTF-8?Q?Dag=2DErling_Sm=C3=B8rgrav?= Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.14 Cc: Eitan Adler , freebsd-arch@freebsd.org, FreeBSD Hackers X-BeenThere: freebsd-arch@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.14 Precedence: list List-Id: Discussion related to FreeBSD architecture List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 01 Apr 2013 11:08:41 -0000 On Mon, Apr 1, 2013 at 3:39 AM, Dag-Erling Sm=C3=B8rgrav wrote= : > Mehmet Erol Sanliturk writes: > > At present, there is NO any processor which is ONLY 32-bits. > > All the world is not a PC. There are still 32-bit x86-based embedded or > small-form-factor systems, such as the soekris net5501 and net6501, > which are widely used in the BSD community. > > DES > -- > Dag-Erling Sm=C3=B8rgrav - des@des.no > These are special purpose systems and they are not developed by , let's say , "ordinary" users . Therefore , their developers may maintain the existing i386 branch as a specialized branch with a freedom to tailor it to more specific needs . Since I am not a developer or user of such a system , I can not say whether 25000 packages are necessary for them or not . Reducing any amount of work load which its outcome is not directly used is a contribution to the FreeBSD project by diverting such efforts to other man power or resources required areas . When costs are considered , some times 64 bit capable systems are not so expensive : As an example : From a computer shop in Turkey with many branch shops : Memory : 1 Giga Bytes chips : From $27 + VAT to $40 + VAT 4 Giga Bytes chips : From $31 + VAT to $43 + VAT There is NO reason to buy 4 x ( 1 Giga Bytes ) , when the difference is a few dollars with 4 x ( 4 Giga Bytes ) . AMD Sempron 145 AM3 2.8GHz processor is $ 34 + VAT which is 64 bits capable . As I said above , I am not able to make knowledgeable comparisons about such systems but my opinion is that these specialized systems are not so much advantageous . Thank you very much . Mehmet Erol Sanliturk