Again clockfrequencies and cycletimings are not a good way to
establish computingpower. You should look at the performance of
both processors at their maximum memory-throughput or bus-bandwidth
with the memory-technology of those days.
Although I like the Z80 and worked with it a lot, I still think that the
6502 was more powerfull from an userapplication perspective, all
other things being equal of course ..........
Anyway, both CPU's served their purpose and their downfall was
probably more related to their limited 16-bit performance and the
limit of the amount of directly accessable memory than their
respective 8-bit performance. After all, if they would have evolved
with the advance in technology they could both have achieved
more glorious days.
Remember that the M68000 family was designwise far superior
to the 8086/8088. But unfortunatly, we all know that (more often than not)
design-qualilty has no real relation to the succes of a CPU-family...........
Sipke de Wal
----------------------------------------------------------------
http://xgistor.ath.cx
----------------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: Bryan Pope <bpope_at_wordstock.com>
To: <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2001 7:31 PM
Subject: Re: 6502/Z80 speed comparison (was MITS 2SIO serial chip?)
> >
> > Also, if you realy want 'ultimate speed' you have to look at actual
Versions.
> > close Z80 relatives (like 180) are available up to 32 MHz (I have seen only
> > 20s, but well) while actual versions of the classic 6502 and 65816 is able
> > to do 14 MHz. Now take in account that a clock ratio of 1:3 to 1:4 for 6502
>
> The 65816 can go up to 20Mhz. It is used in the SuperCPU for the 64 and
> 128.
>
> > vs. Z80 (*) is a good rule of thump, so a 14 MHz 6502 equals a 42 to 56 MHz
> > Z80. Quite a racer ...
>
> Cheers,
>
> Bryan Pope
Received on Thu Dec 20 2001 - 15:21:11 GMT