Baslinux mailing list

[qwms-avib AT dea.spamcon.org]

keesan2 AT cyberspace.org wrote:
> 
> I think BL2 requires a math coprocessor but BL1 does 
> not, am I correct?

The kernel (zimage) that comes with BL2 requires a math
coprocessor (which all 486DX and Pentiums have).  Systems
without a copro (486SX and 386) should use BL1 instead.
It is possible to run BL2 on a 486SX by substituting a 
kernel from Slackware 7.1 -- but this requires more than 
8mb RAM.

> Some of them will let you emulate the math coprocessor
> instead, which makes them run slower.  

It runs slower for two reasons.  First, copro emulation 
is *much* less efficient than a hardware copro.  Second, 
copro emulation is driven by the CPU and thereby reduces 
its availability for other processes.  So, for processes 
involving floating-point maths (eg. scaling fonts in X),
a 486DX can be four times faster than a 486SX (with same 
MHz and RAM).

> people who like to use computers with 4M RAM and no coprocessor.

Those people should definitely be using BL1.

Cheers,
Steven