͵  COMMAND LINE OPTIONS  ͸
                                                                              
 CORSPEED [ opt1 ] [ optn ] < ENTER >                                         
                                                                              
 Where:                                                                       
                                                                              
 /b            Forces the automatic color display into black and white mode.  
 /c xxx   Specifies L2 cache size from 32 kb to real memory limit [ in kb ].  
            Use this option if L2 cache > 256 kb or autosizing error occurs.  
                                                                              
 /t xx                Use this option to set the number of concurrent tasks.  
 /s                               Enables the optional sound effects system.  
 /o                                       Disables odometer display feature.  
 /m xxx.yy           Use this option to set the size of the memory universe.  
 /h                Invokes this help display directly from the command line.  
 /$ xxxx.yy         Use this to input cost for cost/performance computation.  
 /* xx.yy                Use this option to set the address flow multiplier.  
 /i .yy           Use this option to set addresss flow increment 0.0 -> 1.0.  
 /+          Use this option to set multitasking time slice in milliseconds.  
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ͮPage  1 of 20 ;͵  KEYBOARD ASSIGNMENTS  ͸

                                                                              
 FUNCTION KEYS   F1  invokes HELP system.                                    
                  F3  Records measurement data in Sofwin Forum format         
                  F4  Create or Edit Forum record comments                    
                  F7  prints screen image to LPT1.                            
                  F8  appends screen image to CORSPEED.SCR file.              
                                                                              
 KEYBOARD       ESC   To quit CORSPEED and return to DOS.                    
                Press ALT+S to toggle the SOUND and VIDEO EFFECTS on/off.    
                ALT+X Unconditional return to DOS.                           
 WHAT IF CONTROL  < Professional version only >                               
                 PgUp, PgDn keys switch between tabular and graphics modes.   
                 +, - keys adjust the number of active tasks.                 
                 <-, -> keys adjust the active memory window sizes.           
                 UP, DOWN arrows select the OS environment graphics display.  
                 Ins, Del keys adjust the simulated L2 cache size.            
                 HOME key resets both size and task multipliers to 1.0        
                 TAB->, TAB<- keys adjust multitasking time slice.            
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ͮPage  2 of 20 ;͵  SYSTEM CONFIGURATION  ͸

                                                                              
 The boxed area at the top of the screen is filled in by CORSPEED during hard-
 ware and software analysis operations.  The three system configuration areas 
 which are critical to proper operation of CORSPEED are Processor, Memory, and
 operating system.                                                            
                                                                              
 PROCESSOR INFORMATION                                                        
                                                                              
 Processor type and extension give you important information about potential  
 computing capacity.  While CORSPEED will show about the same level of Core   
 Engine performance for either SX or DX class processors, DX processors are   
 required for optimum floating point performance in graphics, drawing, and    
 spreadsheet applications.  Use the CLOCK information to confirm that the PC  
 is operating at the proper speed.  While CORSPEED will operate in all proces-
 sor modes, REAL mode generally provides the most accurate measurements.      
                                                                              
 If the processor is doubly or triply clocked, a number may appear at the end 
 of the processor type.  A '2' means double clocking, etc.                    
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ͮPage  3 of 20 ;͵  MEMORY CONFIGURATION  ͸

                                                                              
 The memory cache levels used in 486 based PCs are numbered L1 and L2, accor- 
 ding to their proximity to the processor.  The on-chip cache is called L1,   
 while a secondary cache [ logically residing between the processor and main  
 memory ] is called L2.                                                       
                                                                              
 CORSPEED measures and analyzes the organization of each cache level and its  
 size is displayed in kilobytes.  Cache size, speed, and organization are     
 instrumental in determining program operating speeds.  In general, memory    
 caching systems provide the biggest benefit when program code and data are   
 frequently accessed from the cache.  That's because the CPU must wait when-  
 ever new data is uploaded from main memory -- thereby yielding some of its   
 speed advantage.  In general, the more the software's memory address span    
 exceeds cache size, the less effective the cache.                            
                                                                              
 For complex, multi-tasking operating systems, or very large memory spans,    
 cache miss penalties can effectively cancel some or all of the benefits of   
 cache memory.                                                                
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ͮPage  4 of 20 ;͵  SYSTEM INFORMATION  ͸

                                                                              
 Accurate performance measurement requires that there be nothing else going   
 on that might interfere with the measurement routines in CORSPEED.           
                                                                              
 CORSPEED derives its information by directly manipulating all of the prin-   
 cipal hardware systems.  To do its job, CORSPEED must be operated at the     
 equivalent of Intel's PL-0.  While operating at the O/S kernel level, and    
 actively interleaving with and preempting DOS interrupts, it is possible for 
 the measurement primitives to accurately measure hardware operations at the  
 electrical event level.                                                      
                                                                              
 FOR BEST RESULTS USE THIS TOOL ONLY ON DOS BASED PCs                         
 CORSPEED is certified to operate with standard MSDOS, versions 3.1 and up.   
 Measurement activity will be adversely impacted in any operating environment 
 that preempts PL-0, loads CORSPEED at an unpredictable address, or interferes
 with interrupt management.  This means that CORSPEED will not provide satis- 
 factory results under other operating systems including Windows [any version]
 or OS/2.                                                                     
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ͮPage  5 of 20 ;͵  EFFECTIVE RUNNING SPEEDS  ͸

 Your CPU runs at its advertised clocking rate except when it is stopped to   
 wait for cache system updates, line fills, or main memory operations.  The   
 percentage of time the processor is stopped directly impacts how fast any    
 application can execute.  For example, a 50 MHz 486 processor stopped 50%    
 of the time by memory system delays will execute a program at about the      
 same speed as a 25 MHz 486 which never has to wait for memory or cache up-   
 dates.  The more often, and longer, a cpu has to wait, the lower its Eff-    
 ective Running Speed.  As cache size is decreased, or program memory re-     
 quirements increase, the percentage of time the cpu is stopped increases.    
 Effective Running Speeds are easy to understand.  When comparing two systems,
 the one with the higher number will execute programs proportionately faster. 
 Since the complexity of the application and operating system play a determin-
 istic role in how computing resources are utilized, software which makes     
 lesser demands on the hardware will execute faster.  The more complicated the
 application and operating systems, and the larger their appetite for memory  
 addresses, the higher the demand on hardware resources.  CORSPEED plots the  
 software demands [ using an address flow rate model ] against the operating. 
 curve of the core engine to estimate effective running speed.                
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ͮPage  6 of 20 ;͵  ADDRESSES FLOW RATES  ͸

                                                                              
 Cache system performance drops off sharply as address flows increase.  As a  
 result, address demands directly impact program execution speed.             
                                                                              
 The aggregate number of addresses accessed by all software consists of both  
 instructions [ operating code ] and program data.  In general, the larger    
 and more complex the application the greater the address flow through the    
 cache system.  Sofwin tools consider address flow levels over a period of    
 1 second.                                                                    
                                                                              
 Address flow rates have a material impact on a program's running speed [ See 
 Memory Configuration panel for explanation ].  For example, a program whose  
 code and data are contained entirely within the confines of an L2 cache can  
 operate faster than one whose address flow activity is 10, or 100 times      
 larger.  For a perfect PC, i.e. one with an infinite cache which never       
 requires updating, all programs would run at the same speed [ the proces-    
 sor's clocking rate ].                                                       
                                                                              
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ͮPage  7 of 20 ;͵  UNDERSTANDING EFFECTIVE DATA WIDTH  ͸

                                                                              
                                                                              
 One of the most important qualities of memory system design is how well it   
 accommodates data and instruction transfers between processor and memory.    
 While the electrical path is a constant, i.e. 32 bits for 486 and Pentium    
 PC systems, the effective working width of the memory system is sometimes    
 constricted by cache managment mechanics.  When the time required to access  
 32 bit data is about the same as it is for 16 bit data it means that the     
 effective data width is a full 32 bits.  However, if it takes twice as long  
 to access 32 bit data ( indicating that each 32 bit element has to be moved  
 in two 16 bit tranches ) the effective data width is only 16 bits.           
                                                                              
 CORSPEED analyzes both read and write memory access times and computes the   
 effective data width for each in bits.  The data width pictograms show the   
 effective width of both the read and write channels.  Read/Write pictograms  
 are colored RED when the width is 20 bits or less, YELLOW for 21 to 27 bits, 
 CYAN 28 - 30, and GREEN whenever the width is 31 bits or wider.              
                                                                              
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ͮPage  8 of 20 ;͵  HIGH PERFORMANCE MEMORY SYSTEMS  ͸

                                                                              
 CORSPEED can analyze core engine performance for both traditional dram based 
 PC systems as well as the new high performance memory systems such as EDRAM. 
 To compute core engine operating speeds for high performance memory systems, 
 use the command line /e option.  While this option is intended to provide    
 improved accuracy for high performance memory systems, it is also useful for 
 estimating the relative impact high performance memory would have on ordin-  
 ary dram based PC systems.                                                   
                                                                              
 High Performance memory systems make it possible for main memory systems     
 to perform as if they were one huge L2 cache.  The performance benefits of   
 extremely fast read-write capabilities are only part of the story, since HPM 
 also eliminates processor stoppages due to L2 cache management as well.      
                                                                              
 High performance memory gains its advantage by operating at nearly the same  
 speed as the processor -- completely eliminating the overhead associated with
 L2 cache loading and unloading.  High Performance memory systems will be in- 
 creasingly important as CPU data bandwidth demands continue to grow.         
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ͮPage  9 of 20 ;͵  HERE'S HOW CORSPEED DIFFERS FROM BENCHMARKS  ͸

                                                                              
 This Core Engine version of Sofwin Laboratories' new SuperScalar measurement 
 technology is the most powerful tool of its kind ever developed.  CORSPEED   
 extends 10 years of PC performance measurement tool development into multi-  
 processor families, multi-tasking, and 32 bit operating systems.             
                                                                              
 CORSPEED is a fully Pentium qualified, state-of-the-art SuperScalar measure- 
 ment tool that reports how fast the core engine system of a PC runs in each  
 of the four principal operating system environments.  CORSPEED is also a     
 multiple task emulator and high performance memory estimator -- making COR-  
 SPEED, the most powerful, accurate, and useful performance assessment tool   
 ever made available to the general public.                                   
                                                                              
 But that's only the technical side -- CORSPEED can even compute the cost     
 per megahertz of achieved performance for wide range of situations ranging   
 from a single task DOS application to multiple tasks running under true 32   
 bit environments such as OS/2 and Win32.  Here's a tool that Tells It Like   
 It Is.                                                                       
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ͮPage 10 of 20 ;͵  HOW TO ESTIMATE HOW FAST MULTIPLE TASKS WILL RUN  ͸

                                                                              
 One of the most useful aspects of CORSPEED is its ability to accurately pro- 
 ject the effective running speed for one or several tasks or applications    
 running concurrently.  To see how multiple tasks will impact your computer's 
 performance use the /t xx option where xx is the total number of concurrent- 
 ly running tasks or applications.  CORSPEED defaults to 1 task, but it can   
 project the impact of up to 16 applications running under OS/2 or Win32.     
 While single foreground tasks are more typical of DOS and Win3 operations,   
 CORSPEED projects the impact additional tasks would have in existing 16 bit  
 operating system environments as well.                                       
                                                                              
 Many will be surprised to learn that when two tasks are operating, the com-  
 bined operating speed of both is less than that of a single task.  The re-   
 ason is that multiple tasks do more than share the processor time between    
 them.  Cache churning, time slice administration, and out of sequence int-   
 errupt processing consume increasing amounts of raw computing power as more  
 tasks are activated. Increased memory resources, especially if its high per- 
 formance memory, is particularly important in multi-tasking situations.      
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ͮPage 11 of 20 ;͵  CORE ENGINE PERFORMANCE IS NOT THE WHOLE STORY  ͸

                                                                              
 Computer system performance is the result of many complex variables.  As im- 
 portant as processor type, clocking rate, cache facilities, and memory size  
 may be, the two other principal computing theaters, video/graphics and mass  
 storage [ disk ], are also critical to how fast programs will execute.  The  
 reason is, that for the moment at least, the video channel is typically only 
 20% as fast as typical core engines, while the disk channel is very often    
 less than 5% as fast.  Since video/graphics and disk access are increasingly 
 critical to applications programs -- due to the popularity of graphics and   
 DLL's -- very fast core engine systems can be dramatically slowed by poor    
 performance outside of the core engine [ processor, cache, and memory ].     
                                                                              
 For example, as the memory resource demands of large applications, or mul-   
 tiple tasks increase, so does the probability and frequency of virtual mem-  
 ory swapping.  Sofwin Laboratories Professional Tools, such as PCPOWER, have 
 built in Expert Systems that can analyze the performance of every hardware   
 system -- making it possible to project how the target computer will perform 
 under different loads and operating system environments.                     
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ͮPage 12 of 20 ;͵  THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPERSCALAR TECHNOLOGY  ͸

                                                                              
 1994 marked the beginning of the SuperScalar revolution. Beginning with the  
 Intel Pentium, the SuperScalar age is upon us.  No longer will CPUs be limi- 
 ted to executing a single instruction at a time.  In the future, we'll have  
 a choice between a wide range of SuperScalar processors from Digital Equip-  
 ment, IBM-Apple-Motorola, MIPS, Cyrix and others.  The day of the simple,    
 one-thing-at-a-time CPU is quickly fading.  SuperScalar technology, at first 
 dual pipelined -- but soon perhaps offering many pipes -- is radically dif-  
 ferent -- requiring new ways of looking at and evaluating computing system   
 performance.  CORSPEED is totally SuperScalar in its design and operation -- 
 capable of instigating, managing and measuring many different operations at  
 once.                                                                        
                                                                              
 This version, for example, not only supports all existing 486 processor de-  
 signs, but a wide range of processors from Cyrix, AMD, IBM, and other x86    
 compatible CPU families.  Sofwin's Professional tools are also fully Super-  
 Scalar -- so we'll be able to add new SuperScalar processor families such    
 the ALPHA, MIPS and PowerPC processors in the months to come.                
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ͮPage 13 of 20 ;͵  PROCESSOR FAMILIES  ͸

                                                                              
 Until recently, Intel was the only processor family found on PC systems.     
 But now there are several others including Cyrix, PowerPC, AMD, Digital,     
 IBM, MIPS etc.  Sofwin's SST technology recognizes both processor type and   
 family.  For some processors, such as clones of the Intel 486 made by AMD,   
 or IBM, there is no way to accurately determine who made the CPU since they  
 are all made from the same identical design.  We call this processor family  
 Undefined because the CPU may have been made by any number of companies.     
 CPU parts which can be positively identified, including  marked Pentium,     
 and Cyrix CPUs are reported as belonging to the Cyrix or Intel families.     
 Where available, Sofwin tools also report model, stepping and feature        
 information as well.                                                         
                                                                              
 Since processor model identification and family are essential to accurate    
 performance measurement, CORSPEED will generate an error message and re-     
 turn to the DOS command line whenever an unknown processor model or family   
 is detected.  REGISTERED users of CORSPEED will be notified when new ver-    
 sions of CORSPEED are released which support additional CPU models.          
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ͮPage 14 of 20 ;͵  ABOUT SOFWIN LABORATORIES  ͸

                                                                              
 Sofwin Laboratories is an independent computer performance measurement and   
 consulting laboratory with facilities in the San Francisco Bay Area and      
 an Engineering Development facility in Columbus, Ohio.  Sofwin's primary     
 mission is helping its consulting clients and technology licensees get the   
 most performance for their money.                                            
                                                                              
 The laboratories also work with PC system designers and builders in plan-    
 ing and designing high performance computing systems and peripherals.  The   
 Sofwin measurement tools are designed and developed specifically for use in  
 our own laboratories as well as by professionals responsible for the selec-  
 tion and maintenance of PC systems in business and governmental agencies     
 world-wide.                                                                  
                                                                              
 Sofwin Laboratories also sponsors a computer measurement Forum on Compu-     
 Serve.  For more information on Sofwin Laboratory services, call our         
 Columbus Engineering Center at (614) 866-9966.                               
                                                                              
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                         ͼ  
ͮPage 15 of 20 ;͵  WANT TO KNOW MORE?  ͸

                                                                              
                        PROFESSIONAL TOOL SUBSCRIPTIONS                       
 If you're a PC professional, consider a subscrption to Sofwin Laboratories'  
 commercial performance measurement tools. The set includes PCAUDIT, COR-     
 GRAPH, PCPOWER and the full professional version of CORSPEED.  Sofwin's      
 ProPakSix tools are continuously updated to keep abreast of new processor    
 families and other technological advances. To make it possible for licensees 
 to stay at the cutting edge of technolgy, ProPakSix tools are distributed    
 electronically either from Sofwin's BBS, or a private library on CompuServe. 
                                                                              
 Annual subscriptions begin at  $899 for single copies.  Additional copies are
 only $399 per year.  Commercial, governmental and educational site-licenses  
 are a flat $2500 per year per location.  For more information call (614)     
 866-9966 and ask for the Sofwin Labs Profile.  Purchase orders accepted on   
 standard 30 day terms.  Immediate activation available on receipt of PO's.   
                                                                              
                              FAX PO's ACCEPTED AT                            
                             Call ( 614 ) 866-9960                            
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ͮPage 16 of 20 ;͵  SOFWIN ONLINE!  ͸

                                                                              
                                                                              
                LOOK FOR SOFWIN LABORATORIES ON COMPUSERVE                    
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                GO SOFWIN                                     
                                                                              
 Sofwin technology, tools and standards are now available 24 hours a day      
 on CompuServe.  If you'd like to comment, ask questions, or just read the    
 mail from others directly involved in PC performance issues, GO SOFWIN.      
                                                                              
                        FREE COMPUSERVE MEMBERSHIP                            
                                                                              
 To make it easy for you to get online with CompuServe, Sofwin Laboratories   
 has arranged for CORSPEED users to receive a free Introductory CompuServe    
 membership.  Call CompuServe at (800) 524-3388 to enroll.  You'll receive    
 one month's free access to all basic services, email privileges and $15      
 Extended service usage credit for checking out the Sofwin Forum section.     
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ͮPage 17 of 20 ;͵  FORUM MESSAGE SUPPORT  ͸

                                                                              
 CORSPEED is designed to record performance information in a format suitable  
 for CompuServe forum messages.  If you don't have a CompuServe account from  
 which you can access the Sofwin Forum area, call CompuServe toll-free at     
 ( 800 ) 524-3388 to enroll.  Ask for Representative # 593 to sign up!        
                                                                              
 FILE NAMES:  CORSPEED names forum records using the following system:        
              CSP$mdd#.TXT,                                                   
                                                                              
  Where: m = month ( from 0 -> C ),                                           
        dd = day of month ( from 01 -> 31 )                                   
         # = daily index code ( from 0 -> z ).                                
                                                                              
 RECORDING:  To record PC performance in a forum compatible format, press F3. 
 This will generate a sequentially numbered record suitable for use with      
 CIS interfacing software such as CompuServe's popular WinCim.  To capture the
 data OPEN the recording file, block the entire table and copy it to a forum  
 or email message.                                                            
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ͮPage 18 of 20 ;͵ USING THE SOFWIN LINE EDITOR ͸

                                                                              
 The SOFWIN line editor permits the input editing or deleting of information  
 using the keyboard and the  mouse.  Cursor manipulation and keyboard input   
 is handled in the customary DOS ways.                                        
                                                                              
                    KEYBOARD                                                 
                                                                              
     or           Non destructive positioning of the edit cursor.           
 HOME KEY          Moves cursor to first character on the line.              
 END KEY           Moves cursor to the last character on the line.           
 INS KEY           Toggles between INSERT and TYPEOVER input mode.           
                                                                              
 ESCAPE KEY        Terminates edit and restores original contents.           
 ENTER KEY         Terminates edit and prompts for approval if any changes.  
                                                                              
 DEL KEY           Deletes the character at cursor position.                 
 BACKSPACE         Destructive cursor move over previous character.          
                                                                              
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ͮPage 19 of 20 ;͵  PRINTER OUTPUT  ͸

                                                                              
 There are several ways to cause the screen to be printed to the LPT1         
 device.  From the keyboard either F7 or the PrtSc key may be pressed.        
                                                                              
                                                                              
 If you have not used the printer during the current session, CORSPEED will   
 ask you to verify that the printer is on-line and ready or work.  You may    
 then select the character set supported by your printer.                     
                                                                              
 For printers supporting the IBM PC character set select the PC8 option.      
 Press the 'P' key to select PC8 character set output.  If your printer does  
 not support the complete PC character set select the ASCII option.           
 Press the 'A' key to select the ASCII character set.  This will translate    
 those characters above 127 to alternate characters for better looking re-    
 sults.                                                                       
                                                                              
 Press either the 'C' key or the ESC  key if the printer is not ready or you  
 decide not to print the current screen.                                      
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                         ͼ  
ͮPage 20 of 20 ;