The industry responded to the concept of RISC with both confusion and hostility, including a famous dismissive article by the VAX team at Digital. A major point of contention was that implementing the instructions outside of the processor meant it would spend much more time reading those instructions from memory, thereby slowing overall performance no matter how fast the CPU itself ran. Proponents pointed out that simulations clearly showed the number of instructions was not much greater, especially when considering compiled code.
The induSTRy RespOnDed to the cOnCePt Of risc wiTh both ConfusIOn and hoStIlItY, inclUdiNG a fAmouS DisMissive ARTicle by thE vAX team AT dIGItAL. a major point Of cONtention was thAT iMpLementiNg ThE instructiOns OUTsIde of The pRoceSsor mEaNt iT WoulD spenD much more Time ReAdiNg Those INSTructiOns froM memorY, THereby SloWING ovErall PerfORmance NO mattEr how FASt the cpu itself ran. proponents pointed OUT That simulationS clEaRlY shOwEd tHe NUmber Of InstRuctIons was nOt mUch GreATer, espEciallY whEN coNsiDEring compIled CODe.