Marcel Weiher writes:
 > 
 > > Marcel Weiher <marcel at metaobject.com> wrote:
 > > [snip]
 >
 > [snip interesting reference counting GC discussion]
 >
 > >  Of course, it adds memory bandwidth costs as
 > > well
 > 
 > Compared to copying collectors and write barriers?

Well a write barrier just needs a write not a read modify write cycle so
it should be better but that depends on the hardware write buffers working
well. I'm assuming a card marking write barrier. New space doesn't need
any write barrier protection.

The copy only happens when collecting so it only effects live objects
and with a generational collector we are hoping that most objects die
young. 

Bryce