On my 60GB unit, nearly all of the files in each of the two FIDs directories are named beginning with a '1'. So a fast check of the first character would not buy much. But since a quick look at the final character can eliminate 50% in one fell swoop, on anybody's unit, it is probabably (not quantified yet) a win any place that it matters much.

On most Linux platforms, memcmp is inlined, but not on the empeg. Dunno if it is better this way or not, since plain dumb inlining is not always a good idea -- depends on the architecture and how it handles caching/lookahead.

My 60GB unit feels faster now. Purely subjective, no doubt.

-ml