From: Jdrew@nesbbx.rain.COM (**)
Subject: Re: Emplant Thoughts...
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.emulations
X-NewsSoftware: $VER: BBX-UMB 0.20 (Sep 01 1992)
Date: 4 Sep 92 16:35:51 PST
Organization: NESBBX Bulletin Board System


In <92247.143824DXB132@psuvm.psu.edu>, <DXB132@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
> In article <00960103.ADA99460@vms.csd.mu.edu>, 2575brooksr@vms.csd.mu.edu (Ryan
> K. Brooks) says:
> 
> >  How will ROM reading help with emulating a IBM?
> >A BIOS with 8086 code would be slower than things like IBeM and PC
> >Task since they have an "emulator" BIOS written in 68k.  Also,
> 
> I'm sure the inclusion of a SCSI port makes up for this.
> 
> >whats the deal with SNES and all these other promised emulations?
> >In the case of SNES, how can this board help to duplicate things
> >like hardware scaling, that could NOT be accomplished in software?
> 
> Clearly the 8530 serial chip will be central to obtaining the FAST
> scaling algorithms.
> 
> 
> >        Another thing that is weird is using DCTV for better graphics
> >modes available on othe machines.  Encoding bitplanes into DCTV
> >chroma/luma deltacompression just can't be done at any reasonable
> >speeds.  Also, DCTV isn't pixel-accurate enough to be used in place
> >of an RGB display,  Text smaller than 30 pixels tall or so is
> >very hard to read.
> 
> Yeah, but who wants to buy an expensive COMPUTER MONITOR?
> I wanna use my TV to do CAD on MAC.
> 
> >UU or Mr. Drew,  he hasn't said anything wrong, I think I must
> >just be mislead by all the rumors floating around, I expected to
> >see a board that would help support emulations of many things, instead
> 
> You have not been misled. I already hear rumours of Cray licensing
> this amazing technology for the CRAY-4. Will be much CHEAPER than
> GaAs CRAY-3.
> 
> >Anyway, about the pics (in case you haven't seen 'em):
> >It appears that EMPLANT (hardware)
> >has several 6522's -can't be sure, HAM kinda sucks (these ICs
> >basically supply lots of i/o ports with a few other goodies),
> >a UART (DUART or some spinoff) for AppleTalk, lots of ROM sockets
> >for reading ANYTHING (through the 6522's?), and a SCSI controller.
> 
> You should stop worrying about little technical details. Don't you
> BELIEVE Jim Drew when he said there is much SECRET UNUSED hardware
> just WAITING to unlocked?
> 
 
Amazing....
 
The 6522's (yes, that is what they are) are the same that are used in the
MAC (2 of them).  The 3rd is for our board control.  ALL of the 6522's
have timers....guess what is missing from the software IBM emulators?
 
There are also 5 control IC's on the board for various functions (and yes,
many of these functions are not used yet).
 
The serial and SCSI interfaces are not MAC specific, they can be used for
ANY machine.  Ever heard of SCSi drives for the IBM?  How about UARTS for
the IBM?
 
The SNES and GENESIS game carts (with an adapter socket) plug directly
into the SIMM socket, allowing you to dump the data into the Amiga.
 
The IBM BIOS is necessary for COMPATIBILITY.  The software emulators use
their own to gain speed, and lose compatibility.  Also, we are NOT
emulating an 8 bit IBM.  We are using 32/16 bit technology here...so do
the IBM 386/486 machines.  Byte accesses take a tremendous amount of time
(consult your local library for 68000 instruction timing) we use long
words or words at worst case.
 
All of the hardware is there.  We dont really want you to see everything
that we are doing....

 
Jim Drew, Vice-President
          Utilities Unlimited, Inc.  1641 McCulloch Blvd Suite #25-124
          (602) 680-9004             Lake Havasu City, AZ  86403
          (602) 680-9006  FAX        (602) 453-9767  BBS