From: pdcruze@tartarus.uwa.edu.au (Patrick D'Cruze)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: RISC Amiga
Date: 18 Dec 1992 04:38:40 GMT
Organization: The University of Western Australia
NNTP-Posting-Host: tartarus.uwa.edu.au
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5

I have finally figured out which RISC chip is going to power future
Amigas (if Commodore decides to emigrate over to the RISC line).  The
clues were given out by Lou Eggerbrecht (is that how you spell it?) in
his WOC Toronto speech.

In the speech, apart from alluding to the fact that they have or are
working on prototype RISC amigas, he stated that the RISC Amiga would be
able to run both Unix and Windows NT.

Now I am aware of only three processors that will be able to run NT. 
They are Intel's Pentium, MIPs' R4000 risc cpu, and DEC's Alpha risc
cpu.

Because Lou stated that it would be a risc cpu and that moving to
another incompatible cisc cpu would make no sense, Intel's Pentium cpu
is ruled out.

This leaves only the MIPs or Alpha processors.  My feeling is that with
everyone abandoning the MIPs processor that Commodore would not choose
to use it either.  Also, as Silicon Graphics now owns MIPs, I suspect
that SGI may not allow Commodore to use the MIPs processor as they fear
they may be a rival competitor.

This at last leaves us with DEC's Alpha processor.  Looking at the
design specs of this cpu, I feel that this is an excellent choice. 
There are a few reasons why Commodore might want to move to the Alpha
processor.

1.  The Alpha processor has parts of its cpu that are reconfigurable (I
forget exactly how its done) but this feature has been included to allow
for future operating systems which may need this feature.  This is the
key to running Windows NT on the Alpha processor as it cannot run without
this reconfigurability.  However,  this may also prove beneficial in
porting AmigaDOS over as the cpu may be reconfigured to take care of the
special needs that AmigaDOS may require.

2.  A company the size of DEC would be well placed to provide new and
improved compilers which are the key to gaining maximum performace
utilisation from a risc cpu

3.  DEC have stated that the Alpha processor is a highly expandable
design. ie it is relatively easy to provide both higher and lower
performance cpus.  This would be the key to Commodore adopting it.  Not
everyone needs (or could afford) a 200Mips Alpha based Amiga but I dare
say that DEC could provide lower performance Alpha cpus to Commodore to
use so that we might have an entry level Alpha based Amiga rated at say
80Mips.

4.  We would be able to gain access to all of the major Operating
Systems throughout the rest of the decade.  An Alpha based Amiga would
be able to run AmigaDOS, Unix, Windows NT and VMS.  Now whether we would
want any or all of these is another matter but at least the option is
there.


I for one think that it is inevitable that Commodore will move to the
RISC cpu line, simply because all of its competitors (except for Atari)
have or are planning on moving to RISC.


_______________________________________________________________________________
                       pdcruze@tartarus.uwa.edu.au
   The health department has declared that the future is now officially so
  bright that the wearing of welding goggles is now mandatory at all times.
_______________________________________________________________________________