ix469@sdcc6.UUCP (David L. Smith) (11/13/85)
Anybody out there interested in a 65802 in their Apple? This is a
version of the 16-bit 65816 which is pin-compatible with the 6502,
will emulate a 6502, and will also act as an 8/16 bit processor,
with 16 bit A,X and Y registers, a 16 bit stack register (allowing
for a real stack, larger than 256 bytes), relocatable zero-page
(as many as you like) and a host of new instructions. The major
difference between it and the 65816 is it's lack of a few of the
65816 signals and an address space limited to 64K, rather than 16Mb.
The processors instruction sets are identical.
The processor is from Western Design Center, and goes for $95 in
single quantities. However, I was told that if purchased in
quantities of 25, the price drops to ~$50.
Basically, it should be easy to pop one of these into an Apple
(][ or //e) with a minor hardware mod. It would be necessary to
bank switch the monitor ROM with another ROM at power-up, since I
believe the chip powers up in 65802 mode, not 6502 mode (though I'm
not sure. The data sheet is not clear on this and I will find out).
The chip also supports the 65C02 codes, so it will work in those
enhanced //e's (possibly a //c, but you're *really* on your own
there).
So, I am asking if anyone else would be interested in purchasing one
of these chips. CAVEAT EMPTOR! I am *not* offering to support you
in any way. This is simply an offer for a group purchase/discount.
I will give you a copy of whatever hardware mods I plan, but do not
guarantee they will work. I'm a little in the dark myself, but it
should work (famous last words). More information on the chip can
be obtained from:
Western Design Center
2166 East Brown Road
Mesa, AZ 85203
(602) 962-4545
As far as software goes, there are some products available, I know
of an assembler from the people who make the Merlin assembler. I
believe that anyone starting out at this point would be writing
everything in assembler, since I don't think there are any compilers
available.
If you're interested, drop a note to me. I'll wait a couple of
weeks, but if I can't get enough people togethter by then I may just
go ahead and put the bucks down.
==================
David L. Smith
UC Sandy Eggo
{ucbvax, ihnp4}!sdcsvax!sdcc6!ix469
"Laugh while you can, monkey boy!" -- John Whorfin
I am not associated with Western Design Center, Apple Computer, or
any other capitalist running dog institutions