[comp.sys.nsc.32k] next run...

dlr@daver.bungi.com (Dave Rand) (06/16/90)

Well, people are asking again, so I suppose it is time to talk about another
run of boards. I'll collect names for those that are interested for 4 weeks,
and then put in the board order. This should get everyone that is interested...

If you are interested, please mail your request to:

pc-order@daver.bungi.com -or- {sun|mips|pyramid|vsi1|uunet}!daver!pc-order

*PLEASE*! Include your Name, *ADDRESS*, telephone number, and
quantity desired. Also, please include your address. And, if it
is not too much trouble, your address. That is, please include the
address you would like the board shipped to.

(too many people didn't include their address on the first go-around)

The expected cost will be $200, although this will depend on the number
of boards that we order.

For those that don't know...

Subject: PC532 system
Message-ID: <1989Nov16.051350.4711@daver.UU.NET>
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 89 05:13:50 GMT


Last year, there was great talk about doing a 32532-based system,
with all kinds of wizzy features. Most people took note of the
suggestions, and some even went so far as to suggest some of
their own ideas :-)

We, george@wombat.UUCP (George Scolaro) and dlr@daver.UU.NET
(Dave Rand) went ahead and did a design. George did the hardware,
and I did (am doing :-) the software. Here are the details:

NS32532 CPU running at 25 Mhz (about 12.5 MIPS peak, 8 MIPS* average)
NS32381 FPU running at 25 Mhz
NS32202 ICU
4 to 32 megabytes of fast page DRAM (0 wait on first access in page,
1 wait in burst). 4 or 8 megabytes with 1 meg SIMMs, 16 or 32 with
4 meg SIMMs.
8 Serial ports (38.4 Kbps) with full modem control (RTS/CTS/DTR/CD)
and hardware flow control (Signetics 2681).
Dual SCSI bus:
    #1 is a Adaptec 6250, supporting Async/Sync SCSI up to >4meg/sec.
    #2 is a DP8490, supporting Async SCSI to 3.8meg/sec.

The #1 SCSI supports external Disk and tape. The #2 SCSI supports
four interal add-in card slots (mechanically IBM-PC style,
electrically not compatible). This gives us a very fast multi-master
bus with a very low risk and pin count. One add-in card has already
been designed (16 serial ports plus an Ethernet, and 1 meg of memory).

The main board is a "baby-AT" style board, and will fit into standard
IBM AT cases. We did a small run of PC boards, and have two of them up
and running now. [we now have over 100 boards out all over the world - dlr]

A couple of notes: Some of you will recall that George and I worked
for National Semiconductor - we no longer work there. As well, the
number of MIPS of the various processors in the world is always in
question. All that can be said for this 532 board is that it seems to be
at least 2-3 times faster than 33 Mhz 386 systems...

--
George Scolaro <george@wombat.UUCP>
Dave Rand <dlr@daver.uu.net>

Other folks are doing more (and more significant) software, like Bruce
Culbertson with Minix. If you would like more information, please drop me
mail.


-- 
Dave Rand
{pyramid|mips|sun|vsi1}!daver!dlr	Internet: dlr@daver.bungi.com