jones@acsu.buffalo.edu (terry a jones) (04/27/91)
Now that the responses to my question regarding SPARC manufacturers have stopped trickling in, I would like to summarize the information here as I had promised. First off, I would like to thank everyone that responded! I also appreciated the helpful comments that many of you had regarding the nature of the SPARC International consortium. The list of those who responded follows. Note, some people wished not to be mentioned here. I have not included them in the list below. eirik@theory.TN.CORNELL.EDU andy@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU danw@tbird9.prime.com rutgers!indetech.com!tilman validgh!validgh.com!dgh@uunet.UU.NET ram@Eng.Sun.COM khb@Eng.Sun.COM nn@Eng.Sun.COM auspex!auspex.com!guy@uunet.UU.NET ameristar!rick@sbcs.sunysb.edu marsmcro!br@uunet.UU.NET skk@sparc.com slcpi!govt.shearson.com!fgreco@uunet.UU.NET Here is the list that I have compiled of manufacturers in the SPARC International consortium. The phone numbers are correct to the best of my knowledge. Bipolar Integrated Technology (BIT) - (612) 881-6955 Cypress Semiconductor - (800) 952-6300, dept. CM44 Fujitsu - (408) 922-9000 LSI Logic - (408) 433-8000 Panasonic/Matsushita - (201) 392-4290 Phillips - (407) 881-3200 Ross Technology - (512) 448-8968 Texas Instruments - (713) 274-2286 Toshiba - (617) 272-4352 I have also included two of the responses that I thought would be of general interest below: *** 1. Fujitsu made the original Sparc chips (Gate Arrays, used in the older Systems like Sun4/2xx, original Solbourne class - 7/10 MIPS systems) 2. Cypress Semiconductor, San Jose, makes the first custom CMOS Sparc Chip, now found in all fast Sparc Machines (SparcStation 2, 4/3xx, 4/4xx, the faster Solbournes, Definicon PC add-in board etc.). Good chip! Go buy tons of it. 16 MIPS and up. 3. LSI Logic to my knowledge is the only manufacturer that offers the entire chipset. CPU is not as fast as Cypress, though. Found in SparcStation 1, 1+, IPC, SLC. Up to 16 MIPS. 4. Texas Instruments is a second source for the Cypress chip. Don't know if they make it yet. 5. Bipolar Technologies (or so) has a super-fast multi-chip version (bipolar, high power). Not used anywhere yet. Some other guys are working on GaAs versions etc. *** Fujitsu Advanced Product Development Older IU & FPU used in SS1, SS1+ Newer IU/FPU Combo chip SPARClite embedded said to be working on reference MMU LSI Logic Older IU & FPU used in SS1, SS1+ Newer IU & FPU like Cypress Their own SPARKkit25 set, includes Cypress-like IU & FPU MMU MBus to SBus MBus Memory Controller SBus DMA Misc IO Versions of IU for embedded control Also sells the SPARCkit-20, which is the VLSI used in the SS1 Announced "Lighning" which is a new IU/FPU/MMU codesigned with Metaflow and Hyundai Cypress Semi (Ross Technology) IU & FPU (IU used in SS2) MMU (CY7C604) Versions of IU for embedded control Announced "Pinnacle", which is a new IU/FPU/MMU chip set Texas Instruments FPU used in SS2 Announced "Viking", which is a new IU/FPU/MMU chip set Phillips said to be working on an embedded processor Weitek FPU In addition, Cypress makes the CY7C157 which is the special cache RAM used by most of the MMUs. This is second sourced by Logic Devices and AT&T. Via Technologies is working on motherboard chip sets. So is Tera Microsystems. We know of more than this, but we have non-disclosures that prevent us talking about it. Hope this helps *** Again, thank you everyone for all the help. Terry Jones Terry Jones {rutgers,uunet}!acsu.buffalo.edu!jones SUNY at Buffalo ECE Dept. or: rutgers!ub!jones, jones@acsu.buffalo.edu