Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!akgua!mcnc!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!sri-unix!treid@Mitre-Gateway.ARPA From: treid@Mitre-Gateway.ARPA Newsgroups: net.micro.cpm Subject: 8086 co-processors for CPM80 Message-ID: <12313@sri-arpa.UUCP> Date: Mon, 16-Apr-84 11:46:59 EST Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.12313 Posted: Mon Apr 16 11:46:59 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 22-Apr-84 08:44:32 EST Lines: 26 From: Tom Reid I am considering adding an 8086 co-processor to my CPM80 system (Ithaca 525; Z80B, 128K, 2-5 1/4" and 2-8" drives). HSC, Herkimer, NY (see add in April '84 Microsystems, p. 16) has one. Their latest brochure lists an 8086 processor board with 256K ram, MS-DOS 2.11, 8 bit ram disk, Z80 interface, documentation, enclosure, and power supply for $775 retail. Other options such as 68000, CPM86, and a (SOON) IBM compatible bus are available. The system boots up as (1) of old, (2) CPM80 with a 256K ram disk, or (3) MSDOS/CPM86 using the CPM80 for all non-ram I/O. Sounds like a way to get both a ram disk and a 16 bit processor without throwing the old system away if . . . I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has experience with this or other co-processors. In particular, what are the bonuses, problems, or gotchas. For example, could the Z80 being a ribbon cable away from its old CPU slot cause problems or is the 8086-back-to-CPM80-for-I/O going to be too slow? The people at HSC say that the system can be installed in 15 minutes. I will edit and keep updated any responses to those interested via the net. Thanks. Tom Reid at MITRE Corp., McLean, Va. ps - I am interested in buying an Ithaca 64K ram board.