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From: csch@tub.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: 68020 Extension-board PAK-68 - (nf)
Message-ID: <49500021@tub.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 26-Jul-87 19:02:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: tub.49500021
Posted: Sun Jul 26 19:02:00 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 30-Jul-87 06:58:50 EDT
Lines: 116
Nf-ID: #N:tub:49500021:000:3697
Nf-From: tub!csch    Jul 27 00:02:00 1987


Here's some more detailed information about the 68020 extension-board for
the ST and other 68K machines.

(I know it must be a very strange request, but if some kind soul could
 transfer this note into the comp.amiga.* newsgroup ??? We don't get 'em
 on this site ...)

The board is called PAK-68. It was developed by the editors of the
computer magazine c't here in Germany. You'll find it in the August issue
on pages 68ff (!!! --- Though I know some of the guys personally I can say
they're very humorus people --- page 68 ...:-}

TECHNICAL DETAILS :
-------------------

	PAK-68 is a PCB with two sockets for a 68020 and a 68881 FPU
	and 11 additional standard TTL chips. There's a 64 pin connector
	on the bottom of the board, so you can plug it directly into
	the 68000 socket of YOUR FAVORITE MICROCOMPUTER (:-}) ...

	It TECHNICALLY (from the hardware-aspect) fits into the ST,
	the Amiga and nearly any other 68K system. 

	Unfortunately the current TOS version DOES DEFINITELY NOT WORK
	together with the PAK-68 board. Some problems were already mentioned
	in this newsgroup some days ago:

		- The STACKFRAME during exception handling is quite different

		- TOS uses simple DELAY-LOOPS which (un-???)fortunately run
		  much faster within the 68020 cache ... :-}

		- additional minor problems

	But there's an operating system, which runs together with PAK-68.
	The (in Germany) well known RTOS/UH. A realtime multitasking OS (not
	only) for the ST. It's also distributed by c't. If you're interested
	I can write another report about this.


	AMIGA users might be more lucky! Though the AMIGA supports the 68010
	the step to the 68020 is not that far - so the OS RUNS with PAK-68 in-
	stalled ... but the author mentioned some doubts about the application
	software ... 


NOW MY CRITIC : (personal)
---------------

	Grrrrrrmbl! What should I do with my (probably Mega-ST) with up
	to 4 Meg. and a 68020 (dream ...) WITHOUT a MMU ????????

	Damned imagine about all the freaks in NETLAND starting to port
	some version of UNIX to that micro ??? Wouldn't this be great.

	I MYSELF would have much more interest in a MMU rather than in a
	FPU. Don't you ?


ADDITIONAL DATA :
-----------------

	Ok, now the most interesting, the PRICE ...

	You may buy the PCB directly from c't (Heise Publications) at the
	price of DM 49,- (that's ~ $30 incl. shipment).
	There's also a company selling parts or the complete board for:

		- complete board (12.5 Mhz) WITH FPU: DM 1098.00 (~ $600)
		-     "      "       "   WITHOUT FPU: DM  798.00 (~ $435)
		- complete parts (WITHOUT FPU & PCB): DM  695.00 (~ $380)

THE ADDRESS :
-------------

	c't Magazine
	Helstorfer Str. 7 
	PO-BOX 61 04 07

	D-3000 HANNOVER 61	(that's WEST(!!)-Germany :-}

	Yes, they do have phone:

		+49-511-53 52-0
		+49-511-53 52-129	(FAX)

		(I do have the direct number for the editor-in-chief, but
		 I think he'll kill me, if I would send it through NETLAND :-}

		 Ask for either

			Mr. Johannes Assenbaum (Author)
			Mr. Christian Persson  (,,Editor-in-chief`` *)
				*= I don't know the english word for this ...

	You may also reach 'em via TWX (or TELEX)

		923173 heise d

	I will offer them a account on our machine, and if they would like
	to, you may send mail directly to them. I'll announce the address,
	if they're really online ...

	I don't want to send the address of the other company via news,
	because I don't like advertising in the newsgroups. You may
	ask me directly for the address.


Clemens Schrimpe (csch@tub)

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