Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cwjcc!hal!nic.MR.NET!tank!gsbrob1@apcvxa.uchicago.edu
From: gsbrob1@apcvxa.uchicago.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Mainframe on a chip in a Mac?
Message-ID: <571@tank.uchicago.edu>
Date: 28 Oct 88 00:09:07 GMT
Sender: news@tank.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Lines: 44

.
.
.
.
.
In article <5423@juniper.uucp> chari@juniper.UUCP (Christopher Michael Whatley)
posted the NeXT press release, in which was the following:

>Two proprietary VLSI chips, designed by NeXT, give the sytem its
>mainframe-like qualities.
> The Integrated Channel Processor (ICP)  manages the flow of data
>among the central processing unit (the 68030),  main memory and all
>peripheral devices.  By offloading the 68030 and  ensuring the
>efficient flow of data within the system, the ICP allows  the 68030 to
>run at its full rated capacity of 5 MIPS.
> The ICP provides 12 dedicated DMA (direct memory access) channels,
>including channels for Ethernet networking and for disks, monitor,
>printer and other peripheral devices.  The single ICP chip replaces
>several hundred chips performing similar functions on a mainframe
>computer, and it raises sustained system throughput to a level
>impossible with either personal computer or workstation architectures.

I'm interested in whether a similar sort of thing could be done on the Mac in
the future.  I had someone here tell me "it can't be done", cause of: the OS,
the architecture, whatever.  I'm not a hardware person, so I have absolutely no
idea.

I'd like to know whether on a _theoretical_ level it can be done; I'm not
asking what Apple is actually doing in this area, 'cause I know that those who
know can't tell. :->.  (Please: no flames from NeXT fans about why Apple is
"doomed"; I've heard enough of that, and would prefer at this point to agree to
disagree.)

Any info from those who are tech experts with the Mac would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Robert 
gsbrob1@apcvxa.uchicago.edu
ra_robert@gsbacd.uchicago.edu

  ............................................................................
  . generic disclaimer:  all opinions here expressed are mine and mine alone .
  ............................................................................