Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!sdrc!scwilk From: scwilk@sdrc.UUCP (Ken_Wilkinson) Newsgroups: comp.sys.nsc.32k Subject: AUTHOR SPEAKS: '532 Manifesto Keywords: cheap nsc 532 Message-ID: <433@sdrc.UUCP> Date: 15 Nov 88 19:56:07 GMT Organization: Structural Dynamics Research Corp., Cincinnati Lines: 195 HOLY MACHEREL BATMAN! Six or seven months ago I started using Usenet and found to my pleasent surprise a neat newgroup devoted to the NSC procressor. At that time, a discussion developed around a home-brew '532 based system. To try and settle the noise abit, I suggested the now famous :-) '532 Manifesto. UNFORTUNATLY I had to drop put of the discussion due to work demands. So imagine my surprise, when this week I received a mail message from someone willing to help with the project! Puzzled, I logged on and started reading the mail. YIKES! I was as if I hadn't left! Message after message about the '532 appears and cheap systems based on the '532 desired. So I'll dust off the 'ol '532 Manifesto...and... Herein is the last version from some months ago... --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello Folks! Since my last posting I have recieved some very interesting responses. It now looks like we have sufficient workers and a potential person to do a port (System V though...). I have collected the votes and thoughts of responders and have formulated "THE '532 MANIFESTO" which is enclosed in draft form. If some of the words seem familiar don't be alarmed, I stole them from your e-mail :-}. >In article <235@sdrc.UUCP> I wrote: > o IBM PC/AT system board replacement, uses present PC cheap > and availble parts for enclosure , HD and graphics contrlr etc. > > o Classic SBC design with SCSI on board memory. Uses a terminal. > > o Above with AT type (EGA?) graphics controller chip set. > > o design a SBC but have slots for expansion. > > 8 - votes for IBM PC/AT system board replacement. 2 - votes for SBC with SCSI and terminal. 1 - vote for SBC with EGA graphics chips. 1 - vote for SBC to place into old Macintosh case. 1- vote passive AT style bus (ala Zenith) with plug-in cpu. >Software: > > o REAL UN*X (BSD, SYS V) > > o MINIX (yecchhh, sorry :) ) > > o MACH > > o Other PD OS (check out os.research) 7 - votes for BSD Un*x. 1 - vote for Sys V. 1 - vote for Minix 1 - vote for GNU Not everyone voted for an OS, (hence the numbers don't add up) Gee guys, some of you just program to bare metal? :-). > > I have a friend who is a dedicated hacker and owns a business > with the ablility to make PCB's from schematics. I would be > willing to help translate a schematic to artwork if others are > will to help design it. Any takers? > YES! Enough hardware and software have offered. -DRAFT DOCUMENT--DRAFT DOCUMENT--DRAFT DOCUMENT--DRAFT DOCUMENT- The '532 Manifesto (Appologies to R. Stallman) Purpose: Design and build a computer based on the NSC '532 chip set. The computer will use presently available mass-produced componets to keep cost as low as possible. Exploit cheap available finished IBM bus I/O boards, to take advantage of everybody else's volume. Design will be a modified KISS approach (KISS Plus), "Keep It Simple Stupid" but as fast as possible! CPU Design: Based upon a hardware compatable PC/AT motherboard (size,and mounting hardware NOT CPU!) to allow use of the IBM type AT enclosures and power supply. Features: o on board SCSI bus for hard disk and tape drive support. o IBM PC 101 keyboard connection o 4 to 8 IBM PC periphial slots half XT and half AT style. (depends on available board area). o uses at a minimum a Hercules clone display adapter. (at $41 cheaper than a terminal. CRT about $82, keyboard $61. Total $184). Later, one could use one of the Super VGA type cards with a NEC M.S. II for X-windows, PHIGS (which I'm working on now), etc. o Ethernet , parallel ports, serial ports would use the bus. We might if enough room put the serial and parallel ports on the motherboard. o memory will be MAC II style SIMM chips (the fastest we can buy :-}) for 4 to 8 megs (maybe 4 meg with a daughter board for 8 megs) NO memory expansion bus. If you need more than 8 megs tuff sh*t. Operating System: SYS V - First choice. Minix - Possible, maybe a parallel effort? Race? BSD was the choice of most respondants, but no one has come forward to do the port. Concerns: o Do we use instruction cache? Is there enough room on the cpu motherboard? Do we really need it, as the 532 has a burst mode. (no) o use same serial uarts as ICM and preserve some of the driver code? (no) o how much memory can we fit? ( 8 megs max easily, but design for 1 meg min.) o bring out internal bus lines to a connector unbuffered? (nahhhh) o Clock speed, multi layers 4,6,8? Cost? (?) o Memory speed, wait states. (?) -END OF DRAFT--END OF DRAFT--END OF DRAFT--END OF DRAFT--END OF DRAFT- Please comment by e-mail on the concerns and design. I will firm up "THE '532 MANIFESTO" and then we can begin the real work! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOOOOO, there it is again. Still interested? Changes? A few very qualified people have contacted me to help and I must applogise that I have not followed up to their mail. If these folks are still interested (I am!) and NSC is still willing to help we may yet bring this beast to light. Ken Wilkinson (uunet!sdrc!scwilk) SDRC 2000 Eastman Dr. Milford, Ohio 45014 (Cincinnati) (513)-576-2569 Above words are mine and others not the company's. Not responsible for anything you might think of now or ever. "We now have the ultimate in Office Automation, all six printers are down" Ken W.