On Sun, 06 Feb 2000 19:15:23 +0000, Peter Gordon (mrtickle@amiga4k.ndo.co.uk) wrote:
> Hi,
'lo
> >> I'm sorry but you appear to be speaking with an apparent authority despite an obvious lack of understanding of computer architecture...
>
> > ROTFL .... said it far better than I could ;-)
>
> Why thankyou :)
np
> >> Crap. The 68k emulator doesn't *know *anything. Its just running on the G4.
>
> > In theory the 68k emulation could be programmed with some AI ...
>
> Well, personally I can't think of any extra features that would need to be included in the emulation itself. Say for example they included some method of passing values back to native G4 CPU registers, that would mean using opcodes that would be illegal on the 68k range. I'd rather have a 68k emulation with exactly ZERO extras, that way you can make it more compatible with the real thing iyswim.
Surely they can add extras that make things better without screwing up the
compatibility. You know, new instructions or something that make stuff
like context switching or memory sharing between the real and virtual cpu a
lot easier ...
> > Hey, I'd forgotten that, and I'm using an A4000! :)
>
> Same here. Nice arent they? :) I'm getting a G4 for mine.
Very nice ... i've already got an 060/PPC card for mine (and what a lot of
hassle getting THAT was!) so I'm gonna wait on the G4 for now ...
> >> Hahaha! When you put +5v into the PPC, it will start up like any processor. Just make the startup vector point to a 68k emulation on a rom the local bus, and it'll start the moment you hit the on switch, before the card has even autoconfigured. So there. :)
>
> > Yup. Only way to do it. Easiest way to do it too. Thus an incredibly
> > sensible way to bloody do it!
>
> As well as being the cheapest, most secure (antivirus), most reliable and idiotproof way. :)
True ...
Kev
--
Kevin "Redvers" Fairhurst - ICQ 56332267, redver5 on AIM
On Mon, 07 Feb 2000 18:25:31 +0000, Peter Gordon (mrtickle@amiga4k.ndo.co.uk) wrote:
> Hi Kev,
'lo
> > Surely they can add extras that make things better without screwing up the
> > compatibility. You know, new instructions or something that make stuff
> > like context switching or memory sharing between the real and virtual cpu a
> > lot easier ...
>
> It wouldn't screw up the compatibility, but seeing as the emulation is purely for legacy issues, why not make it as compatible with old software as possible? After all, you want new software to go via the G4....
By make things better I mean get rid of any bugs and maybe even optimize
stuff more or include stuff taken out of the silicon in 040's and 060's.
But as you say, if it ain't broke ....
> As for context switching, there is no context switching, as the virual 68k uses the G4's caches.
>
> As for memory sharing, there is no memory sharing, as the virtual 68k uses the G4's memory bus :)
Surely there will be some sort of "switch" to go from "i'm the 68k
accessing something" to "i'm the g4 accessing something"?
Kev
--
Kevin "Redvers" Fairhurst - ICQ 56332267, redver5 on AIM
