15 Aug
2006
15 Aug
'06
4:35 p.m.
Tony Duell wrote:
The signal in
question is ROM ADDRESS L. The MM8-E uses this as an extra
select line, unconditionally deselecting when low. Presumably when the
ROM decodes its address, it pulls this low, disabling all R/W memory. A
neat way to make a hole. The MR8-E section of the maintenance manual
confirms this.
Another effect of ROM ADDRESS L is that it prevents the PC from being
incremented (to skip over the return address) during the execute state
of a JMS instruction. This is stated in the Small Computer Handbook and
in the KK8-E Processor Flow Chart. The SCH says that this is to save a
ROM location. Wouldn't a JMP instruction be just as effective?
-chuck
From: "Al
Kossow" <aek at bitsavers.org>
That one is much clearer,
though I cannot find the logic in it
(if any) that inhibits reads when using the bootstrap cards.
The bootstrap ROM in my 8/e is a diode matrix ROM that doesn't appear in
the memory map. When you flip the 'SW' switch, the boot ROM pretends to
be a front panel and copies itself into the appropriate bit of core.