21 Apr
2000
21 Apr
'00
11:10 a.m.
i960, or i860? I wasn't aware that any i960 Unix
boxes had been shipped.
The i960 family was the stripped-down commercial version of the ill-fated
Gemini (P7) 33-bit (not a typo!) processor, a collaboration between Intel
and Siemens. The two companies created a workstation company called BiiN
to sell the workstations, and although they shipped some prerelease
machines, AFAIK they never offered any for sale.
It also grew from the 8089 (20 bit) and the 8751(8bit) for embedded
processing
tasks like engine controls.
Allison
21 Apr
21 Apr
12:56 p.m.
I wrote:
The i960 family was the stripped-down commercial
version of the ill-fated
Gemini (P7) 33-bit (not a typo!) processor, a collaboration between Intel
and Siemens. The two companies created a workstation company called BiiN
to sell the workstations, and although they shipped some prerelease
machines, AFAIK they never offered any for sale.
Allison wrote:
It also grew from the 8089 (20 bit) and the 8751(8bit)
for embedded
processing
tasks like engine controls.
Perhaps you're thinking of the 8096. The i960 has no architectural or
design similarity to the 8089 or 8751, was not designed by the same
engineering organization, and was not originally intended for the
embedded market. As I stated previously, it was originally developed
for high-reliability workstations and servers.
Intel's ended up pushing the i960 for embedded use only after it failed
to be accepted as a workstation-class product.
The 8089 was not particularly intended for embedded applications; it was
supposed to be a channel controller, i.e., a smart DMA controller able
to perform functions similar to the channels on IBM mainframes. It is
very poorly suited to general purpose (non-DMA) use, even for embedded
systems (unless the embedded system needs a fancy DMA controller).
The only thing 20-bit about the 8089 is the address, but at least it was
a flat 20-bit space unlike that of the 8086.
1:08 p.m.
That's odd ... I remember the i960 being touted as the cat's meow for laser
printers and other highly demanding and high-speed embedded applications. I
was never interested enough to investigate without a contract,however, since
I am not an Intel enthusiast. Last time I saw one, it was on a MYLEX
3-channel SCSI RAID board. Could I be confusing this with something else?
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: Eric Smith <eric(a)brouhaha.com>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Friday, April 21, 2000 6:56 PM
Subject: Re: Intel i960 evaluation board
I wrote:
> The i960 family was the stripped-down commercial version of the
ill-fated
> Gemini (P7) 33-bit (not a typo!) processor, a
collaboration between
Intel
> and Siemens. The two companies created a
workstation company called
BiiN
to sell the
workstations, and although they shipped some prerelease
machines, AFAIK they never offered any for sale.
Allison wrote:
It also grew from the 8089 (20 bit) and the
8751(8bit) for embedded
processing
tasks like engine controls.
Perhaps you're thinking of the 8096. The i960 has no architectural or
design similarity to the 8089 or 8751, was not designed by the same
engineering organization, and was not originally intended for the
embedded market. As I stated previously, it was originally developed
for high-reliability workstations and servers.
Intel's ended up pushing the i960 for embedded use only after it failed
to be accepted as a workstation-class product.
The 8089 was not particularly intended for embedded applications; it was
supposed to be a channel controller, i.e., a smart DMA controller able
to perform functions similar to the channels on IBM mainframes. It is
very poorly suited to general purpose (non-DMA) use, even for embedded
systems (unless the embedded system needs a fancy DMA controller).
The only thing 20-bit about the 8089 is the address, but at least it was
a flat 20-bit space unlike that of the 8086. 
1:15 p.m.
"Richard Erlacher" <edick(a)idcomm.com> wrote:
That's odd ... I remember the i960 being touted
as the cat's meow for laser
printers and other highly demanding and high-speed embedded applications. I
was never interested enough to investigate without a contract,however, since
I am not an Intel enthusiast. Last time I saw one, it was on a MYLEX
3-channel SCSI RAID board. Could I be confusing this with something else?
Hi Dick
I'm sure that Intel would have said this. If their fastest
processor was a 8080 they would have said the same thing.
It is all just marketing.
Dwight
1:30 p.m.
That's odd ... I remember the i960 being touted
as the cat's meow for laser
printers and other highly demanding and high-speed embedded applications. I
Nothing odd about it. That was *after* they failed to establish it as a
high-end CPU.
They did end up snagging many embedded design wins.
22 Apr
22 Apr
3:51 a.m.
Hi Dick,
That's odd ... I remember the i960 being touted
as the cat's meow
for laser printers and other highly demanding and high-speed embedded
applications....
Yep, it was originally intended as a processor for high-end workstations
etc.
However, certainly by 1992 they'd repositioned it in the embedded controller
arena - it appears in the 1992 edition of their "embedded controller &
microprocessor" handbooks.
....I was never interested enough to investigate
without a contract,
however,
since I am not an Intel enthusiast....
I actually worked with the thing for a couple of months in '92 (an embedded
application which was canned) and it wasn't a bad processor to work with at
all....which is saying something since I've either disliked or out and out
DESPISED every processor they've come up with since the 8080....
But then again, Intel did lose the plot when the 8080 team buggered off to
form Zilog.
TTFN - Pete.
--
Hardware & Software Engineer. Sound Engineer.
Collector of Arcade Machines, Games Consoles & Obsolete Computers (esp DEC)
peter.pachla(a)wintermute.org.uk | www.wintermute.org.uk
--
5:20 a.m.
New subject: OT: Old Pentium Motherboard data
Can anyone suggest a good URL for finding data on OLD Pentium Motherboard?
I've got this old FIC PA2002 mobo, the user guide for which seems to be
hiding. I've used this for so long in one place, I've no recollection of
what's what.
If anyone has the user guide or knows where I can find it, please share this
info with me.
thanx
Dick
6:38 a.m.
New subject: OT: Old Pentium Motherboard data
Go to FIC's website, they have the manuals and such there. www.fica.com
Richard Erlacher wrote:
Can anyone suggest a good URL for finding data on OLD
Pentium Motherboard?
I've got this old FIC PA2002 mobo, the user guide for which seems to be
hiding. I've used this for so long in one place, I've no recollection of
what's what.
If anyone has the user guide or knows where I can find it, please share this
info with me.
thanx
Dick
7:09 a.m.
New subject: OT: Old Pentium Motherboard data
What he says. The URL I gave appears to be from mitac, and might not be for
the same mb at all. *grumble* I wish MB manufacturers could agree not to
re-use each other's model numbers.
Go to FIC's website, they have the manuals and such there. www.fica.com
Richard Erlacher wrote:
--
Jim Strickland
jim(a)DIESPAMMERSCUMcalico.litterbox.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BeOS Powered!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Can anyone suggest a good URL for finding data on
OLD Pentium Motherboard?
I've got this old FIC PA2002 mobo, the user guide for which seems to be
hiding. I've used this for so long in one place, I've no recollection of
what's what.
If anyone has the user guide or knows where I can find it, please share this
info with me.
thanx
Dick
6:52 a.m.
New subject: OT: Old Pentium Motherboard data
Try this URL. http://www.mitacusa.com/tech_sup/pa2002.html
Can anyone suggest a good URL for finding data on OLD Pentium Motherboard?
I've got this old FIC PA2002 mobo, the user guide for which seems to be
hiding. I've used this for so long in one place, I've no recollection of
what's what.
If anyone has the user guide or knows where I can find it, please share this
info with me.
thanx
Dick
--
Jim Strickland
jim(a)DIESPAMMERSCUMcalico.litterbox.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BeOS Powered!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
10:35 a.m.
New subject: Old Pentium Motherboard data
Find the BIOS ID-code for this motherboard (when you boot it
is displayed somewhere on the bootscreen) and go to this site:
http://www.ping.be/bios/index.html?http://www.ping.be/bios/main.html
Here you may find the manufactorer and a current link to manuals
and bios updates.
With Award & AMI biosses you have a good chance of finding
something usefull. Phoenix sucks in this regard.
Sipke
----- Original Message -----
From: Richard Erlacher <edick(a)idcomm.com>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 22, 2000 7:20 PM
Subject: OT: Old Pentium Motherboard data
Can anyone suggest a good URL for finding data on OLD
Pentium Motherboard?
I've got this old FIC PA2002 mobo, the user guide for which seems to be
hiding. I've used this for so long in one place, I've no recollection of
what's what.
If anyone has the user guide or knows where I can find it, please share this
info with me.
thanx
Dick
11:09 a.m.
New subject: Old Pentium Motherboard data
Thanks to everybody for their prompt replies. I've got the data I need, and
a manual, which Will Jennings offered me will take care of the rest of the
info I'll need henceforth. Naturally my manual will turn up just as soon as
I receive the replacement, but so it goes.
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: Sipke de Wal <sipke(a)wxs.nl>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 22, 2000 4:35 PM
Subject: Re: Old Pentium Motherboard data
Find the BIOS ID-code for this motherboard (when you
boot it
is displayed somewhere on the bootscreen) and go to this site:
http://www.ping.be/bios/index.html?http://www.ping.be/bios/main.html
Here you may find the manufactorer and a current link to manuals
and bios updates.
With Award & AMI biosses you have a good chance of finding
something usefull. Phoenix sucks in this regard.
Sipke
----- Original Message -----
From: Richard Erlacher <edick(a)idcomm.com>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 22, 2000 7:20 PM
Subject: OT: Old Pentium Motherboard data
> Can anyone suggest a good URL for finding data on OLD Pentium
Motherboard?
> I've got this old FIC PA2002 mobo, the user
guide for which seems to be
> hiding. I've used this for so long in one place, I've no recollection
of
> what's what.
>
> If anyone has the user guide or knows where I can find it, please share
this
info with me.
thanx
Dick
10 Jul
10 Jul
1:17 a.m.
New subject: OT: Old Pentium Motherboard data
On Sat, 22 Apr 2000, Richard Erlacher wrote:
Can anyone suggest a good URL for finding data on OLD
Pentium Motherboard?
I've got this old FIC PA2002 mobo, the user guide for which seems to be
hiding. I've used this for so long in one place, I've no recollection of
what's what.
If anyone has the user guide or knows where I can find it, please share this
info with me.
thanx
Dick
I recall downloading the PA-2002 manual off the FIC website several
months ago. As far as I've been able to find, there is no central database of
motherboard info on the web. A company in Florida sells a CD subscription
(for like $800 or so.) but I can't recall the name just now.
The PA-2002 is, oh, what, 5 yrs. old now? What was that about a 10-year
rule?
j/k, of course.
jbdigriz
4:15 a.m.
New subject: OT: Old Pentium Motherboard data
Gee, that was a long time ago. I got the necessary data the same day that I
posted this plea. I've now got the manual physically taped to the inside of
the box where this board lives. You're right in that it was OT, but I don't
know a way to ask for information that someone might have on products in
this category without running the risk of violating the 10-year rule. I do
believe it was marked OT.
I was under the impression that this thing was 10-years old, however. It's
a really old and primitive board. I use it as a Netware server, and it
works fine. The previous motherboard was needed to replace one identical to
it that had stopped working for a friend of mine. It seemed easier to let
him have the other board since it would help with his confidence.
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: James B. DiGriz <jbdigriz(a)dragonsweb.org>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Monday, July 10, 2000 7:17 AM
Subject: Re: OT: Old Pentium Motherboard data
of
On Sat, 22 Apr 2000, Richard Erlacher wrote:
> Can anyone suggest a good URL for finding data on OLD Pentium
Motherboard?
> I've got this old FIC PA2002 mobo, the user
guide for which seems to be
> hiding. I've used this for so long in one place, I've no recollection
of
> what's what.
>
> If anyone has the user guide or knows where I can find it, please share
this
info with me.
thanx
Dick
I recall downloading the PA-2002 manual off the FIC website several
months ago. As far as I've been able to find, there is no central database motherboard info on the web. A company in Florida
sells a CD subscription
(for like $800 or so.) but I can't recall the name just now.
The PA-2002 is, oh, what, 5 yrs. old now? What was that about a 10-year
rule?
j/k, of course.
jbdigriz
8:08 a.m.
New subject: OT: Old Pentium Motherboard data
On Mon, 10 Jul 2000, Richard Erlacher wrote:
Gee, that was a long time ago. I got the necessary
data the same day that I
posted this plea. I've now got the manual physically taped to the inside of
the box where this board lives. You're right in that it was OT, but I don't
know a way to ask for information that someone might have on products in
this category without running the risk of violating the 10-year rule. I do
believe it was marked OT.
Wasn't griping. Just foolin' with you. That's why the "j/k".
I was under the impression that this thing was 10-years old, however. It's
a really old and primitive board. I use it as a Netware server, and it
works fine. The previous motherboard was needed to replace one identical to
it that had stopped working for a friend of mine. It seemed easier to let
him have the other board since it would help with his confidence.
'bout the same age as the PCChips M550 in the machine I'm typing this on,
and it was first sold in '95, I think. I'm running an MII-300 in it right
now. Works fine for what I need it to do, but of course it's totally
obsolete now. You have to do some real digging on Hsing Tech's .tw ftp
site (not the .com) to find just the bios. No manual, though. If it wasn't
reasonably well marked and similiar to the M558 and M559 boards for
which the manuals ARE available, I'd have been up the creek.
Somebody really does need to be archiving, not just linking, motherboard
techinfo. Hang the copyrights, too.
9:53 a.m.
New subject: OT: Old Pentium Motherboard data
My problem originally was that I didn't recognize it as being an FIC board.
Once I hit their site. to which I got a link via a guy in a newsgroup, it
was dirt simple pulling up the databook. A couple of days later Will
Jennings dropped by to go spelunking in my basement, and had the user manual
with him. I had already used the info from the web to set up to board for
use as a server on a small LAN. If I'd needed to squeeze the most
performance out of it, I might have had a problem, but it's using a 75 MHz
single-supply Pentium, which is easy to set up.
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: James B. DiGriz <jbdigriz(a)dragonsweb.org>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Monday, July 10, 2000 2:08 PM
Subject: Re: OT: Old Pentium Motherboard data
It's
On Mon, 10 Jul 2000, Richard Erlacher wrote:
> Gee, that was a long time ago. I got the necessary data the same day
that I
> posted this plea. I've now got the manual
physically taped to the
inside of
> the box where this board lives. You're right
in that it was OT, but I
don't
> know a way to ask for information that someone
might have on products in
> this category without running the risk of violating the 10-year rule. I
do
believe it was
marked OT.
Wasn't griping. Just foolin' with you. That's why the "j/k".
>
> I was under the impression that this thing was 10-years old, however.
> a really old and primitive board. I use it as a
Netware server, and it
> works fine. The previous motherboard was needed to replace one
identical to
> it that had stopped working for a friend of mine.
It seemed easier to
let
him have the
other board since it would help with his confidence.
'bout the same age as the PCChips M550 in the machine I'm typing this on,
and it was first sold in '95, I think. I'm running an MII-300 in it right
now. Works fine for what I need it to do, but of course it's totally
obsolete now. You have to do some real digging on Hsing Tech's .tw ftp
site (not the .com) to find just the bios. No manual, though. If it wasn't
reasonably well marked and similiar to the M558 and M559 boards for
which the manuals ARE available, I'd have been up the creek.
Somebody really does need to be archiving, not just linking, motherboard
techinfo. Hang the copyrights, too.
1:21 p.m.
New subject: OT: Old Pentium Motherboard data
Go to http://www.motherboards.org
James
"James B. DiGriz" wrote:
On Sat, 22 Apr 2000, Richard Erlacher wrote:
--
ICQ 2286850
Home Page http://home.texoma.net/~jrice
Classic Comp Page at http://home.texoma.net/~jrice/classiccomp.html
Robotics Page at http://home.texoma.net/~jrice/hobbies.html
All pages under construction!
Can anyone suggest a good URL for finding data on
OLD Pentium Motherboard?
I've got this old FIC PA2002 mobo, the user guide for which seems to be
hiding. I've used this for so long in one place, I've no recollection of
what's what.
If anyone has the user guide or knows where I can find it, please share this
info with me.
thanx
Dick
I recall downloading the PA-2002 manual off the FIC website several
months ago. As far as I've been able to find, there is no central database of
motherboard info on the web. A company in Florida sells a CD subscription
(for like $800 or so.) but I can't recall the name just now.
The PA-2002 is, oh, what, 5 yrs. old now? What was that about a 10-year
rule?
j/k, of course.
jbdigriz
1:23 a.m.
New subject: OT: Old Pentium Motherboard data
Whups. Just noticed the message I just replied to was from 3
mo. ago. Cobwebs in the old Pine INBOX. Beg pardon.
jbdigriz
4:17 a.m.
New subject: OT: Old Pentium Motherboard data
BTW, I did find several sites claiming to be motherboard data sites, but
they were each so full of gaps that I didn't even bookkmark them.
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: James B. DiGriz <jbdigriz(a)dragonsweb.org>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Monday, July 10, 2000 7:23 AM
Subject: Re: OT: Old Pentium Motherboard data
Whups. Just noticed the message I just replied to was from 3
mo. ago. Cobwebs in the old Pine INBOX. Beg pardon.
jbdigriz
22 Apr
22 Apr
5:22 a.m.
Maybe they were afraid it would collide in the marketplace with their
Pentium.
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: Peter Pachla <peter.pachla(a)wintermute.org.uk>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 22, 2000 9:51 AM
Subject: Re: Intel i960 evaluation board
Hi Dick,
controller
That's odd ... I remember the i960 being
touted as the cat's meow
for laser printers and other highly demanding and high-speed embedded
applications....
Yep, it was originally intended as a processor for high-end workstations
etc.
However, certainly by 1992 they'd repositioned it in the embedded arena - it appears in the 1992 edition of their
"embedded controller &
microprocessor" handbooks.
<snip>
8:18 a.m.
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8932
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20 comments
12 participants
participants (12)
-
allisonp＠world.std.com -
ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk -
edick＠idcomm.com -
elvey＠hal.com -
eric＠brouhaha.com -
jbdigriz＠dragonsweb.org -
jim＠calico.litterbox.com -
jrice＠texoma.net -
pbboy＠mindspring.com -
peter.pachla＠wintermute.org.uk -
richard＠idcomm.com -
sipke＠wxs.nl