On 4/18/05, Dave Dunfield <dave04a at dunfield.com> wrote:
Hi Guys,
I was just contacted by a guy asking if I have any info on this
computer called "Jupiter J12":
http://www.geocities.com/australianvintcomp/Jupiter/Jupiter.html
I don't - anyone got any information I can pass on ?
That sure looks like Qbus fingers on those boards... it would be odd
to copy DEC's proportions and not their bus logic, but that's entirely
possible.
With a 68010 CPU, that screams "UNIX" to me (the differences between
the 68000 and 68010 make virtual memory implementation practical.
Besides that, the only reason to go with the more expensive processor
is "loop mode" (a one-instruction cache that makes DBcc loops faster
by eliminating the fetch cycle once the loop is started). The RGB
output also supports the possibility it's a UNIX workstation.
I don't know anything about the Jupiter, per se, but comparisons with
DEC boards of the era might be illuminating. Checking what bus pins
are used might be a useful exercise, to confirm if it's Qbus or not.
-ethan