The TI 34010 - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

6 Mar 1999

Hi,

----------
...
  From: Tony Duell &lt;ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk&gt;
 To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
&lt;classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu&gt;
...
  Subject: Re: The TI 34010
 Date: Saturday, March 06, 1999 3:48 PM

 >   There are two basic types of multi processor processing, SIMD (Single
 > Instruction, Multiple Data) and MIMD (Multiple Instruction, Multiple Data). 

I guess there are three: SIMD, MIMD & shared memory, MIMD distributed
memory. (UMA & NUMA)

...
  No, transputers are certainly MIMD.

 A transputer chip contains a complete CPU, possibly an FPU, a small 
 amount of RAM, and 4 high-speed serial links. You can actually ignore the 
...
  links if you want to, and use it as a simple CPU (I
can't think why you'd 
...
  _want_ to do this, but you can) 
We did it for a laser printer. The transputer was doing the
emulations,BitBlt,graphics, had the "big" memory & output shift register.
Got the program downloaded from a NEC V25, which controlled the centronics
& V24. Was very easy to develope, because:

1.) the transputer supported DRAM directly
2.) debugging was easy, because you could download the programs via link
3.) pin compatible versions with/without FPU (FPU was used only for
postscript)
4.) Lots of application notes & support from INMOS at this time.

Just my .0002 cents

cheers,
emanuel