High performance coprocessor boards of the 80s and 90s - was Re: SGI ONYX

[Guy Dawson]

I bought a 32016 Cambridge Coprocessor back in the day. It's in my loft.

On 25 April 2016 at 23:49, Jules Richardson <jules.richardson99 at gmail.com>
wrote:

> On 04/25/2016 10:02 AM, Liam Proven wrote:
>
>> I meant to develop this point slightly, and did in a blog post, here:
>>
>> http://liam-on-linux.livejournal.com/48593.html
>>
>> But in the meantime, it kept the 6502-based, resolutely-8-bit BBC
>> Micro line alive with updates and new models, including ROM-based
>> terminals and machines with a range of built-in coprocessors: faster
>> 6502-family chips for power users, Z80s for CP/M, Intel's 80186 for
>> kinda-sorta PC compatibility, the NatSemi 32016 with PANOS for
>> ill-defined scientific computing, and finally, an ARM copro before the
>> new ARM-based machines were ready.
>>
>
> I'm not sure if a user could go out and buy a 32016 copro, though. The
> only ones I've ever been aware of have come from educational institutions
> and I get the impression they were employed more for testing the market
> than anything.
>
> What I dismissed as one of the ROM-based terminals was the Acorn
>> Communicator, a single-box machine (i.e. main board in the keyboard,
>> like an Amiga 500 or original 520 ST.)
>>
>
> I had a couple of those, and I know one went to a museum, but I'm not
> entirely sure what I did with the other! I may still have it.
>
> cheers
>
> Jules
>
>


-- 
4.4 > 5.4