OT: how big would it be?

From: Sipke de Wal <sipke_at_wxs.nl>
Date: Wed Oct 20 17:01:37 1999

Eric Smith wrote:
>
>
> If you didn't use a bit-slice, you'd have to use separate ALU, memory,
> and shifter chips, and you'd wind up with even more.
>
> The early microprocessor architectures were designed based on minimal
> transistor count for a single-chip implementation. This does not result
> in minimal chip count if you implement the equivalent in 7400-series
> chips. It is quite possible to design useful processors with a lot fewer
> TTL chips.

FYI-> The 7400 series ALU-chip (4bit) is the 74181

Another way to go would be to use EPLD or a programmable ASIC chip. I
have heard stories of a Pr-Asic 486-clone "program" being aviable. Does
anyone know anything about this.

I've also been thinking about "cloning" a kinda 32bit clone of the
famous
TMS 9900. This chip had it's registers in memory and if such a design
would incorporate cache memory the results would still be respectable.
Especially if it could be done with programmable-asic technology.

Sipke de Wal
Received on Wed Oct 20 1999 - 17:01:37 BST