Emulators of Classic Computers

From: Tony Duell <ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
Date: Wed Jan 14 18:37:43 2004

> I am having problems getting enough information to make my Emulex
> SC70 masbus disk controller work. If I have to repair it, I'm will
> be in serious trouble. I doubt that I will be able to locate a
> schematic given that I am having so much difficulty locating just

If it uses standard chips (i.e. data sheets exist), then it can be
reverse-engineered!

> a manual. The SC70 uses a 16bit 290x bitslice processor, so after
> those parts are no longer available, even though it would trivially
> fit into a small FPGA of the time, and even if the logic levels are
> compatible, reprogramming an FPGA to do what the 290x does will not
> be a trivial task.

OK, the 290x chips are not simple, but data sheets exist, so it should be
possible to make an FPGA do the same thing.

>
> Just imagine trying to repair all of the proprietary components
> in a PC or even the CAD program dongle 50 years from now.

I knew there was a reason why I stuck to classic computers ;-)

-tony
Received on Wed Jan 14 2004 - 18:37:43 GMT