Emulators of Classic Computers

From: Dwight K. Elvey <dwight.elvey_at_amd.com>
Date: Wed Jan 14 19:17:03 2004

>From: ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk
>
>> 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.

Oh come now, the 290X parts are not that complicated. The 2901 is just
an ALU. I don't think there is anything in this series, including
the 2916 that can't be easily implemented in todays technology. In fact,
I'm sure you can even buy off the shelf models for these. I've seen
things like 8051's and 6800's for those that need that fuction in
a fpga.
Dwight

>
>>
>> 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 - 19:17:03 GMT