Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!steinmetz!csb8!oconnor
From: oconnor@csb8.steinmetz (Dennis M. O'Connor)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Suggestion for New Graphics Chips
Message-ID: <11415@steinmetz.ge.com>
Date: 29 Jun 88 14:44:10 GMT
References: <3150@crash.cts.com>
Sender: news@steinmetz.ge.com
Reply-To: oconnor%sungod@steinmetz.UUCP
Organization: GE Corporate R&D Center
Lines: 39

An article by cmcmanis@sun.UUCP (Chuck McManis) says:
] In article <3150@crash.cts.com> (Greg Beckham) writes:
] > I have a suggestion for the new graphics chip (really obese agnus?)... To
] >have a graphics mode with 256 colors on screen from a pallette of 4096.
] >Interlace or Non-Interlace. Nuff' Said.
] >             Greg Beckham
] 
] An excellent suggestion, except that 256 - 12 bit color registers is 
] roughly 25,000 transistors, which in a 3 micron technology is 225
] square mils and that may not fit into Denise any more.

(please read as if said with "incredulous surprise", not "flaming")

"3 micron" technology ? Are you kidding ? GE's semi-custom ASICs
are available in 1.25 micron.  Performance Semiconductor or
IDT ( Integrated Device Technologies ) are, I believe, offering
1 micron foundry services. Even MOSIS offers a "1.25 micron"
( really equivalent to 2 micron ) service.

Are the new Amiga chips really being done in a technology that's been
obsolete for at least three or four years ? I know Commodore has it's
own in-house fab lines it wants to use, but haven't they put any money
into improving their process lately ? 1.25 micron would allow 5 times
as many devices in the same area.

Smaller-dimensioned circuits are denser, cooler, and faster. I
can't tell you GE's yeilds, but its surprisingly high for
150,000 transistor chips ( that info is Company Confidential ).
And available to Commodore if they want to use it. I hope the
Amiga doesn't become a victim of the NIH syndrome.

Sorry if this seems like an add for GE Semiconductor : I didn't
mean it to be. But I can't see why the Amiga's new chips would
be limited by obsolete technology, when much better is available
to anyone who wants it. But of course, I have NO idea of the
factors involved in C-A's decision making, so this is NOT a flame.
--
 Dennis O'Connor   oconnor%sungod@steinmetz.UUCP  ARPA: OCONNORDM@ge-crd.arpa
    "Never confuse USENET with something that matters, like PIZZA."