Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!ames!ll-xn!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!tektronix!tekig5!wayneck
From: wayneck@tekig5.TEK.COM (Wayne Knapp)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Ideas for New Custom Chips
Message-ID: <2922@tekig5.TEK.COM>
Date: 27 Jun 88 19:23:26 GMT
References: <3128@polya.Stanford.EDU>
Organization: Tektronix Inc., Beaverton, Or.
Lines: 77

In article <3128@polya.Stanford.EDU>, rokicki@polya.Stanford.EDU (Tomas G. Rokicki) writes:
> In order for the Amiga to compete in the current marketplace, the
> machine should have at *least* the following features:
> 
Your wish list is nice but many not reasonable for $1000.  A few mods may
really help reduce the price and make it easier to build.

> 	* 4096 color registers, 16 million colors
How about 256 colors, with the current copper this would be very flexible and 
a big gain over the current 32 color limit. 

> 	* 2048x2048 resolution, non-interlaced, on a standard TV
This is simply crazy.  You are just asking too much no way are you going to
get this kind of resoultion on a startand TV.  You want 2048x2048x12 bit planes
-- that's 6 megs just for one frame buffer.  Even in a few years memory will
still problaby cost at least $50/meg (It is now closer to $200).  Plus this is
really high speed memory so I bet you are talking over $150/meg with vrams 
3 years from now.  What if you just went for full high definition TV instead.
In 3 years I bet a lot of people will have the new high definition TV's and
you could get a great display at say 1200x1100 (enough for overscan) x 8 bit
planes would be less than 1.5 megs per frame buffer.  Much cheaper and would
that less high speed hardware to support it too!

> 	* 12 blitters, one for each of 12 planes
> 	* 88000 CPU, w/ 68020 emulation as fast as the 68020
> 	* Matrix and clipping hardware built in
Instead of all that hardware put the money in to one solid CPU with cashe
memory and MMU support.  Let it run as fast as possible and build in a 
interface for adding support processors if needed.  A processor is more flexible
than blitters or matrix math hardware.  Things really needed for graphics are:

    1) High memory bus bandwidth - often moving things in and out of
       memory is the number one bottleneck.
    2) High ratio of memory size to frame buffer size.  The more memory
       you have the more great tricks you can pull.
    3) Very fast integer math, floating point is great but often fixed 
       point math is as fast on a CPU as floating point on a special hardware.
       Also this gives fast logical operations, very useful.
    4) A large basic word size.  I really think that 32 bits is minimum for
       a 1K x 1K display, if you plan on using fix point math.

Remember not all graphics are 3D and what you really want is a system that is
all around great not just good at some things.

> 	* 44Khz sampling rate, 16-bit DAC's on four channels
> 	* Each channel with AM, FM synthesis and enveloping
Yes I like your ideas here!  

> 	* 16M memory standard, expandable to 4G
Just too expensive.  Remember 16M will costs over $3000 today.  When the 
4 meg chips come out it will may drop to around $800 but no way will 16 megs
get under $100 for at least a few years.  I would say 4Megs stock with as
large of an address spaces as possible. 

> 	* Built-in ST506, SCSI, EDSI, fast HPIB interfaces
> 	* At least four serial ports, capable of 2Mbaud
> 	* Built-in Ethernet port
Come on, this isn't reasonable.  SCSI and a couple 422 serial ports would be
more than enough for most people at home.  Although there should be a means
of adding cards to get more I/O stuff.  Anyway who in ther right mind would
mess with HPIB without getting paid for it?

> 	* A price under $1000

I think that if someone could do the following for under $1000 in the next
couple of years I be shocked:

* fast 32 bit CPU with MMU and cashe interface.    
* expansion interface for additional CPU and floating point support
* 4 megs standard easily expanable up to 64 megs
* 1200 x 1100 x 8 bit planes with High definition TV output.  Large color choice
* great sound 16-bit DAC's at 44Khz with 4 channels.     
* SCSI and 422 serial ports standard others easy to add

That would be one amazing system for $1000, and would also be a great leap
forward.  

                      Wayne Knapp