Deskstation rPC44 - Revision history

Bsdimp: Minor commentary based on my experience with rPC44 in the 1990's.

2008-05-31T18:39:21Z

Minor commentary based on my experience with rPC44 in the 1990's.

Ralf: Add to ARC category.

2006-05-17T11:28:13Z

Add to ARC category.

Bsdimp: /* Linux Support */

2005-03-20T05:41:30Z

‎Linux Support

Alec v at 20:10, 29 November 2004

2004-11-29T20:10:28Z

Ralf: /* Linux Support */

2004-11-06T15:48:49Z

‎Linux Support

Ralf at 15:48, 6 November 2004

2004-11-06T15:48:13Z

New page

== General ==
The Deskstation rPC 44 is another [[ARC]] system. Based on the MIPS [[R4000|R4400]] processor and [[ARC]] firmware it was targetting the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Windows_NT Windows NT] market.

== Linux Support ==
For a short time rPC44 support was being worked on. It never reached any functional state.

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 The Deskstation Evolution Series rPC/44 is another [[ARC]] system.  Based on the MIPS [[R4000|R4400]] processor and [[ARC]] firmware it was targetting the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Windows_NT Windows NT] market.
-The DeskStation system looks like many PC clones because it is based on an AT motherboard. The basic difference is the additional logic required for the R4400 bus to communicate with the EISA bus. The memory bus is only 32 bits wide, while the CPU itself has a 64-bit-wide path; therefore 512K of secondary cache is used to enhance performance.
+The DeskStation system looks like many PC clones because it is based on an AT motherboard. The basic difference is the additional logic required for the R4000 bus to communicate with the EISA bus. The memory bus is only 32 bits wide, while the CPU itself has a 64-bit-wide path; therefore 512K of secondary cache is used to enhance performance.  However, the cache structure was implemented like on the PC-AT, so to the R4000PC there was no secondary cache.  The use of relatively slow cache memory, couple with the ill-matched PC-AT style memory architecture caused the 100MHz machine to feel more like a 486-DX33.
 == Linux Support ==
-For a short time rPC44 support was being worked on.  It worked for one person.  However, the perception was that it never reached any functional state. The rPC44 code has therefore been removed from Linux.
+For a short time rPC44 support was being worked on and it eventually worked for one person in 1996.  However, the perception was that it never reached any functional state, and any functional state that it had in Linux 1.1 was decayed. The rPC44 code has therefore been removed from Linux.  At this point, only one DeskStation rPC44 is known to have survived, so support likely will never be restored.
 == Offline Publications ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:28, 17 May 2006
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	== Offline Publications ==		== Offline Publications ==
−
	PC Magazine Dec 7, 1993 v12 n21 p39(1) DeskStation's MIPS-based system targets NT work. (DeskStation Evolution Series rPC/44 microcomputer)		PC Magazine Dec 7, 1993 v12 n21 p39(1) DeskStation's MIPS-based system targets NT work. (DeskStation Evolution Series rPC/44 microcomputer)
		+
		+	[[Category:ARC]]

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 == Linux Support ==
-For a short time rPC44 support was being worked on.  It never reached any functional state. The rPC44 code has therefore been removed from Linux.
+For a short time rPC44 support was being worked on.  It worked for one person.  However, the perception was that it never reached any functional state. The rPC44 code has therefore been removed from Linux.
 == Offline Publications ==
 PC Magazine  Dec 7, 1993 v12 n21 p39(1) DeskStation's MIPS-based system targets NT work. (DeskStation Evolution Series rPC/44 microcomputer)

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:48, 6 November 2004
Line 3:		Line 3:

	== Linux Support ==		== Linux Support ==
−	For a short time rPC44 support was being worked on. It never reached any functional state.	+	For a short time rPC44 support was being worked on. It never reached any functional state. The rPC44 code has therefore been removed from Linux.