[Coco] CoCo 3 68000/RAM board project

[Frank Swygert]

This makes the most sense James! While any software written for the enhanced machine will only run on it, running older software shouldn't be a problem. The dual processor machine would at a minimum need an enhanced version of Nitros-9 (or OS-9) just to be able to run at all -- zero backwards compatibility, even of the operating system. Even the DECB fans like myself realize that it's not conducive to easy backwards compatible enhancements, but Nitros is. And I realized a long time ago that OS-9 is where all the real activity is, especially for new stuff. Not much for DECB. If you just want DECB it's easy enough to keep an old CoCo running or use an emulator. 

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Date: Fri, 08 May 2009 13:24:25 -0400
From: jdaggett at gate.net

All are good ideas.

Considering that the GIME has limited video capabilities, enhancing the 
graphics ability of the GIME chip you eliminate the second 6809 to do 
graphics This can be done by building into the new GIME a graphics 
processor that takes commands and draws the polygon and line shapes 
within the configurable graphics window. 

I lean to more enhancing the graphics capability of the GIME chip over a 
dual processor 6809. Unless you have OS9 modified to handle dual 
processors, a coprocessor makes better since with enhanced graphics. Also 
consider this, a FPGA based system can be made to run considerably 
faster than the current Coco3. About ten times faster. 

-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
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