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1993-10-22
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Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!medusa.hookup.net!news.kei.com!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!usc!math.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!sschecht
From: Schechter.1@osu.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware,comp.sys.mac.misc,comp.answers,news.answers,comp.sys.powerpc
Subject: Macintosh PowerPC FAQ
Followup-To: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Date: 22 Oct 1993 18:31:46 GMT
Organization: The Ohio State University
Lines: 552
Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.Edu
Message-ID: <2a98ui$leb@charm.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>
Reply-To: Schechter.1@osu.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: magnusug.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Summary: This posting contains a list of questions and (often speculative)
answers about PowerPC and its relation to the Macintosh.
Originator: sschecht@magnusug.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu comp.sys.mac.hardware:71260 comp.sys.mac.misc:53965 comp.answers:2385 news.answers:13839 comp.sys.powerpc:2160
Archive-name: macintosh/PowerPC-FAQ
Last-modified: 1993/10/22
Version: 1.2
Frequency: Posted once every two weeks.
Supersedes: <27gd2i$cts@charm.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>
Finger-FAQ at - "finger sschecht@magnusug.acs.ohio-state.edu"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Macintosh PowerPC Frequently Asked Questions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
VERSION/DISCLAIMER
FAQ Version 1.2 - reader beware. I do not guarentee or take any
responsibility for the validity of this document. Remember that much of
this information comes from corporate PR, and hence may hold very little
relation to the truth. Remember what your mother told you about guys like
me. etc.
The editor of this FAQ is not an employee of Apple, IBM, or Motorola,
but is simply an individual trying to make information easily available
over the Internet.
FOLLOW-UP INFO
Please contribute questions, corrections, and any additional information
relavent to this FAQ by emailing the author at `Schechter.1@osu.edu'.
PLEASE DO NOT ADD TO NET TRAFFIC BY POSTING THIS INFORMATION!
CREDIT WHERE DUE
Much of the information in this FAQ came from MacWeek magazine, Internet
posts, Motorola advertisements, Apple press releases, and individual
contributors. Other information was included that was "common knowledge" or
from the editors personal experience. Much of the information added since
the first version of this FAQ came via email from contributors listed in
the "acknowledgments" section at the end of this document.
PURPOSE
This FAQ was created in response to a request for a PowerPC FAQ in
comp.sys.mac.hardware. It may eventually be used as the FAQ for the
proposed comp.sys.mac.powerPC newsgroup.
ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES
10/9/93
Those with no access to internet news can read the FAQ using by using
the finger utility. Just finger "sschecht@magnusug.acs.ohio-state.edu."
I'm hoping OSU will soon give the FAQ its own address so that this feature
will be less confusing.
There have been a number of requests for me to start providing a FAQ
for comp.sys.powerPC. This FAQ was designed to eventually live in
comp.sys.mac.powerPC, the status of which I know nothing about (hint,
hint.) Until then, I've been providing quite a bit of chip specific
information. If this FAQ is to be broken into two pieces to handle general
chip information and Macintosh specific information, an additional FAQ
maintainer will be need. Please send your thoughts about this to me at
schechter.1@osu.edu. Any volunteers for the job of a comp.sys.powerPC faq
who would like to use the material in this FAQ for the job should also get
in touch.
**************************Table of Contents******************************
Introduction (Above)
Headers
Version/Disclaimer
Follow-up Info
Credit Where Do
Purpose
Administrative Notes
Table of Contents
(you are here)
The Chip
What makes a PowerPC microprocessor a PowerPC microprocessor?
Who is currently developing/manufacturing PowerPC microprocessors?
Who makes the PowerPC 601?
What other PowerPC microprocessors are planned for the future?
Operating Systems
What is PowerOpen?
What operating systems are being developed for the PowerPC and when will
they be available?
The First Machines
When can I get my first PowerPC computer?
Will the first Apple Power PC machines have AV (Audio Visual) capabilities,
like a built in DSP chip?
Can I upgrade my machine?
What bus will the PowerPC Macintosh use for expansion slots?
Programmers Questions
How should I program now to avoid PPC porting problems later?
With 64 bit addressing coming out with the PowerPC 620, should I start
programming 64 bit clean?
How do I do this?
Additional Literature
How can I reach Motorola for even more PowerPC info?
What information is available?
Acknowledgments
Contributors
******************************The Chip***********************************
-What makes a PowerPC microprocessor a PowerPC microprocessor?
A PowerPC microprocessor is a RISC microprocessor written to standards
formalized by an alliance between Apple, Motorola, and IBM. This standard
will allow multiple manufacturers to release their own versions of PowerPC
chips that will run the same source code. The PowerPC architecture was
based on IBM's POWER architecture, the foundation for IBM's RS/6000 line of
computers.
Note, the PowerPC 601 is really a processor for transition to PowerPC.
Maintaining POWER compatability in the architecture necessited some
differences. A few minor operations aren't supported. The PowerPC
specification calls for both instruction and data caches, yet the PPC 601
has a combined cache.
-Who is currently developing/manufacturing PowerPC chips?
Motorola and IBM are both in the process of developing PowerPC chips.
IBM started shipping PPC 601 chips in quantity in September 1993. Motorola
is working on the future versions of the chip.
-Who makes the PowerPC 601?
IBM does the actual manufacturing of the PowerPC 601. How much each
company contributed to the design of the chip is not clear. Motorola, which
markets the PPC 601, is concentrating its efforts on its ULSI (Ultra Large
Scale Integration) technology integral to future chip production. Hence, it
is no suprise that the PPC 603, 604, and 620 will be manufactured by
Motorola.
-What are the specs on the PowerPC 601?
The following are the speed benchmarks Motorola has released for a
PowerPC 601 running at 66 MHz vs. the Pentium. Note that Apple has
performed machine demonstrations using PowerPC chips running at speeds as
fast as 80 MHz.
Test PowerPC 601 @66 MHz Pentium @ 66 MHz
SPECint92 >60 64.5
SPECfp92 >80 56.9
Power (worst case) 8.5w 16w
Die Size (mm^2) 120 262
Note: IBM has released an 80 MHz PPC 601, but no test results are available.
Other PowerPC 601 Specifications
Cache Size 32k (both data and instructions on one cache)
Registers 32 general purpose (data/address)
Size - 32 bit
32 floating point (IEEE compliant)
Size - 64 bit
Number of Execution Units 3 (Integer, Floating Point, Branch Processor)
Data Bus Width 64 bits
Address Bus Width 32 bits
Virtual Address Capacity 52 bits
Memory Protection Yes
Cost $490 80mhz Quantity 25,000
$450 66mhz Quantity 1
$350 66mhz Quantity 25,000
$275 50mhz Quantity 25,000
Number of Transistors 2.8 million
-What other PowerPC microprocessors are planned for the future?
The PowerPC 603, the miser of the PowerPC line, first reached silicon in
October. It will be the lowest power consumer and all around smallest chip
of the PowerPC line, yet will rival the 601 in performance. Expect this
chip to
appear in portable computers, PDAs, and even cars. Expected to cost in the
$50 range, this microprocessor will bring high performance computing to a
new range of applications in devices which have yet to take full advantage
of computing technology.
Also due in mid 1994, the PowerPC 604 is slated to be the processor of
choice for high end desktop computing. Many expect it to replace the
PowerPC 601 much in the way the 68030 has replaced the 68000 in today's
Macintosh computers.
At the top of the line we'll see the PowerPC 620, which will handle deal
with data and addresses as 64 bit quantities. Motorola is claiming the 620
will run at 200 to 400 SPECmarks, serving as a high end workstation and
server. This processor probably will not be available until late 1994. A
32 bit emulation mode is anticipated so that it will be able to run
software that
isn't 64 bit clean.
***************************Operating Systems*****************************
-What is PowerOpen?
The PowerOpen Association defines and promotes the PowerOpen
Environment (POE). The POE is not an operating system, it is
a definition containing an API specification as well as an ABI
specification. The presence of the ABI specification in the POE
is a factor distinguishing PowerOpen from other open systems
(POSIX, XPG4, etc.) since it allows achieving platform independent
binary compatibility. Outside of the POE, binary compatibility
is typically limited to a particular hardware platform.
The POE is an open standard, derived from AIX and conforming to
industry open standards including POSIX, XPG4, Motif, etc.
The POE specification will be publicly available to anyone wishing
to produce either applications or hardware platforms. The PowerOpen
Association will provide the necessary conformance testing and POE
branding.
The key features of the POE follow:
* Based on the PowerPC architecture
* Hardware bus independence
* System implementations can range from laptops to supercomputers
* Requires a multi-user, multi-tasking operating system
* Networking support
* X windows extension
* Macintosh Application Services extension
* Motif
* Conformance tested and certified by an independent party
(PowerOpen Association)
The POE specification is targeted for availability in the
first quarter of 1994. The PowerOpen association will soon have
some of the information material available online.
What operating systems are being developed for the PowerPC and when will
they be available?
System 7 (Apple)
Apple plans to release its first PowerPC based Macintosh computers in
early 1994 with System 7 as its native operating system. A large portion of
the ROM and operating system code will be native, but since 68020 emulation
will be built in, rarely used Macintosh calls may be emulated. System 7 on
the PowerPC will run software native to both the 68000 series and the
PowerPC.
AUX (Apple)
Apple's next UNIX release is planned to be PowerOpen compliant.
AIX (IBM)
IBM's version of UNIX will be the native operating system on the first
PowerPCs.
OS/2 (IBM)
IBM's standard for its Intel based machines can be expected to be
running on PowerPC's sometime in 1994.
Pink (Taligent)
Taligent (The Child of Apple & IBM) plans to release its operating
system in 1995. This operating system will run software originally written
for a number of different operating environments.
Solaris (Sun)
Sun announced a version of its Solaris variant of the Unix operating
system in late March. A planned release date is not known.
Windows (Insignia & Microsoft)
Insignia licensed code from Microsoft so that they could bring
SoftWindows to the PowerPC. SoftWindows will run on top of System 7.
Emulation speed of SoftWindows is said to be approx. 486SX/33. FPU will not
be emulated.
Windows NT (Motorola?)
Microsoft recently licensed the code for Windows NT to Motorola. Whether
this code will be re-licensed to Apple or IBM has yet to be seen. Expect
some form of Windows NT in '94.
Also rumored...
NeXTSTEP (NeXT)
NetWare (Novell)
Unix System V (AT&T)
***************************The First Machines****************************
-When can I get my first Macintosh PowerPC computer?
Apple is currently planning to release its first PowerPC during the
first half of 1994.
According to MacWeek, the first PowerPC Macs will appear in Centris 610
box and have a price tag of less than $2,000 (whether this will include
monitor and keyboard is unspecified). MacWeek also states that March will
bring a "Centris-650-like sibling" sporting three NuBus slots.
Portable PowerPC 603 Macintosh's are expected in late 1994, early 1995.
-Will the first Apple PowerPC's have AV (Audio Visual) capabilities, like a
built in DSP?
PowerPC chips are fast enough so that they should be able to do Digital
Signal Processing (DSP) without an additional chip. Many expect later
PowerPC machines to have DSP chips to ensure that the CPU's full power can
be utilized for other work.
-Can I upgrade my machine?
The official Apple Macintosh upgrade path will include the following
machines:
Macintsoh IIvx
Macintsoh IIvi
Centris 610
Centris 650
Centris 660AV
Performa 600 series
Quadra 800
Quadra 840AV
Apple Workgroup Server 80
Apple Workgroup Server 95
In addition, Apple will be licensing chips and ROM's to third parties
(including DayStar Digital which will provide Quadra 900/950 upgrades) for
use in upgrade cards for other Macintosh models. Remember, however, that
these models often have a slow bus and slow memory. The result is that even
if a third party upgrade board is provided for, say, an SE/30, it will
still not run as fast as a new machine.
-What bus will the PowerPC Macintosh use for expansion slots?
The first few machines will probably use the same NuBus technology in
Apple's new AV machines. Later, Intel's PCI (Peripheral Component
Interconnect) bus standard will be used, as its speeds are far superior to
NuBus.
*************************Programmer's Questions**************************
-How should I program now to avoid PPC porting problems later?
1. Program in C or C++
(Although Pascal and other languages will eventually be released,
C and C++ will be the first languages available.)
2. Don't assume variable sizes will remain the same. An 'int' in
Think C is 16 bits, but PowerPC compilers will use 32 bits.
3. Make your code ANSI C compliant
4. Avoid programming in assembly language at all costs. If speed is an
issue, code in C first, and then conditionally compile 680x0 code
in as well.
5. If you have a great amount of assembly language code, and you want to
start preparing to port now, consider using Echo Logic's FlashPort.
For more information, contact Echo Logic at:
943 Holmdel Rd.
Holmdel, NJ 07733
Telephone - (908) 946-1100
Fax - (908) 946-9146
-With 64 bit addressing coming out with the PowerPC 620, should I start
programming 64 bit clean?
YES
-How do I do this?
This has yet to be made clear. The best advice would be to program in
clean C or C++, without making assumptions about pointer size.
************************Additional Literature****************************
-How can I reach Motorola for even more PowerPC info?
General Information:
1-800-845-MOTO
For Literature:
USA: Motorola Literature Distribution
P.O. Box 20912
Phoenix, AZ 85036
(phone 1-800-441-2447)
EUROPE: Motorola Ltd.
European Literature Centre
88 Tanners Drive
Blakelands
Milton Keynes, MK14 5BP, UK
JAPAN: Nippon Motorola Ltd.
4-32-1, Nishi-Gotanda
Shinagawa-ku
Tokyo 141 Japan
ASIA: Motorola Semiconductors H. K. Ltd.
Silicon Harbour Center
No. 2 Dai King Street
Tai Po Industrial Estate
Tai Po, N.T., Hong Kong
Motorola Semiconductor Products Sector Technical Responsiveness Center:
(800) 521-6274.
-What information is available?
From Motorola (information free except where a price is listed):
PowerPC Brochure (BR1135/D)
PowerPC 601 RISC Microprocessor, Technical Summary (MPC601/D)
PowerPC 601 Hardware Specification (MPC601EC/D)
PowerPC Software Overview (compilers, assemblers, simulators, loaders &
debuggers) (SDP/D)
PowerPC C Compiler Syste, Product Review (CCOMPSTM/D)
PowerPC Fortran compilation System, Product Review (FTRANCOMPSTM/D)
PowerPC Architectural Simulator, Product Review (PPCARCH32/D)
PowerPC 601 Programmer's Reference Guide (MPC601PRG/D)
PowerPC 601, User's Manual (MPC601UM/AD) -- $6.50
PowerPC Development Tools Catalog (MPCTOOLBK/AD) -- $4.50
Special thanks to Yoshio Turner (yoshio@cs.ucla.edu) who has provided all
the literature information that follows:
Motorola will release the first revisions of the following documents:
PowerPC 601 RISC Microprocessor Hardware Specifications (MPC601EC/D).
Contains pertinent physical characteristics of the 601.
Available Oct 18 1993
PowerPC 601 RISC Microprocessor User's Manual (MPC601UM/AD).
Defines the functionality of the PowerPC 601 RISC microprocessor for
use by software and hardware developers.
Available Nov 12 1993
Motorola will release the following new document:
PowerPC 603 RISC Microprocessor Technical Summary (MPC603/D). This
new document provides an overview of the MPC603 PowerPC microprocessor
and MPC603 implementation-specific features, such as power management.
Available Oct 18 1993
All three will be available from Motorola's Literature Distribution
Center.
---
Got this in the mail today from Morgan Kaufmann Publishers.
I'm sorry it's so commercial, but I suspect some of you will
find it useful:
"The IBM PowerPC Architecture: A New Family of RISC Processors
IBM
This book presents an overview of the current and forthcoming PowerPC
processor implementations in the PowerPC family of RISC microprocessors
from IBM and Motorola. The architecture design facilitates
high-performance through parallel instruction execution and is scalable
to take advantage of future technology gains. _The IBM PowerPC
Architecture_ if the official detailed technical description of the IBM
PwerPC architecture and its hardware conventions, making it an
essential reference for designers of hardware and system software and
application programmers developing products for the PowerPC family of
RISC microprocessors. It is the first book of its kind available
outside the Apple, IBM and Motorola PowerPC consortium. It is also a
valuable tool for conducting in-depth evaluations of the IBM powerPC
architecture and RISC technologies. The PowerPC family includes the
601,603, 604, and 620 processors for high-performance personal
computers, workstations, servers, mobile computers and supercomputers.
_The IBM PowerPC Architecture_ includes the base instruction set,
storage model and all related facilities available to application
programmers, the Time Base as seen by the application programmers, and
a full description of the system instructions.
Contents PowerPC User Instruction Set Architecture - introduction,
branch processor, fixed-point processor, floating-point processor;
PowerPC Virtual Environment Architecture - storage model, effect of
operand placement of performance, storage control instructions, time
base; PowerPC Operating Environmnet Architecture - intro, branch
processor, fixed-point processor, storage control , interrupts, timer
facilities; appendices
Dec 1993; approx 600 pages; cloth; ISBN 1-55860-316-6; $49.95
IBM Power and PowerPC: Architecture and Implementation
Shlomo Weiss (Tel Aviv Univ) and James E Smith (Cray Research)
Writtten from the perspective of developers and teachers of high
performance computing, this book provides a wealth of information about
IBM's important contributions to the development and evolution of RISC
technology. The RS/6000 and the PowerPC 601 implmementations serve as
in-depth case studies for hardware designers and developers, software
engineers, and performance analysts. Assuming only minimal hardware
background, the authors describe basic concepts such as pipelining,
caches, and superscalar processing, before proceeding to detailed
discussions of the POWER and PowerPC architectures and their
implementations. As a comprehensive overview of POWER and PowerPC
computers, it is an in-depth refrence for the practicing engineer. The
presentation of alternative design approaches and tradeoffs taken in
the design process, combined with comparisons to the DEC alpha
processor make this an ideal introduction for technical managers and
newcomers alike.
Contents: Modern computer design concepts; POWER architecture; RS/6000
implementation; pipelines, branches, and interrupts, cache memories;
POwerPC architecture; PowerPC 601 implementation; POwerPC: Support for
multiprocessing; System orgranziation; memory and input/output; powerpc
and alpha 21064: A Tale of Two RISCS.
Nov 1993; approx 600 pages; cloth; ISBN 1-55860-279-8; $54.95"
You can get these by calling (800) 745-7323 or
FAX (415) 578-0672.
*****************************Acknowledgments*****************************
This FAQ is the creation of its editor, Schechter.1@osu.edu (Stuart
Schechter), and the following contributors:
yoshio@CS.UCLA.EDU (Yoshio Turner), kelleyb@austin.ibm.com,
root@physix.mta.ca (Stewart Walker), Chris_Pruett@notes.seagate.com (Chris
Pruett), ddkilzer@iastate.edu (David D. Kilzer), dmorley@skate.rutgers.edu
(Darin S. Morley), dave@humanitas.ucsb.edu (David Bosso), amm@kodak.com
(Alan M. Mathiowetz), s.anagnostaras@um.cc.umich.edu (Stephan
Anagnostaras), kuo@rintintin.Colorado.EDU (Andy Y.A. Kuo),
elston@ACAVAX.LYNCHBURG.EDU (Zac Elston), zdenek@poa.poweropen.org, and
others.
Sorry if I've left anyone out!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is an exception to every rule| Stuart E. Schechter (Schechter.1@osu.edu)
and his name is... | Computer & Information Science Major
| OSU College of Engineering Honors Program
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=>Stuart | ENG Rep - CIS Undergrad Studies Committee
==============================================================================
"It is better to be a closet claustrophobic than a flaming pyromaniac."