TI MSP430
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From: Paul Carpenter on 9 Apr 2006 06:05 On 8 Apr, in article <1144543400.381853.139720(a)i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com> zwsdotcom(a)gmail.com "larwe" wrote: >Marc Ramsey wrote: > >> > MSP430 is a truly elegant architecture, there's no denying it. von >> >> Of course, the architecture is a simplified version of the TMS9900 CPU, >> which was derived from the TI 990 minicomputer, which was in turn a >> rip-off of the PDP-11 ISA, with slight changes (fewer addressing modes, > >LOL. You know, writing this most recent book is so amusing. I think I >could probably use 75% of it as responses in c.a.e. > >"Now, it's an obscure but well-recognized ritual amongst engineers and >computer scientists to gauge the architecture of any new device on the >basis of its similarity to the PDP-11(1). The strongest term of >approbation you can use for a CPU design is to say "It's just like a >PDP-11!". Exactly why this is universally regarded as a Good Thing is >not exactly clear, but in any case, this epithet is frequently applied >to the MSP430. (I've always felt that this is the same sort of >statement as saying "My 2007 Mercedes convertible is just like a 1965 >International Harvester Scout light truck. They both have pneumatic >tires and a removable roof!"). What I think these people probably >mean is that the MSP430 has a very nice orthogonal instruction set and >simple memory addressing scheme. That is my take as well, which is why I think a lot of people also liked 68xxx, 6809, H8 and a few others. >(1) - If I ever design a microprocessor, I am going to print a line >drawing of a complete PDP-11/20 front panel on the top of the package." At least you did not say 11/34 or 11/60! Says he who would prefer 11/05 or 11/10 front panel from memories of having a couple under his bench in cut down racks as test machines, linked to the departments 11/45 later 11/70 for code writing and download the code from. Had some nice inhouse steps then. Anyway 11/05 front panel might be easier to draw on a smaller chip :-^ -- Paul Carpenter | paul(a)pcserviceselectronics.co.uk <http://www.pcserviceselectronics.co.uk/> PC Services <http://www.gnuh8.org.uk/> GNU H8 & mailing list info <http://www.badweb.org.uk/> For those web sites you hate
From: larwe on 9 Apr 2006 07:28 Gary Reichlinger wrote: > >basis of its similarity to the PDP-11(1). > > Do you guys belong to AARP? Not yet, but the curmudgeonliness flux density is high in the engineering field, so it's forgivable that you would ask the question :)
From: larwe on 9 Apr 2006 07:46 Jim Granville wrote: > ... then it might be prudent to not mention that Atmel's price is 1/4 > that of an equivalent part. Someone is likely to get their wrist Doubt it. Atmel wants our business. TI is happy enough to have our business, but not actively seeking to grow it.
From: CBFalconer on 9 Apr 2006 07:47 larwe wrote: > Gary Reichlinger wrote: > >>>basis of its similarity to the PDP-11(1). >> >> Do you guys belong to AARP? > > Not yet, but the curmudgeonliness flux density is high in the > engineering field, so it's forgivable that you would ask the > question :) What we really need is a PDP-8 on a chip. -- "If you want to post a followup via groups.google.com, don't use the broken "Reply" link at the bottom of the article. Click on "show options" at the top of the article, then click on the "Reply" at the bottom of the article headers." - Keith Thompson More details at: <http://cfaj.freeshell.org/google/> Also see <http://www.safalra.com/special/googlegroupsreply/>
From: Jonathan Kirwan on 9 Apr 2006 10:17
On Sun, 09 Apr 2006 07:47:17 -0400, CBFalconer <cbfalconer(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >larwe wrote: >> Gary Reichlinger wrote: >> >>>>basis of its similarity to the PDP-11(1). >>> >>> Do you guys belong to AARP? >> >> Not yet, but the curmudgeonliness flux density is high in the >> engineering field, so it's forgivable that you would ask the >> question :) > >What we really need is a PDP-8 on a chip. Actually, Lewin appears to be working on something older. I think his ulterior motive, though, is to give those "curmudgeons" here something to go waste their time on so that his competition dwindles away and he's in a better position towards his goal of world domination. ;) Jon P.S. Although I worked on PDP-8s, recall the 14" drive patters, the DecTapes, and kicking an 8k drum memory to get it working again, I don't really like the instruction set that much today. Still have my pdp-8 manuals around, though. And the little nifty instruction card. |