Archive-name: powerpc-faq Last-modified: 10-November-94 ====================================================================== == PowerPC FAQ 10 November 1994 ====================================================================== == The PowerPC FAQ is maintained by Derek Noonburg (derekn@ece.cmu.edu). Please send me any and all additions, corrections, clarfications, and suggestions. Changes since last version (10-October-94): - added: 2-3 - changed: 0-5, 0-6, 1-3, 1-5, 2-1, 2-2, 3-1, 3-2, 3-4, 3-5 - moved: ====================================================================== == Index ====================================================================== == [0] Introduction [0-1] Where can a current copy of this FAQ be obtained? [0-2] Can I convert this FAQ to a different format and/or redistribute it? [0-3] What newsgroups are appropriate for PowerPC discussions? [0-4] What other FAQs contain PowerPC information? [0-5] What other net sources (ftp, gopher, etc.) contain PowerPC information? [0-6] Bibliography: where can I get more information on the PowerPC? [0-7] Contributors. [1] Processor [1-1] What is a PowerPC? [1-2] How does PowerPC relate to POWER and POWER2? [1-3] What processors have been announced? What are their specs? When will they be available? How much will they cost? [1-4] What embedded controllers will be available? [1-5] How fast is a PowerPC? [1-6] Is there special hardware for emulating 68k or x86 processors? [1-7] What is the PowerPC 615? [2] Hardware [2-1] What PowerPC-based computers are/will be available? When will they be available? How much will they cost? [2-2] What is PReP and how can I get a copy? [2-3] What is the Common Hardware Reference Platform (CHRP)? [2-4] Can PowerPC 601-based computers be upgraded to, e.g., a 604 when they become available? [2-5] Where can I get the specifications for the PCI bus? [3] Software [3-1] What operating systems will run on PowerPC-based computers? When will they be available? [3-2] What is PowerOpen? [3-3] What is Taligent / Pink? [3-4] Will NeXTStep be ported to the PowerPC? [3-5] What is WorkplaceOS? Will OS/2 be available on PowerPC-based computers? [3-6] Can IBM-PC / Macintosh software be run on PowerPC-based computers? [4] Comparisons [4-1] Should I buy a PowerPC system rather than a Pentium or 68k system? [4-2] What will be the differences between the various PowerPC-based personal computers? [5] Misc [5-1] What's the deal with Ford and the PowerPC? [5-2] What's the deal with 3DO and the PowerPC? ====================================================================== == [0] Introduction ====================================================================== == [0-1] Where can a current copy of this FAQ be obtained? This FAQ is posted monthly on comp.sys.powerpc, comp.answers, and news.answers. It is also archived on the news.answers archives, available for anonymous ftp from rtfm.mit.edu as pub/usenet/news.answers/powerpc-faq. For other archive sites, see the "news.answers Introduction" post. An automatically generated HTML version of the FAQ is available on the WWW as: http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/ powerpc-faq/faq.html [0-2] Can I convert this FAQ to a different format and/or redistribute it? This FAQ may be redistributed as long as the following guidelines are met: (a) You notify me by email that you are redistributing the FAQ. (b) The attribution notice ("The PowerPC FAQ is maintained by ...") is left intact. (c) The instructions for obtaining current copies of the FAQ (question [0-1]) are left intact. (d) You use the latest version of the FAQ you can get. (e) Any modifications (other than formatting) that you make are clearly marked as such. If you convert the FAQ to a different format, please email me a copy. If it is impossible to email it, contact me for other arrangements. If you are redistributing the FAQ and would like to get an up-to-date copy each month via email, let me know, and I will add you to my mailing list. [0-3] What newsgroups are appropriate for PowerPC discussions? Comp.sys.powerpc is the primary newsgroup for PowerPC discussion. From the charter: "comp.sys.powerpc (unmoderated) will be a newsgroup which will provide a common forum to users and developers of products based on the PowerPC architecture." The comp.sys.mac.* groups are appropriate for discussions of PowerPC-based Macintoshes. [0-4] What other FAQs contain PowerPC information? The Macintosh PowerPC FAQ has been discontinued. [0-5] What other net sources (ftp, gopher, etc.) contain PowerPC information? This section uses uniform resource locators (URLs) to refer to net resources. For more information, see the World Wide Web (WWW) FAQ. In general, for a URL of the form: ftp://foo.bar.com/someDirectory/someFile you should anonymous ftp to foo.bar.com, cd into someDirectory, and get someFile. For a URL of the form: gopher://foo.bar.com/path you should gopher to foo.bar.com, and follow the path. URLs of the form: http://foo.bar.com/path indicate a hypertext document, which require a WWW viewer (such as Mosaic) to read. -- Apple gopher://info.hed.apple.com/ Press releases and product information. http://www.apple.com/ New WWW server -- still mostly empty. http://www.info.apple.com/ The Apple Support and Information Web. gopher://ocf.berkeley.edu/hh/gopherspace/Computer/Systems/ Macintosh/PowerMac_Products A list of companies and products supporting the Power Macintosh. (Maintained by Alan Coopersmith (alanc@ocf.berkeley.edu).) -- IBM http://www.ibm.com/ Press releases and product information (with lots of flashy graphics). gopher://gopher.ibmlink.ibm.com/ Press releases and the "IBM Announces" newsletter. gopher://top.gopher.ibm.com/ IBM's main gopher server. You can get to the ike.engr site from here by selecting "Other IBM Gopher Servers" and then "IBM Kiosk for Education". http://www.austin.ibm.com/ Technical and product information on the PowerPC and the RS/6000 line. gopher://ike.engr.washington.edu/ Press releases and product information. http://ibm.tc.cornell.edu/ The IBM POWER Parallel Systems WWW server. -- Taligent http://www.taligent.com/ Taligent's WWW server. Overview of company objectives, products, etc. -- Miscellaneous (mail server: library@poweropen.org) The PowerOpen Association's mail server. For information, send email with the word "help" in the body. (mail server: add@power.globalnews.com) http://power.globalnews.com/ PowerPC News is a Internet-based free magazine, publishing news for both users and developers of PowerPC systems. To subscribe, send email (no subject or body necessary). A table of contents will be sent to you for each issue; you can request specific articles via a mail server. Current and back issues are also available at the WWW site. (Genie) There are two PowerPC roundtables on GEnie: PowerPC (PPC) on page 1435 and PowerPC programmers' on page 1440. (CompuServe) There is a PowerPC forum on Compuserve. (America Online) There is a Power Macintosh Forum (part of the Mac Hardware Forum). (Fidonet) There is a PowerPC echo (Area: POWERPC) for discussions about "PowerPC hardware, software issues, availablity, RISC technology, developers, and more. Covers both PC and Mac versions." [0-6] Bibliography: where can I get more information on the PowerPC? -- Manuals, databooks, etc. Motorola publishes several brochures and manuals (free unless prices is specified): PowerPC Brochure (BR1135/D) PowerPC Software Overview (compilers, assemblers, simulators, loaders & debuggers) (SDP/D) PowerPC C Compiler System, Product Review (CCOMPSTM/D) PowerPC Fortran compilation System, Product Review (FTRANCOMPSTM/D) PowerPC Architectural Simulator, Product Review (PPCARCH32/D) PowerPC Microprocessor Family: The Programming Environments (MPCFPE/AD) -- $3.70 PowerPC 601 RISC Microprocessor Technical Summary (MPC601/D) PowerPC 601, User's Manual (MPC601UM/AD) -- $6.50 PowerPC 601 Hardware Specification (MPC601EC/D) PowerPC 601 Programmer's Reference Guide (MPC601PRG/D) (I've heard reports that this is no longer available.) PowerPC Development Tools Catalog (MPCTOOLBK/AD) -- $4.50 PowerPC 603 RISC Microprocessor Technical Summary (MPC603/D) PowerPC 603 RISC Microprocessor User's Manual (MPC603UM/AD) PowerPC 604 RISC Microprocessor Technical Summary (MPC604/D) All are available from Motorola's Literature Distribution Centers: USA: Motorola Literature Distribution P.O. Box 20912 Phoenix, AZ, 85036 1-800-441-2447 Europe: Motorola Ltd. European Literature Center 88 Tanners Drive Blakelands, Milton Keynes, MK14 5BP, England Japan: Nippon Motorola Ltd. 4-32-1, Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku Tokyo 141 Japan Asia-Pacific: Motorola Semiconductors H.K. Ltd. Silicon Harbour Center No. 2 Dai King Street Tai Po Industrial Estate Tai Po, N.T., Hong Kong PowerPC manuals and databooks are also available from IBM: 1-800-POWERPC A PowerMac-specific manual, from APDA: Programmer's Introduction to RISC and PowerPC (R0172LL/A) -- $150 -- Books { Most of this info has been culled from the net. I haven't } { actually read all of these books :-) If you've read one of them } { and are willing to write a very short review (5-6 lines), let me } { know. - Derek (derekn@ece.cmu.edu) } Jeff Duntemann and Ron Pronk, _Inside the PowerPC Revolution_; Coriolis Group Books; April 30, 1994; ISBN 1-883577-04-7. Steve Heath, _NEWNES Power PC Programming Pocket Book_; Butterworth-Heinemann; Nov. 1994; ISBN 0-7506-2111-7; $22.95. [Similar information to the 601 user's manual.] IBM, _IBM RISC System/6000 Technology_. [Describes the POWER architecture and the POWER-based RS/6000 workstations.] IBM, _PowerPC and POWER2: Technical Aspects of the New IBM Risc System/6000_; Apr., 1994; IBM book number SA23-2737-00. [Describes the PowerPC and POWER2 architectures and the workstations based on these processors, including I/O, graphics, and system software. (This was _RS/6000 Tech Vol. II_.) Available for around $40 from IBM: 1-800-879-2755. Selected papers from this book are available via the WWW at http://www.austin.ibm.com/tech.] IBM, _PowerPC Architecture_; Oct., 1993; IBM book number SR28-5124-00. [The official manual for the PowerPC architecture. Three parts: instruction set architecture, virtual environment architecture, and operating environment architecture.] IBM, _The PowerPC Architecture, A Specification for a New Family of RISC Processors_; Morgan Kaufmann Publishers; Aug. 1994; ISBN 1-55860-316-6; $49.95. ["This is the official technical description of the PowerPC architecture and its hardware conventions, developed jointly by IBM, Motorola, and Apple."] Dan Sydow, _Programming the Power PC_; M&T Books; Aug. 1994; ISBN 1-55851-400-7; $34.94. [Covers 601, 603, 604, as well as x86-to-PPC migration.] Shlomo Weiss and James E Smith, _IBM Power and PowerPC: Architecture and Implementation_; Morgan Kaufmann Publishers; May 1994; ISBN 1-55860-279-8; $54.95. ["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."] ???, _PowerPC Concepts, Architecture, and Design_; McGraw-Hill; 1994; ISBN 0-07-011192-8; $34.95. -- Papers, articles, etc. Michael S. Allen, Michael C. Becker, "Multiprocessing Aspects of the PowerPC 601 Microprocessor", Proc. COMPCON 1993, 117-126. Michael C. Becker et al., "The PowerPC 601 Microprocessor", IEEE Micro, Oct. 1993, 54-68. Brad Burgess et al., "The PowerPC 603 Micrporocessor: A High Performance, Low Power, Superscalar RISC Microprocessor", Proc. COMPCON 1994, 300-306. Linley Gwennap, "Prep Standardizes PowerPC Systems", Microprocessor Report, Dec. 27, 1993. Charles R. Moore, "The PowerPC 601 Microprocessor", Proc. COMPCON 1993, 109-116. E. Silha, G. Paap, "PowerPC: A Performance Architecture", Proc. COMPCON 1993, 104-108. Ryan, Thompson, "PowerPC 604 Weighs In", Byte, June, 1994. Michael Slater, "Motorola and IBM Unveil PowerPC 603", Microprocessor Report, Oct. 25, 1993. "The Making of the PowerPC" (special issue), CACM, June, 1994. [0-7] Contributors. The following people have contributed to this FAQ. (Please do not contact them with questions about the FAQ.) Alan Coopersmith (alanc@ocf.Berkeley.EDU) Stuart Schechter Robert Sprick (asrs@acad2.alaska.edu) Yoshio Turner (yoshio@CS.UCLA.EDU) ====================================================================== == [1] Processor ====================================================================== == [1-1] What is a PowerPC? A PowerPC is a microprocessor designed to meet a standard which was jointly designed by Motorola, IBM, and Apple. The PowerPC standard specifies a common instruction set architecture (ISA), allowing anyone to design and fabricate PowerPC processors, which will run the same code. The PowerPC architecture is based on the IBM POWER architecture, used in IBM's RS/6000 workstations. Currently IBM and Motorola are working on PowerPC chips. The PowerPC architecture specifies both 32-bit and 64-bit data paths. Early implementations will be 32-bit; future higher-performance implementations will be 64-bit. A PowerPC has 32 general purpose (integer) registers (32- or 64-bit) and 32 floating point (IEEE standard 64-bit) registers. NB: A PowerPC is not a computer, any more than an 80486 is a computer. úÿ (continued next message) ÿ@FROM :derekn@ece.cmu.edu ÿ@SUBJECT:PowerPC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ÿ@PACKOUT:11-11-94 úÿ(Continued from last message) [1-2] How does PowerPC relate to POWER and POWER2? As mentioned above, PowerPC is a direct descendant of POWER. POWER2 is also a descendant of POWER, developed by IBM for use in their workstations and other systems. POWER2 was released at roughly the same time as the first PowerPC chip. POWER2 is an eight-chip multi-chip module (MCM) (four of these chips are cache) and is substantially faster than PowerPC, as well as substantially more expensive. [1-3] What processors have been announced? What are their specs? When will they be available? PowerPC 601: The very first PowerPC. It was designed as bridge between the POWER architecture and the PowerPC architecture. For this reason, it incorporates the user-level POWER instructions which were eliminated from the PowerPC specification. PowerPC 601+: This is a 601, implemented in a 0.5u CMOS process. This effectively means that it runs faster and draws less power. PowerPC 603: A low-power processor, intended for portable applications, e.g., notebook computers. Performance is roughly comparable to the 601 (see below for benchmarks). PowerPC 604: A higher-performance processor, intended for high-end desktop systems. PowerPC 620: An even higher-performance processor, aimed at high-end systems and multiprocessors. The 620 is the first 64-bit PowerPC implementation. PowerPC 630: No details available on this chip yet. (Previously referred to as the POWER 3 architecture.) The 601 is manufactured by IBM and sold by both IBM and Motorola. The 603 is manufactured by both IBM and Motorola. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Processor Clk(MHz) Power(W) Price(US$) --------- -------- -------- ---------- MPC601 50 5.6 165 66 7 165 80 8 249 MPC601+ 100 4 399 110 ? ? MPC603 66 2.5 165 80 3 195 MPC604 100 13 549 MPC620 133 30 Data Bus Func units Si Ship Proc width width (I/FP/BP/LS) Cache Trans Process date date ------- ----- ----- ------------ ----- ----- ---------- ------ ------- MPC601 32 64 1/1/1/0 32 2.8 0.6u CMOS Oct92 Apr 93 MPC601+ 32 64 1/1/1/0 32 2.8 0.5u CMOS 2Q 94 Nov 94 MPC603 32 32/64 1/1/1/1 8/8 1.6 0.5u CMOS Oct93 Nov 94 MPC604 32 64 3/1/1/1 16/16 3.6 0.5u CMOS Apr94 Dec 94 MPC620 64 64/128 3/1/1/1 32/32 7 0.5u CMOS Oct94 2H 95 Notes: * Data width: width of the general purpose (integer/address) registers and integer ALU(s), in bits * Bus width: external memory data bus width, in bits -- the memory bus can be, and often is, wider than the internal data path * Functional units: I = integer unit FP = floating point unit BP = branch processing unit LS = load/store unit * Cache: On-chip cache in kilobytes - two numbers means instruction/data; one number means unified * Price: in US dollars, for large quantities * Trans: number of transistors, in millions * Si date: first silicon date ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [1-4] What embedded controllers will be available? IBM has announced the PowerPC 4xx embedded controller family. These will be available as general purpose microcontrollers, application- specific processors, and ASIC cores. The 4xx family will integrate caches and other system-level logic to facilitate simpler and cheaper designs. Performance or cost information is not yet available. One chip, the PPC 403GA, has been announced. Motorola has announced the RMCU500 family of microcontrollers. These microprocessors will be "100% compatible" with the MPC600 series. The first chip in this family, the RMCU505, will run at 25 MHz. Samples of the 25 MHz chip are expected in 4Q 1994, with 40 MHz parts expected by 4Q 1995. The RMCU505 consists of a PowerPC core, a 4 kB SRAM module, and a multi-functional system integration unit (SIU) (similar to the 68300 family). [1-5] How fast is a PowerPC? This table lists SPEC results for PowerPC machines, as well as a few others, for comparison purposes. (SPEC is a benchmark suite designed to test system performance. The SPECint portion uses integer-only code, e.g., compilers; the SPECfp program uses floating point code, e.g., circuit simulation.) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - -- SPEC92 -- Processor Clock Cache int fp System ------------ ------- ------------ ----- ----- -------------------- - MPC601 50 MHz 0/32k 41.7 51.0 IBM RS/6000 N40 66 MHz 0/32k 62.6 72.2 IBM RS/6000 250 66 MHz 0/32k 63.7 67.8 IBM RS/6000 40P 66 MHz 256k/32k 75.1 77.0 IBM RS/6000 40P 80 MHz 0/32k 78.8 90.4 IBM RS/6000 250 80 Mhz 0.5M/32k 88.1 98.7 IBM RS/6000 41T & 41W 80 Mhz 1M/32k 90.5 100.8 IBM RS/6000 C10 MPC601+ 100 MHz ?/32k 105 125 ? estimate MPC603 66 MHz 1M/8k/8k 60 70 Motorola estimate 80 MHz 1M/8k/8k 75 85 Motorola estimate MPC604 100 MHz ?/16k/16k 160 165 Motorola estimate MPC620 133 MHz ?/32k/32k 225 300 estimate i486DX2 66 MHz 256k/8k 32.2 16.0 Compaq Deskpro i486DX4 100 MHz 256k/16k 51.4 26.6 Micronics M4P PCI Pentium 66 MHz 256k/8k/8k 65.1 63.6 Compaq Systempro/XL Pentium 90 MHz 512k/8k/8k 90.1 72.7 Intel XPRESS Pentium 100 MHz 512k/8k/8k 100.0 80.6 Intel XPRESS 68040 33 MHz ? 18 13 Mac Q950 { I'd like to list one or two more 040-based Macs here -- If anyone } { has Mac SPEC data, please let me know. } Notes: * SPEC does not allow estimated figures. The lines which are marked "estimate" are not officially SPEC numbers, and are likely to be proven inaccurate when real machines are released. * Cache numbers are in kB or MB: format is external/instruction/data or external/unified. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - More information on the SPEC benchmark, including numbers for other systems, is available in the newsgroup comp.benchmarks. [1-6] Is there special hardware for emulating 68k or x86 processors? All currently announced emulators are purely software. The PowerPC architecture has a group of byte-reversing load and store instructions which might be useful for emulating little-endian x86 processors on a big-endian PowerPC system (such as an RS/6000 or a Power Macintosh). There are no PowerPC processors with additional special hardware for translating instructions from other processor families (but see the next question). In addition, because software emulation has been reasonably successful, it seems very unlikely that there will ever be hardware of this type. [1-7] What is the PowerPC 615? The 615 was originally rumored to be a PowerPC processor, being designed by IBM, which would contain special x86 processor emulation hardware. IBM has denied that this project exists, and it seems unlikely, given the work being put into software emulators. The latest version of the rumor suggests that the 615 is being designed to fit into Intel OverDrive slots. This means that it could be dropped into an x86 motherboard, turning it into a PowerPC system. It will, however, be a standard PowerPC processor, i.e., there will not be any special emulation hardware. ====================================================================== == [2] Hardware ====================================================================== == [2-1] What PowerPC-based computers are/will be available? When will they be available? How much will they cost? -- Workstations IBM offers a line of RS/6000 workstations and servers, based on PowerPC processors. These all run AIX (IBM's UNIX), and are binary compatible with all other RS/6000s, including POWER-based systems. SPEC benchmark figures for some of these are listed in the table above. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - model proc clk L2 RAM price date notes --------------- ------- --- ---- ------- ----- ------- --------- - - Desktop 250 601 66 - 16-256 5445 Oct 93 obsolete 250 601 80 - 16-256 ? Aug 94 41W/T 601 80 0.5 16-256 10895 Jun 94 40P 601 66 0.25 16-192 3995 Oct 94 - Notebook N40 601 50 - 16-64 11995 Mar 94 - Server C10 601 80 1.0 16-256 12800 Jun 94 G30 2-4 601 75 0.5 32-512 40900 Oct 94 J30 2-4 601 75 1.0 64-2048 70500 Oct 94 R30 2-4 601 75 1.0 64-2048 83900 Oct 94 Notes: * proc: number and type of processors * clk: clock speed (MHz) * L2: second-level cache (MB) * RAM: memory configuration (MB) * price: base price in US dollars * date: ship date ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - Groupe Bull has announced three 66 Mhz 601 workstations, running BOS/X (an AIX-compatible UNIX) Prices start at $5445. Motorola has announced its PowerStack line of workstations and servers. These are based on the PCI bus and run AIX. The 601-based systems are built by Bull for Motorola; the others are built by Motorola. Apparently, Motorola Computer Group is selling motherboards only to OEMs, not to individuals. Contact Motorola at 1-800-759-1107 for info on these systems. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - model proc clk L2 RAM price date notes --------------- ------- --- ---- ------- ----- ------- --------- - - Desktop DT603-66 603 66 ? ? 3295 Oct 94 - Server E603-66P 603 66 ? ? 5995 Oct 94 E604-100P 601 100 ? ? 7995 Oct 94 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - -- Personal computers: IBM / PReP IBM has announced a line of Power Personal Systems (PPS). Three models have been demonstrated: a desktop system (601, PCI and ISA slots), a small footprint desktop system (603, PCMCIA slots), and a laptop system (603). OS/2, Personal AIX, and Windows NT are exepcted to be available when these machines are released. They will also run Solaris and Taligent when available. The originally announced release date for the PPSs was the second half of 1994, but in September, 1994, IBM announced that they were waiting for more native software to be ready, and the systems wouldn't ship until sometime (various rumors say February or first half) in 1995. No prices have been announced, but IBM has said that they will be comparable to Pentium systems. Machines are available to developers through the IBM Power Personal Developer's Toolbox Program (call 1-800 627-8363, Ext. 25). The Taiwan New PC Consortium (TNPC) demonstrated a 601-based PReP-compliant personal computer, running OS/2 and Windows NT, at CeBIT in Germany (March 1994). Planned models will feature 50-80 MHz 601's and 75 MHz 603's. The expected release date for the first models was 3Q 1994, but this seems to have slipped. -- Personal computers: Apple The first Apple Power Macintosh models were released on March 14, 1994. All PowerMacs run System 7, just like the 68k Macs. They come with an emulator which will allow them to run 68k Mac applications. Critical parts of the Toolbox ROM code have been ported and run natively; the remainder is emulated. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - model proc clk L2 RAM price date notes --------------- ------- --- ---- ------- ----- ------- --------- - 6100/60 601 60 opt 8-72 1800 Mar 94 1 NB slot 7100/66 601 66 opt 8-136 2900 Mar 94 3 NB slot 8100/80 601 80 0.25 8-264 4200 Mar 94 3 NB slot 8100/110 601+ 110 ? 16-? 6400 Nov 94 ? Performa 61xxCD 601 60 ? 8-? 2600 Oct 94 Notes: * NB slot = NuBus slot ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - Configurations are available with different RAM and hard disk sizes. Some configurations are bundled with a CD ROM drive and/or SoftWindows and/or various other software. Server configurations, called the 6150, 8150, and 9150, are also available. These currently run AppleShare 4.0.1. They will be able to run Novell's Processor Independent NetWare (PIN) 4 when it becomes available. Three types of upgrade from 68k Macs to the 601 are available from Apple: a replacement logic board at 60, 66, or 80 MHz (prices range from approximately $1500 to $2000); a PDS board at double the clock speed of the original 68040 (for around $600); and a daughterboard which replaces the 68040 in low-end Macs with a double-speed (50 or 66 Mhz) 601 ($659). DayStar also offers various upgrade options. Portable Power Macs are expected in early 1995. -- Personal computers: other Canon has announced that it will work with IBM on the PReP specification. In particular, they plan to work on extensions to PReP for PDA's and office products. -- Controllers Cetia (a subsidiary of Thomson-CSF) is selling VME single board computers using 50-66 MHz 601's. Available OS's are UNI/XT (AIX) and UNI/RT5 (LynxOS). The 50 MHz version sells for around $13000. The Motorola Computer Group is planning to release a family of VME boards sometime in 1994. -- Supercomputers / parallel processors Parsytec has announced that it will be combining PowerPC processors and Transputer communication processors in its multiprocessor systems. These include: - the MPP supercomputer series GC/PowerPlus (32-1024 601's, 2.5-80 GFLOPS) - the desktop MPP series PowerXplorer (4-64 601's, 5 GFLOPS peak, under $70,000 per GFLOPS) - the modular real-time product series MC-3 For more information, contact Carsten Rietbrock Parsytec GmbH Product Marketing Juelicherstrasse 338 52070 Aachen GERMANY Tel.: +49-241-166000; Fax: +49-241-16600-50 ISG Technologies has announced a line of parallel processor-based accelerators. The entry-level Pulsus uses 8 601's (clock speed unspecified). The expected ship date is 4Q 1994. -- Other systems 3DO has announced that its second generation game machine will use a PowerPC processor. See "What's the deal with 3DO and the PowerPC?", below. [2-2] What is PReP and how can I get a copy? The PowerPC Reference Platform (PReP) is a system standard, designed by IBM, intended to ensure compatibility among PowerPC-based systems built by different companies. The PReP standard specifies the PCI bus, but will also support ISA, MicroChannel, and PCMCIA. According to IBM, PReP-compliant systems will be able to run WorkplaceOS, AIX, Solaris, Taligent, and Windows NT. IBM systems will (of course) be PReP-compliant. Apple's first PowerPC Macs are not compliant, but future Macs may be. Version 1.1 of the PReP spec is available. To obtain a copy of PReP specification (freely available to all requesters), contact: John Terwilliger FAX: 512-838-8857 email: johntt@ausvm6.vnet.ibm.com Include the following information: Name Company, Division (if appropriate) Address Telephone number Fax number Internet address, if any Type of business Alternate contact Alternate telephone number Reason for request Indicate you learned about this method via the comp.sys.powerpc newsgroup The PReP spec is also available on CompuServe (PowerPC forum, PReP section) or by anonymous ftp (eight compressed PostScript files) in ftp://ftp.austin.ibm.com/pub/technology/spec. [2-3] What is the Common Hardware Reference Platform (CHRP)? The CHRP is an open platform agreed on by Apple, IBM, and Motorola. All CHRP systems will be able to run MacOS, OS/2-PPC, Windows NT, AIX, and possibly others. CHRP machines will be compatible with PReP machines and PowerMacs -- applications for PReP OS's (OS/2-PPC, AIX, Windows NT) and the PowerMac (MacOS) will run (if you have the right OS) on CHRP machines. More technical information will be available in early 1995. Prototype systems are supposed to arrive in 1995, and the first real machines in 1996. [2-3] Can PowerPC 601-based computers be upgraded to, e.g., a 604 when they become available? The currently available 601-based systems (IBM RS/6000-250, Apple PowerMac) are apparently not upgradeable. According to rumors, the the processors in some future PowerMacs may be on a replacable daughterboard. Of course, motherboard upgrades will likely be available for many of these machines. IBM Power Personal Systems will have a 200-pin slot on the motherboard, úÿ (continued next message) ÿ@FROM :derekn@ece.cmu.edu ÿ@SUBJECT:PowerPC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ÿ@PACKOUT:11-11-94 úÿ(Continued from last message) apparently intended for a level-2 cache or a processor upgrade. [2-4] Where can I get the specifications for the PCI bus? The following documents: PCI Spec Rev 2.0 PCI BIOS Spec Rev 2.0 PCI Sys Design Guide 1.0 PCI Local Bus Product Guide are available for $25 each or $50 for the first three from: PCI Special Interest Group M/S HF3-15A 5200 N.E. Elam Young Parkway Hillsboro, Oregon 97124-6497 Phone: 800-433-5177 FAX: 503-693-0920 ====================================================================== == [3] Software ====================================================================== == [3-1] What operating systems will run on PowerPC-based computers? When will they be available? -- UNIX Several flavors of UNIX have been (or will be) ported to the PowerPC. IBM's AIX has been available since October 1993. AIX 4.1, available in August, 1994 is PowerOpen-compliant. There will also be a version called Personal AIX, which will come without certain utilities and development tools, for IBM's PC's. Apple may or may not ship A/UX for the PowerPC. Linux is currently being ported to the PowerMac. Note that this will *not* be binary compatible with Intel x86 Linux. In October 1994, the students doing the port announced that there would be a delay in the porting effort due to lack of time, and trouble getting I/O specs from Apple. IBM and SunSoft have signed an agreement which says that SunSoft will port Solaris for PReP-compliant systems and IBM will distribute it. A beta release was demonstrated at the Sydney Solaris Forum in August 1994. The PowerPC version of Solaris will have the same API as the SPARC and x86 versions; most applications will run on the PowerPC with only a recompile. SunSoft expects to release Solaris for PowerPC, x86, and SPARC platforms before mid-1995. Ports of NeXTStep and Novell UnixWare are rumored to be underway. -- System 7 Power Macintoshes ship with System 7, just like 68k Macs. Critical parts of the Toolbox (system code in ROM) has been ported to the PowerPC; the remainder is emulated. Apple analyzed existing code to determine the most frequently used Toolbox routines, and ported those first. Presumably, all of the code will eventually be native. Apple has begun licensing its Toolbox to other computer manufacturers. This will be available as MAS and MAE (see the section on emulators below). -- Windows Windows NT has been ported to the PowerPC. The expected release date is 1Q 1995. -- Workplace and OS/2 (See "What is WorkplaceOS?" below.) -- Others Taligent (see "What is Taligent" below). LynxOS is a real-time UNIX-like operating system, which has been ported to Cetia's VME boards and IBM's forthcoming PReP systems. Contact Lynx Real Time Systems at 408-354-7770. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - name company base OS GUI endian avail ------------- ----------- --------------- ------- ------ ------ AIX 3.x IBM UNIX SysVR3 X+Motif big Oct 93 A/UX Apple UNIX SysVR2 X? ? ? NeXTStep NeXT Mach2 + BSD4.3 DPS ? ? Solaris 2.x SunSoft SysVR4 X+Motif little mid 95 System 7 Apple custom custom big Mar 94 Windows NT Microsoft custom custom little 1Q 95 OS/2 - PPC IBM Mach3 + custom custom little 95 Taligent Taligent custom custom? ? 95 UnixWare Novell SysVR4 X+Motif ? ? Linux Gnu Pub Lic ? ? ? ? LynxOS Lynx ? ? ? ? ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - [3-2] What is PowerOpen? The PowerOpen Association defines and promotes the PowerOpen Environment (POE). The POE is a standard for UNIX-like operating systems running on PowerPC processors. The POE is not an operating system, it is a definition containing an application program interface (API) specification as well as an application binary interface (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 achievement of platform independent binary compatibility. Any POE-compliant operating system will be able to run all POE software. 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 has some information available online, including membership information; for retrieval instructions, send mail containing the word "help" to: library@poweropen.org NB: PowerOpen is not itself an operating system -- it is only a *standard* for operating systems. The PowerOpen Association consists of IBM, Motorola, Apple, Bull, Thomson-CSF, Harris, TadPole Technology, and others. The PowerOpen specification applies to UNIX-like operating systems. AIX 4.1, available in August, 1994 is PowerOpen-compliant. Apple's System 7 will not be PowerOpen-compliant. For more information contact Gordon Kass (g.kass@poweropen.org) or Chris Adams (c.adams@poweropen.org). [3-3] What is Taligent / Pink? Taligent is a company founded jointly by Apple and IBM in March 1992. HP announced in January, 1994 that it would buy a 15% stake in Taligent. They are working on an "object-oriented operating system", due to be finished sometime in 1995. The first software due to be released by taligent is the Taligent Application Environment (TalAE). TalAE is "a portable application system consisting of a comprehensive set of reusable object-oriented software frameworks". According to reports, TalAE will be available for HP-UX, AIX, OS/2, and later versions of System 7. Pink is an older name for Taligent, dating back to work that Apple did before the formation of Taligent. [3-4] Will NeXTStep be ported to the PowerPC? NeXTStep has been ported to the RS/6000 (POWER architecture), but is not commercially available. According to rumors, NeXTStep has been seen running on PowerPC machines. No official announcement has been made by NeXT as to availability. Sun has announced that it will incorporate OpenStep, a version of NeXTStep, in Solaris. SunSoft has announced that they are porting Solaris for PReP-compliant systems, so OpenStep will presumably be available. The OpenStep API specification is available in ftp://ftp.next.com/pub/OpenStepSpec. [3-5] What is WorkplaceOS? Will OS/2 be available on PowerPC-based computers? Workplace is a microkernel-based architecture (based on Mach 3) developed by IBM. Workplace will be used as the foundation for several different operating systems. The first of these will be OS/2 for the PowerPC. (The development name for this system was WorkplaceOS or WPOS.) OS/2-PPC will be source code compatible with OS/2-x86 for 32-bit applications, i.e., 32-bit OS/2 applications will run natively after recompiling. 16-bit OS/2 applications will have to be ported to 32-bit before reompilation. OS/2-PPC will provide an emulator for MS-DOS and Windows code (see below), however it will not emulate OS/2-x86 code. The first alpha release of OS/2-PPC was sent to developers in Nov., 1994. The release version is expected some time in 1995. "If you're an IHV or OEM, and plan to support OS/2 For PowerPC, do we have a deal for you. You can fill out an application for the OS/2 For PowerPC beta program, and if you qualify, we will train you and send you your own free PowerPC loaner (for one year) preloaded with OS/2 For PowerPC. You can fill out an application at Comdex, or download it from the DUDE, at (407) 982-3217, N81. Stop by and see us at Comdex for more information on the IHV/OEM OS/2 For PowerPC loaner program. --Steve, OS/2 For PowerPC IHV/OEM Support, Boca Raton" [from CompuServe] [3-6] Can IBM-PC / Macintosh software be run on PowerPC-based computers? Several emulators have been announced. Generally, these are intended to run Macintosh or MS-DOS/Windows applications under the various native operating systems. -- Macintosh Macintosh Application Services (MAS), supported by Apple, allows PowerOpen-compliant OS's to run Mac applications. MAS includes a 68040 emulator and a PowerPC port of the Mac toolbox, so it will run both 68k and PowerPC Mac binaries. MAS has been demonstrated on IBM's PowerPC personal systems. Apple, in cooperation with Sun and HP, has released the Macintosh Application Environment (MAE). MAE allows Mac applications to run on Sun SPARCstations and HP 9000 series 700 workstations. MAE emulates a 68LC040, but critical parts of the Toolbox run natively. MAE is similar to MAS, but will only be able to run 68k binaries. More information, as well as a demo version for Solaris and HP-UX machines, is available in ftp://abs.apple.com/pub/abs/mae. Executor, produced by ARDI, is currently available for NeXTStep and NeXTStep/Intel, and will soon be available for MS-DOS, and Sun and Alpha workstations. Executor emulates a 68040-based monochrome Macintosh running System 6. Version 2.0 is supposed to offer 8-bit color and some System 7 features. ARDI uses reverse-engineered Toolbox code, i.e., it was written from scratch from the interface specs. For this reason, it it easily portable -- expect to see it ported to other platforms (including the PowerPC) in the near future. Power Macintoshes have the built-in capability to run 68k Mac software. The 68k application code will be emulated, but critical parts of the system code have been ported. The emulator emulates a 68LC040 without the FPU. -- MS-DOS/Windows Wabi, produced by Sun, runs under UNIX/X. It emulates x86 code, and translates Windows calls to X calls. IBM is working on an 80386 translator. Support has been announced for Solaris and AIX. Wabi is based on the public specs for the Windows ABI. (Wabi originally stood for "Windows Application Binary Interface" -- it's spelled "Wabi", not "WABI", for trademark reasons.) This has been demonstrated on IBM's PowerPC personal systems. SoftPC and SoftWindows, produced by Insignia, run under several OS's: Mac OS, Windows NT, NeXTStep, and various other UNIX flavors. It emulates 80286/80287 code and Windows calls. Insignia has licensed the Windows source code from Microsoft. SoftWindows 2.0, which will provide 486 emulation, is expected in early 1995. OS/2 for the PowerPC (which was also known as WorkplaceOS) will run MS-DOS and Windows code via the Instruction Set Translator (IST), an instruction-caching x86 emulator. OS/2-PPC will not directly run OS/2-x86 code. ====================================================================== == [4] Comparisons ====================================================================== == [4-1] Should I buy a PowerPC system rather than a Pentium or 68k system? Apple is committed to making their Power Macintoshes feel just like the 68k Macs, but faster. It looks like they will eventually switch the entire Mac line over to the PowerPC. If you plan to buy a new Mac, this is probably the way to go. A Pentium system will run existing x86 code faster than a 601 will emulate it. If you need to run x86 code as fast as possible, buy a Pentium box. On the other hand, many x86 applications will probably be ported to the PowerPC. The extent of this porting will likely determine the success of the PowerPC in the personal computer market. In terms of pure performance (whatever that is), it looks like there will be a fairly close race between the PowerPC family and the Intel x86 family. The Intel-HP agreement promises to make things even more interesting. Only the future will tell whose chips and whose systems will be the fastest. [4-2] What will be the differences between the various PowerPC-based personal computers? It looks like there will be two major types of PowerPC-based personal computers (note, this is not counting workstations): the Apple Macintosh line, and PReP-compliant machines. The basic hardware will not be fundamentally different -- the real difference will be in the supported operating systems for each class. It is still unclear whether Apple is going to produce Macs which will conform to the PReP standard, and whether the Mac OS will run on PReP machines. The potential exists for a standard which would allow any PowerPC-based machine to run any PowerPC operating system; whether this will happen remains to be seen. ====================================================================== == [5] Misc ====================================================================== == [5-1] What's the deal with Ford and the PowerPC? Ford and Motorola have signed an agreement resulting in a custom PowerPC to be used by Ford as a powertrain controller. Details on this chip are not available. [5-2] What's the deal with 3DO and the PowerPC? 3DO, the video game company, is working with Motorola and IBM to develop a custom PowerPC chip for their game machines. An upgrade board, including this new processor, will be avaiable some time in 1995. 3DO will get the first crack at the chip, but it will also be made available to other customers.