PowerPC FAQ
17 December 1995
Changes since last version (24-September-95):
send usenet/news.answers/powerpc-faq
For other archive sites, see the "news.answers
Introduction" post.
[1-2] 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:
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. Please specify text, HTML, or both.
[1-3] 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."
There are now three new groups: comp.sys.powerpc.advocacy, comp.sys.powerpc.misc, and comp.sys.powerpc.tech.
The comp.sys.mac.* groups are appropriate for discussions of PowerPC-based Macintoshes.
[1-4] What other FAQs contain PowerPC
information?
The Macintosh PowerPC FAQ has been discontinued.
Robert Boys maintains two FAQs of interest to comp.sys.powerpc readers. The comp.sys.m68k FAQ contains some information on the PowerPC, including the PowerPC embedded controllers. It is posted to comp.sys.m68k, comp.answers, and news.answers, and is available via ftp and on the WWW. The comp.arch.bus.vmebus FAQ, posted to comp.arch.bus.vmebus, contains information on PowerPC-based VME cards.
The Linux/PowerPC FAQ is available via ftp and on the WWW.
[1-5] What other net sources (ftp, gopher, etc.)
contain PowerPC information?
Apple:
Apple clones, upgrades, and software:
IBM:
Motorola:
Other companies with PReP-compliant systems:
Taligent:
Other companies:
Miscellaneous:
add@power.globalnews.com (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.
[1-6] Bibliography: where can I get more information
on the PowerPC?
Manuals and databooks:
All are available from Motorola's Literature Distribution Centers:
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)
\item{Jeff Duntemann and Ron Pronk, Inside the PowerPC Revolution; Coriolis Group Books; April 30, 1994; ISBN 1-883577-04-7; $24.95. [Not a technical book for programmers. (Surprisingly, it has some detailed info about microprocessor fabrication and the PowerPC cache architecture, but doesn't discuss the instruction set or bus). Lots of interesting stuff about the major industry companies, strategies, alliances, and gossip. With the benefit of hindsight, we can laugh at the authors enthusiastic predictions for the IBM PowerPC products available Real Soon Now. -Hugh.Fisher@cs.anu.edu.au]
Papers, articles, etc.:
[1-7] Contributors.
The following people have contributed to this FAQ. (Please do not
contact them with questions about the FAQ.)
The PowerPC architecture specifies both 32-bit and 64-bit data paths. Early implementations will be 32-bit; future higher-performance implementations will be 64-bit. A PowerPC has 32 general purpose (integer) registers (32- or 64-bit) and 32 floating point (IEEE standard 64-bit) registers.
NB: A PowerPC is not a computer, any more than an 80486 is a computer.
[2-2] How does PowerPC relate to POWER and
POWER2?
As mentioned above, PowerPC is a direct descendant of POWER. POWER2 is
also a descendant of POWER, developed by IBM for use in their
workstations and other systems. POWER2 is an eight-chip multi-chip
module, and was released at approximately the same time as the first
PowerPC chip. While it is faster than the early PowerPC processors, it
is not as fast as the 620 is projected to be. It is likely that IBM will
combine the POWER family into the PowerPC family.
[2-3] What processors have been announced? What are
their specs? When will they be available?
The 601 is manufactured by IBM and sold by both IBM and Motorola. The 603 and 603e are manufactured by both IBM and Motorola.
Processor Clk(MHz) Power(W) Price(US$)
--------- -------- -------- ----------
MPC601 50 5.6 165
66 7 165
80 8 249
MPC601+ 100 4 399
110 ? ?
MPC602 66 1.2 ?
MPC603 66 2.5 165
80 3 195
MPC603e 100 3 207
120 ? 260
MPC604 100 14 549
120 ? ?
133 ? ?
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 Oct 92 Apr 93
MPC601+ 32 64 1/1/1/0 32 2.8 0.5u CMOS 2Q 94 Nov 94
MPC602 32 64 1/1/0/1 4/4 1.0 0.5u CMOS Feb 95 2H 95
MPC603 32 32/64 1/1/1/1 8/8 1.6 0.5u CMOS Oct 93 Nov 94
MPC603e 32 32/64 1/1/1/1 16/16 2.6 0.5u CMOS Feb 95 2H 95
MPC604 32 64 3/1/1/1 16/16 3.6 0.5u CMOS Apr 94 Dec 94
MPC620 64 64/128 3/1/1/1 32/32 7 0.5u CMOS Oct 94 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
[2-4] What processors have been announced by companies
other than IBM and Motorola?
Exponential Technology, Inc. has
announced a new line of PowerPC processors. They will be fabricated in
BiCMOS technology. This is apparently different from Intel's use of
BiCMOS -- Exponential is using bipolar logic and CMOS memory arrays.
Exponential's first processor to ship in early 1997.
[2-5] 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 and cost information is not yet available. One chip, the PPC
403GA, has been announced.
Motorola has announced the MPC500 family of microcontrollers. These microprocessors will be "100% compatible" with the MPC600 series. The first chip in this family, the MPC505, 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 MPC505 consists of a PowerPC core, a 4 kB SRAM module, and a multi-functional system integration unit (SIU) (similar to the 68300 family).
Motorola's PowerQUICC (Quad Integrated Communications Controller) family integrates a PowerPC core with a communications processor. These chips are aimed at telecommunications and networking applications. The first PowerQUICC chip, the MPC860, will come in 25 MHz and 40 MHz versions, and is expected to sample in 4Q1995 with volume shipping in 2Q1996.
The Motorola MPC821 is similar to the MPC860, but is targeted at PDAs and other portable devices. The MPC821 incorporates a PowerPC core, a communications processor module (CPM) for signal processing, a PCMCIA controller, and an LCD controller. It will be available in 25 MHz and 40 MHz versions, with sampling in October 1995 and production quantities in January 1996.
[2-6] 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
MPC602 66 MHz ?/4k/4k 40 ? Motorola/IBM estimate
MPC603 66 MHz 1M/8k/8k 60 70 Motorola estimate
80 MHz 1M/8k/8k 75 85 Motorola estimate
MPC603e 100 MHz ?/16k/16k 120 105 Motorola/IBM estimate
MPC604 100 MHz 256k/16k/16k 128.1 120.2 IBM RS/6000 43P
100 MHz 512k/16k/16k 140.8 129.1 IBM RS/6000 43P
120 MHz 512k/16k/16k 157.9 139.2 IBM RS/6000 43P
133 MHz 512k/16k/16k 176.4 156.5 IBM RS/6000 43P
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 78.0 63.6 Intel Xpress
Pentium 100 MHz 1M/8k/8k 121.9 93.2 Intel Xpress
Pentium 120 MHz 1M/8k/8k 140.0 103.9 Intel Xpress
68040 33 MHz ? 18 13 Mac Q950
68040 33 MHz ? 20.3 ? Mac Q800
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.
I'd like to list one or two more 040-based Macs in this table -- If anyone has Mac SPEC data, please let me know.
More information on the SPEC benchmark, including numbers for other systems, is available in the newsgroup comp.benchmarks.
[2-7] 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.
There are several x86 boards available for the PowerMacs. These are effectively PC clones on a card, and allow you to run PC software (though not directly on the PowerPC processor, of course).
[2-8] What is the PowerPC 615?
There are a couple of conflicting rumors regarding the 615. IBM has
denied that the project even exists.
The dominant rumor suggests that the 615 is a PowerPC processor, being designed by IBM, which will contain special Intel x86 emulation hardware. The latest version of the rumor claims that first silicon is expected in March 1995.
Another rumor has the 615 as a PowerPC processor which will fit into Intel OverDrive sockets, instantly turning an x86 system into a PowerPC system. One problem with this is that the BIOS ROMs on PC motherboards contain x86 code.
The RS/6000 40P is PReP-compliant, which means that it can run Windows NT, as well as AIX.
model proc clk L2 RAM price date notes
------------- ------- --- ------ ------- ----- ------- ----------
- Desktop
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 94 604 upgrd
43P-100 604 100 ? ? 6205 Jun 95
43P-120 604 120 ? ? 7315
43P-133 604 133 ? ? 7620
- Notebook
N40 601 50 - 16-64 11995 Mar 94
- X Terminal
Xstation 160 603 66 - 8 4949 Feb 95
- Server
C20 604 ? ? ? ? Jun 95
E20 604 100 0.5 16-512 10000 Oct 95
G30 2-4 601 75 0.5 32-512 40900 Oct 94 604 upgrd
J30 2-4 601 75 1.0 64-2048 70500 Oct 94 604/620 up
R30 2-4 601 75 1.0 64-2048 83900 Oct 94 604/620 up
Notes:
* proc: number and type of processors
* clk: clock speed (MHz)
* L2: standard and optional second-level cache (MB)
* RAM: memory configuration (MB)
* price: base price in US dollars
* date: initial ship date
Groupe Bull offers 601-based workstations and the ESCALA line of multiprocessors, all running AIX. The multiprocessors are also sold by IBM (as the G30, J30, and R30) and by Motorola (as the MP601-75). Groupe Bull also sells a number of the Motorola systems.
model proc clk L2 RAM price date notes
------------- ------- --- ------ ------- ----- ------- ----------
- Workstation
? 601 66 ? ? 5445 ?
- Multiprocessor
Minitower 2-4 601 75 0.5 32-512 ? ? 604 upgrd
Deskside 2-8 601 75 1.0 64-2048 ? ? 604/620 up
Rack 2-8 601 75 1.0 64-2048 ? ? 604/620 up
Motorola has announced its PowerStack line of workstations and servers. Motherboards will also be available. All are based on the PCI bus and will ship with AIX or Windows NT (when available). The multiprocessor is built by Bull; all other systems are built by Motorola. Motorola will sell only to VARs, distributors, and system integrators -- individuals can buy systems from them.
The following brochures are available:
Contact the Motorola Computer Group at 1-800-759-1107 for brochures or more info on these systems.
model proc clk L2 RAM price date notes
------------- ------- --- ------ ------- ----- ------- ----------
- Desktop
DT603-66 603 66 0-1 16-128 3295 Dec 94 desktop
MT603-66 603 66 0-1 16-128 ? Dec 94 mini-tower
DT604-100 604 100 0-1 16-128 ? Dec 94 desktop
MT604-100 604 100 0-1 16-128 ? Dec 94 mini-tower
- Server
E603-66P 603 66 0.25-1 16-128 5995 Dec 94 stackable
E604-100P 601 100 0.25-1 16-128 7995 Dec 94 stackable
- Multiprocessor
MP601-75 2-8 601 75 1 64-2048 ? Dec 94 604 upgrd
- Motherboards
Atlas 603 603 66 0-1 ? 1505 Dec 94
Atlas 604 604 100 0-1 ? 2105 Dec 94
Ultra 603 603 66 0-1 2-128 2255 Dec 94
Ultra 604 604 100 0-1 2-128 2405 Dec 94
Micro Technology Services, Inc. (MTSI) sells the entire PowerStack line.
Peacock, in Germany, will sell a Motorola-built PowerStack server with an 80 MHz 601, running AIX. Contact Peacock AG at ++49-295779-0 (tel) or ++49-295779-9067 (FAX).
[3-2] What PowerPC-based PReP-compliant
(IBM-compatible) personal computers are/will be available? When will
they be available? How much will they cost?
See also Question 3-7.
IBM announced a line of PowerPC-based personal computers in June, 1995. The PC Power Series consists of two desktop models, both based on the 604. The ThinkPad Power Series consists of two notebook computers, based on the 603E. Windows NT and AIX are currently available for these systems. OS/2 Warp Connect (PowerPC Edition) is expected in 4Q95. Solaris will be available, but no date has been announced. More information on these systems is available on the WWW.
model proc clk L2 RAM price date notes
------------- ------- --- ------ ------- ----- ------- ----------
- PC Power Series (desktop)
830 604 100 0.25 16-192 2795 Jun 95 PCI+ISA
850 604 100 0.25 16-192 ? Jun 95 PCI+ISA
604 120 0.25 16-192 ? Jul 95 PCI+ISA
604 133 0.5 16-192 ? Jul 95 PCI+ISA
- ThinkPad Power Series (notebook)
820 603E 100 0.25 16-48 ? Jun 95 PCMCIA+ISA
850 603E 100 0.25 16-96 ? Jun 95 PCMCIA+ISA
FirePower Systems (formed as a partnership with Canon) offers the Powerized family of PReP 1.0 compliant systems. Currently available are 603, and 604-based uniprocessor sytems (the Powerized ES line) and a 604-based multiprocessor (the Powerized MX line). A 603e-based system (also in the ES line) is expected in 2Q95. Also available are designs and motherboards. All systems run Windows NT. FirePower sells only to OEMs. The systems were announced in November 1994. Contact: 415-462-3025.
IPC Technologies Inc. is reselling FirePower machines through their Austin subsidiary. Contact: 1-800-752-1577.
Canon is also reselling FirePower machines.
Japan Computer Corporation (JCC) is reselling FirePower machines as the JP4 (604) and JP3e (603e) systems. These run a version of BSD 4.4 Lite.
model proc clk L2 RAM price date notes
------------- ------- --- ------ ------- ----- ------- ----------
- FirePower OEM systems
MX4120/1 604 120 ? ? ? ? ?
MX4133/1 604 133 ? ? ? ? ?
MX4120/2 2 604 120 ? ? ? ? ?
MX4133/2 2 604 133 ? ? ? ? ?
- Austin
PowerPLAY 604 100 0.25 16-128 ? ? PCI
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.
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.
Tatung sells several PReP-compliant systems. 601-based systems were available in October 1994. 604-based systems are expected in 1Q95.
DTK Computers (a Taiwanese company) sells an 80 MHz 601 system, which runs Windows NT, and will run OS/2 when available.
[3-3] What PowerPC-based Apple (and compatible)
personal computers are/will be available? When will they be available?
How much will they cost?
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.
Workgroup servers, the 6150, 8150, and 9150, are also available. These currently run AppleShare 4.1 (which is not native, but is tuned for the PowerMacs). Novell's Processor Independent NetWare (PIN) 4, when available, may or may not run on these systems (according to rumors, PIN will only be available on CHRP systems).
The first PowerPC-based PowerBooks were announced in August 1995.
model proc clk L2 RAM price date notes
------------- ------- --- ------ ------- ----- ------- ----------
- desktop
Performa 52xx 603 75 0.25 8-64 1700 Apr 95 PDS
Performa 61xx 601 60 0-0.25 8-72 ? ? PDS
Performa 62xx 603 75 0.25 8-72 ? ? PDS
Performa 63xx 603e 100 0.25 16-64 ? ? PDS
5200/75 603 75 0.25 8-64 1700 Apr 95 PDS
6100/66 601 66 0.25 8-72 ? Jan 95 PDS
6200/75 603 75 0.25 8-64 ? ? PDS
7100/80 601 80 0.25 8-136 ? Jan 95 3 NuBus
7200/75 601 75 0-? 8-256 1700 Aug 95 3 PCI
7200/90 601 90 0-? 8-256 1900 Aug 95 3 PCI
7500/100 601 100 0-? 16 2700 Aug 95 3 PCI
8100/100 601+ 100 0.25 8-264 ? Jan 95 3 NuBus
8100/110 601+ 110 0.25 16-264 6400 Nov 94 3 NuBus
8500/120 604 120 0.25 16-512 4000 Aug 95 3 PCI
9500/133 604 133 0.5 16-768 ? Jun 94 6 PCI
- server
AWS 6150/66 601 66 0.25 16-72 ? Apr 95 PDS
AWS 8150/110 601+ 110 0.25-1 16-264 ? Apr 95 3 NuBus
AWS 9150/120 601+ 120 1 16-264 ? ? 4 NuBus
- notebook
PB Duo 2300 603e 100 0 8-56 3500 Aug 95 PDS
PB 5300/100 603e 100 0 8-64 2200 Aug 95 2 PC Card
PB 5300c/100 603e 100 0 8-64 ? Aug 95 2 PC Card
PB 5300cs/100 603e 100 0 8-64 ? Aug 95 2 PC Card
PB 5300ce/117 603e 117 0 32-64 6500 Aug 95 2 PC Card
Configurations are available with different RAM and hard disk sizes. All configurations are bundled with a CD ROM drive and some include SoftWindows and/or various other software.
Apple no longer sells PowerPC upgrades for desktop systems. This includes motherboards, PDS boards, and the 68040 replacement daughterboard. These products are now being sold by DayStar (see below), who co-developed them with Apple.
Apple is currently selling PowerPC upgrades for the PowerBook 500 series (daughterboards) and the PowerBook Duo 200 series (replacement logic boards).
Power Computing is the first company to get a license from Apple to produce Macintosh clones. Power Computing started shipping systems on May 1, 1995.
model proc clk L2 RAM price date notes
------------- ------- --- ------ ------- ----- ------- ----------
Power 100 601+ 100 0.25-1 8-200 ? May 95 3 NuBus
Power 120 601+ 120 0.25-1 8-200 2000 Sep 95 3 NuBus
PowerWave 120 604 120 0.25-1 16-512 ? Oct 95 3 PCI/2 NB
PowerWave 132 604 132 0.25-1 16-512 3200 Oct 95 3 PCI/2 NB
PowerWave 150 604 150 0.5-1 16-512 4500 Oct 95 3 PCI/2 NB
Radius has also announced that it will make Mac clones. Radius intends to target color publishing and video users. Radius began shipping systems in July 1995.
model proc clk L2 RAM price date notes
------------- ------- --- ------ ------- ----- ------- ----------
System 81/110 601+ 110 ? 16-? 3500 Aug 95
System 100 601+ 110 ? 72-264 10000 Aug 95
Pioneer has licensed the MacOS and has announced a line of low-end systems aimed at the home entertainment market. The 66 MHz 601-based MPC-GX1 is expected to be demonstrated at the end of February 1995. The availability date is unknown.
Daystar Digital has announced a line of PCI bus PowerMac clones, which will support up to four 132 MHz 604s. The Genesis system is scheduled to ship in October 1995, with prices starting at $15000. Daystar also sells various Macintosh upgrade options.
model proc clk L2 RAM price date notes
------------- ------- --- ------ ------- ----- ------- ----------
Genesis 1-4 604 132 0.5 16-1.5G 15000 Oct 95 6 PCI
German prices for PowerMacs and clones are available on the WWW.
[3-4] What PowerPC-based controllers are/will be
available? When will they be available? How much will they
cost?
CETIA (a subsidiary of Thomson-CSF) is selling PowerPC-based VME
single-board computers. Currently available are 66 and 100 MHz 601-based
boards and the PowerEngine CVME 603, a PReP compliant 66 MHz 603-based
board. Available OS's are UNI/XT (AIX) and UNI/RT 5.0 (LynxOS). VxWorks
(from Wind River Systems) is currently in beta. The 66 MHz 601 board
with 16 MB of memory sells for $7100. Contact: 617-494-0987 (North
America).
The Motorola Computer Group has announced a family of VME boards. The MVME1600/PM603 uses a 66 MHz 603; the MVME1600/PM604 uses a 100 MHz 604.
[3-5] What PowerPC-based supercomputers and parallel
processors are/will be available? When will they be available? How much
will they cost?
Parsytec has announced that it
will be combining PowerPC processors and Transputer communication
processors in its multiprocessor systems. These include:
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.
Mercury Computer Systems has announced that is is developing 603e-based systems. Mercury sells high-performance computers targeted for embedded applications such as defense signal processing and medical imaging.
Harris announced its Night Hawk line of PowerPC-based multprocessors in May 1995. Systems with up to 8 100 MHz 604s are expected to ship in September 1995.
[3-6] What other PowerPC-based systems are/will be
available? When will they be available? How much will they
cost?
3DO has announced that its second generation game machine will use a
PowerPC processor. See Question 6-2.
Apple has announced a "multimedia platform" called Pippin, which will be based on MacOS and the PowerPC 603. Pippin is intended to compete with Sega, Nintendo, and 3DO, but is supposed to run other multimedia applications in addition to games. The first Pippin system will be designed by Apple and manufactured by Bandai, a Japanese company, and is expected to be available in early 1996 for around $500.
Be, Inc. has announced a new operating system called BeOS. This will initially run on Be's own dual-604 multiprocessor, called the BeBox. This machine is expected to ship in 1Q96. See the WWW page or contact info@be.com for more information.
[3-7] 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 OS/2 AIX, Solaris, Taligent, and Windows NT. IBM systems will (of course) be PReP-compliant. Apple's first PowerPC Macs are not compliant; future Macs will probably be CHRP-compliant (see below).
The current version of the PReP spec is 1.1.
Here are the instructions for obtaining a copy of PReP specification (freely available to all requesters).
For hardcopy:
1-800-POWERPC (1-800-769-3772)
1-708-296-6767 if the above number cannot be reached or multilingual operator is needed
(39)-39-600-4295
(33)-6713-5757 (in French)
(33)-6713-5756 (in Italian)
(49)-511-516-3444 (in English)
(49)-511-516-3555 (in German)
(81)-755-87-4745 (in Japanese)
For softcopy (PostScript files):
[3-8] 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,
Solaris, Novell Netware, and possibly other operating systems. CHRP is a
superset of PReP and the PowerMac platform; thus you'll be able to run
applications written for the PReP OS's (OS/2-PPC, Windows NT, AIX) and
the PowerMac (MacOS) on the new CHRP systems (under the same OS they're
written for, of course). In addition, any CHRP software which doesn't
require the Mac ROM, serial ports, or ADB ports should run on PReP
machines.
There is some confusion as to whether or not the CHRP standard will require a ROM socket (for MacOS ROMs). Apple has said that a future release of MacOS will not require the ROMs.
The CHRP standard was finalized in November, 1995. The specifications are being published by Morgan Kaufmann Publishers as PowerPC Microprocessor Common Hardware Reference Platform: A System Architecture, ISBN 1-55860-394-8. It is also available on the WWW.
Apple is referring to CHRP as the PowerPC Platform (PPCP). Apple has more information, including the above book in PDF format, on the WWW.
[3-9] Can PowerPC 601-based computers be upgraded to,
e.g., a 604 when they become available?
This depends on exactly which computer you have. Some of Apple's
PowerMacs have their processors on replacable daughterboards. See also
Question 3-3.
IBM Power Personal Systems will have a 200-pin slot on the motherboard, apparently intended for a level-2 cache or a processor upgrade.
Motorola PowerStack systems provide a L2 cache socket which can also be used for PowerPC processor upgrades simply by plugging in a daughter board.
[3-10] Where can I get the specifications for the PCI
bus?
The following documents:
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
[3-11] Can I used any old PCI card in my
PowerMac/PReP/etc.?
In general, a driver for the particular computer is required to use a
PCI card, i.e., to use a PCI video card in a PowerMac, that card would
have to come with a PowerMac driver.
A list of PCI cards which have PowerMac support is available on the WWW.
[3-12] What is FireWire?
FireWire is a joint Apple and TI implementation of the IEEE P1394
SerialBus standard. It is a high-speed (100 Mb/s) serial bus for
peripheral devices; it is intended to replace Apple Desktop Bus (ADB)
and SCSI, for example. FireWire supports automatic configuration
("plug-and-play") and hot-plugging. It is also isochronous,
meaning that a fixed slice of bandwidth can be dedicated to a particular
peripheral, e.g., for video. The draft standard can be obtained from
IEEE Customer Service: 800-678-IEEE, 908-981-0060, fax: 908-981-9667.
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 will not ship A/UX for the PowerPC.
Tenon Intersystems' MachTen is a Mach-based UNIX for the Macintosh. Version 4.0, which shipped in August 1995, runs natively on PowerMacs.
A PowerPC port of Linux is in progress. The current platform is the Motorola 1603 board, with PowerMacs, Motorola Ultra and PowerStack systems, and the IBM RS/6000 to follow. For more information, see the Linux/PowerPC FAQ.
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.
Harris Computer Systems Corporation currently offers Secure/Power UNIX, a multi-level secure PowerOpen-compliant operating system for IBM RS/6000 workstations and Harris Night Hawk multiprocessors. Secure/Power UNIX is the first standards-based B2-level environment available for the RS/6000. Harris will release Real-Time/Power UNIX and PowerUNIX in 1995. Secure/Power UNIX is available through Harris Computer Systems Corp. and IBM Federal. Contact: Lisa Thornhill at 305-977-5615.
Ports of NeXTStep and Novell UnixWare are rumored to be underway.
Apple has ported the MacOS to other platforms. See the description of MAS and MAE in Question 4-6.
With the CHRP announcement (see Question 3-8), Apple announced that it would start selling the MacOS independently of Apple hardware. This means that a user will be able to buy MacOS in a store, and install it on any CHRP system. Whether MacOS for CHRP systems will be entirely on disk or on ROMs is still up in the air.
"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]
(See also Question 4-5.)
LynxOS is a real-time UNIX-like operating system, which has been ported to the 601, 603, and 604. It is currently available for Cetia's VME boards (see above). It is expected to be available for IBM's PReP systems in 2Q95. Contact Lynx Real Time Systems at 408-354-7770 or sales@lynx.com.
OS/9, a real-time UNIX-like operating system for embedded systems, is available for PowerPC-based systems. Contact Microware.
pSOS+ is a real time operating system for the PowerPC with networking support. It currently runs on the Motorola MVME1603 boards and on 403GA boards. Contact Integrated Systems, Inc.
Taos is a distributed operating system, which achieves processor independence through the use of a "virtual machine". Ports are currently available for several processors, including the PowerPC 601 and 603. The developer claims a PowerMac version will be available by the end of 1995. Contact Tao Systems Ltd (in London).
OSE Delta, a real-time operating system intended for distributed and fault tolerant applications, will be available for the Power PC in 1Q96. The MPC versions for embedded and real-time applications will be supported. OSE Delta includes advanced capabilities such as run time configuration, debugging and program loading (hot updates). Contact info.ose@enea.se.
Be, Inc. has announced a new operating system called BeOS. See Question 3-6.
name company base OS GUI endian avail
----------------- ----------- --------------- ------- ------ ------
- UNIX
AIX 4.1 IBM SysVR3 X+Motif big Oct 93
NeXTStep NeXT Mach2 + BSD4.3 DPS ? ?
Solaris 2.x SunSoft SysVR4 X+Motif little mid 95
Secure/Power UNIX Harris SysVR4 X+Motif ? Jun 94
UnixWare Novell SysVR4 X+Motif ? ?
MachTen Tenon Mach2 + BSD4.3 X+Motif big 1Q 95
Linux Gnu Pub Lic ? X big ?
- Mac
MacOS 7 Apple custom custom big Mar 94
- PC
Windows NT Microsoft custom custom little 1Q 95
OS/2 - PPC IBM Mach3 + custom custom little 95
PIN Novell Netware ? ? ?
- other
Taligent Taligent custom custom? ? 95
LynxOS Lynx AT&T RTK X+Motif ? Jul 94
OS/9 Microware custom X, cust ? Dec 94
pSOS+ ISI custom X big Dec 93
Taos Tao Systems custom ? ? Mar 95
OSE Delta Enea Data custom ? ? 1Q 96
BeOS Be custom custom ? 1Q 96
[4-2] What is PowerOpen?
The PowerOpen Association defines and promotes the PowerOpen Environment
(POE). The POE is a PowerPC-based standard for operating systems and
applications. Most work so far has been with UNIX-like systems. 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. Other non-POE standards cannot provide binary
compatibility over several hardware platforms, and usually limit a
software version to a specific platform.
The POE is an open standard, derived from AIX and conforming to industry open standards including POSIX, XPG4, Motif, etc. The POE specification is publicly available to anyone, and is especially of interest to those producing either applications or hardware platforms. The PowerOpen Association provides the necessary conformance testing and POE branding.
The key features of the POE are:
The PowerOpen Association has a WWW page. More information, including key white papers, resides there. Topics include:
(The above text was provided by the PowerOpen Association.)
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).
[4-3] 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 CommonPoint (previously called the Taligent Application Environment). CommonPoint is "a portable application system consisting of a comprehensive set of reusable object-oriented software frameworks". A beta version was released to developers in March, 1995. According to reports, CommonPoint 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.
[4-4] 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 to PReP-compliant systems, so OpenStep will presumably be available. The OpenStep API specification is available by ftp.
[4-5] 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 (see above). Note that some confusion has been caused by the
fact that the development name for OS/2-PPC was WorkplaceOS (WPOS) --
this name is no longer used.
[4-6] 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.
Apple, in cooperation with Sun and HP, has released the Macintosh Application Environment (MAE). MAE allows Mac applications to run under X Windows 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 only runs 68k binaries. For more information, see the MAE WWW site. A demo version is available by ftp.
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.
Speed Doubler from Connectix includes a faster 68k emulator, among other things.
SoftPC and SoftWindows, produced by Insignia, run under several OS's: Mac OS, Windows NT, NeXTStep, and various other UNIX flavors. Version 2.0, released in August, 1995, emulates a 486DX and Windows calls. Insignia has licensed the Windows source code from Microsoft.
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.
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.
[5-2] What will be the differences between the various
PowerPC-based personal computers?
There are currently two major classes of PowerPC-based personal
computers (not counting workstations): the Apple Macintosh line and the
PReP-compliant machines. It now appears that these two groups are
converging on the CHRP standard. In theory, any CHRP-compliant system
will be able to run any CHRP operating system (MacOS, OS/2, Windows NT,
etc.). Whether this will actually materialize remains to be seen.
[6-2] What's the deal with 3DO and the
PowerPC?
3DO, the video game company, is planning to use the PowerPC 602 in its
next generation game machine. An upgrade board, the M2 accelerator,
using this new processor, will be avaiable some time in 1995.
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