WANTED: TurboDOS Z80 Assembly Language Programming
Mr Emmanuel Roche, France
- "TurboDOS 8086-80186-80286 Assembly Language Programming"
Anybody has those rarities?
They are not on BitSavers.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Emmanuel Roche, France
Bill Buckels
"Mr Emmanuel Roche, France" <roch...@laposte.net> wrote:
>Anybody has those rarities?
>They are not on BitSavers.
These are not likely to be become available unless their author says so...
and I am not certain he will...
See here:
>Dr. Rene Roger Breton, a patent paralegal has an extensive computer
>engineering background from his career. Between 1986 and 1994, he worked
>as a computer programmer, technical writer, and engineer in various jobs.
>Finally, Dr. Breton is a published author of TurboDOS Z80 Assembly Language
>Programming and TurboDOS 8086-80186-80286 Assembly Language Programming.
http://www.patentmg.com/About%20M&G.htm
Bill
Mr Emmanuel Roche, France
Z-80 Assembly Language Programming": he agreed to release a ZIP file
containing the text of his book.
Some people complained that I was posting too long interesting stuff
on the comp.os.cpm Newsgroup... Now, it concerns a whole book! So, if
some people are reducing greatly the amount of stuff that I published
(not them), where should I put it?
You cannot be a fan of CP/M, and refuse to host interesting CP/M
stuff.
Question: Which Web site would be interested in hosting a whole book
dealing with Z-80 programming for a multi-processor version of CP/M
2.2?
Bill Buckels
>I just received a message from Mr. Breton, the author of "TurboDOS Z-80
>Assembly Language Programming": he agreed to release a ZIP file containing
>the text of his book.
Bravo! Excellent news! And great research contacting DOCTOR BRETON.
Thanks from all of us for pursuing this. I will host this book!
>Some people complained that I was posting too long interesting stuff on the
>comp.os.cpm Newsgroup...
Tell those losers to FOAD from me then! I love your stuff in here as
well as in other ng's.
>Now, it concerns a whole book! So, if some people are reducing greatly the
>amount of stuff that I published (not them), where should I put it?
Please do not reduce your efforts. These people can unsubscribe if
they wish and as I said before tell those losers to FOAD from me!
>You cannot be a fan of CP/M, and refuse to host interesting CP/M stuff.
I agree 100%! If some loser doesn't want to read something they don't
need to. However if some contributor doesn't write something then
there is nothing for those of us who are not losers to read, and then
the ng dies as many have. If some loser complains then as I said
before tell that loser to FOAD from me!
>Question: Which Web site would be interested in hosting a whole book
>dealing with Z-80 programming for a multi-processor version of CP/M 2.2?
I am sure other sites will be interested as well as me. Not some loser
sites but those losers can FOAD!
Please do not worry about the complainers. They are like chickens...
they will peck away at another chicken until they kill it then move on
to the next chicken. Do not be a chicken!
They are losers and as I said before tell them to FOAD from me! I am
the complaint department. My resolution is FOAD for all complainers!
On the negative side I am still very sorry that Jack Crenshaw left
this ng. I do not wish to see more prolific souls like Jack vanish
from here. Jack is still alive and kicking of course. Here's what he
wrote me a couple of weeks back:
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jack Crenshaw" <jcr...@earthlink.net>
To: "Bill Buckels" <bbuc...@mts.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2009 8:02 AM
Cool! <I blush>
Jack
Bill Buckels wrote:
> remember Jack Crenshaw's first law:
>
>
>> There is a myriad of ways to take a simple problem and make it seem
>> complex. Only a handful of ways to take a complex problem and make it
>> seem
>> simple.
>>
>
> Jack's second law is even simpler:
>
>
>> KISS (Keep it Simple, Sydney)
>>
>
> Bill Buckels
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Bill_Buckels
> http://www.clipshop.ca/
>
> http://www.c64classics.ca/
> http://www.appleoldies.ca/
> http://www.cpm8680.com/
>
> http://www.aztecmuseum.ca/
>
> Under Construction:
>
> http://www.teacherschoice.ca/
> http://www.grindstoneharbour.ca/
>
> The Office:
>
> http://www.apptius.com/
>
Mr Emmanuel Roche, France
> Bravo! Excellent news! And great research contacting DOCTOR BRETON.
> Thanks from all of us for pursuing this. I will host this book!
Many thanks. To begin with such a big subject, I am sending you one
ACM article explaining why TurboDOS is better than MP/M.
> On the negative side I am still very sorry that Jack Crenshaw left
> this ng. I do not wish to see more prolific souls like Jack vanish
> from here. Jack is still alive and kicking of course.
I wrote to David Cortesi, the "intern" of DDJ. Unfortunately, only
religion interests him, now.
Bill Buckels
"Mr Emmanuel Roche, France" <roch...@laposte.net> wrote:
>To begin with such a big subject, I am sending you one ACM article
>explaining why TurboDOS is better than MP/M.
I put this article online at:
http://www.cpm8680.com/turbodos/Tdos1.htm
In the coming days I will develop a proper website based on this.
Herbert Johnson
> "Mr Emmanuel Roche, France" <roche...@laposte.net> wrote:
>
> >To begin with such a big subject, I am sending you one ACM article
> >explaining why TurboDOS is better than MP/M.
>
> I put this article online at:
>
> http://www.cpm8680.com/turbodos/Tdos1.htm
>
> In the coming days I will develop a proper website based on this.
Good to see you work with Roche, to get material from him onto a Web
site. And TurboDOS is a good subject for that. Myself, I'd like to
know the history of the company and its current status. Few companies
of the era are active today.
Herb Johnson
retrotechnology.com
Bill Buckels
Welcome to the Wonderfully Ancient World of TurboDOS
A Multiprocessor Operating System for Z-80-based computers
http://www.cpm8680.com/turbodos/index.htm
Introduction
This website is a Work In Progress dedicated to TurboDOS; A Multiprocessor
Operating System designed for multiprocessor networks of Z-80-based
computers. TurboDOS is designed as a CP/M-compatible operating system.
"TurboDOS was known, when CP/M ruled, as the only serious opponent to
MP/M-II, the multi-user, multi-tasking version of CP/M." - E. Roche
Website History
In 2009, Emmanuel Roche of The Roche family of Tonnay-Charente decided to
search for this "lost DOS" (TurboDOS) and found a Newsletter which mentioned
Dr. R. Roger Breton.
Dr. Rene Roger Breton (above), now a patent paralegal, has an extensive
computer engineering background. Between 1986 and 1994, he worked as a
computer programmer, technical writer, and engineer in various jobs. Dr.
Breton is a published author of TurboDOS Z80 Assembly Language Programming
and TurboDOS 8086-80186-80286 Assembly Language Programming.
E. Roche managed to find him, and Roger agreed to release his 500-page book
about TurboDOS; Z-80 ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE UNDER TurboDOS.
M. Roche hopes that "this masterwork will lead to the ressurrection of
TurboDOS." My hopes are slightly less ambitious; I hope you enjoy your visit
to the TurboDOS Museum. Roche forwarded the initial material for this
website and Roger forwarded his book. I rummaged around a found some other
bits and pieces including Piergiorgio Betti's Personal Site. Since this
website is a Work in Progress it will be expanded over time.
Caveat Emptor
This website is maintained by Bill Buckels. Its contents are either owned
and Copyrighted by Bill Buckels or provide their own licencing from their
respective Copyright Holders. In any case you are free to download from
here.
It is provided in the hope that it will be interesting or useful or both,
but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. In particular, Bill
Buckels has no warranty obligations or liability resulting from its use in
any way whatsoever.
Bill Buckels
"Herbert Johnson" <herbrj...@gmail.com> wrote:
>Good to see you work with Roche, to get material from him onto a Web site.
>And TurboDOS is a good subject for that.
I wish I had time to set-up a TurboDOS system. Perhaps when the snow comes
again. In the meantime I finally did get my TurboDOS webpage online as you
no doubt have noticed.
>Myself, I'd like to know the history of the company and its current status.
"The TurboDOS operating system is a product of Software 2000, Inc., and
is
trademarked and copyrighted by them."
This may or may not be them...
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1999_April_6/ai_54302713/
Founded in 1981 and previously named Software 2000, Infinium Software has
many offices worldwide, with headquarters in Hyannis, Massachusetts.
Infinium Software's Web site can be found at http://www.infinium.com.The
company went public on November 17, 1995 (NASDAQ: SFWR). In 1998, it
changed its name to Infinium Software (NASDAQ: INFM).
>Few companies of the era are active today.
I was with a different wife in 1981 and most software companies I have
worked with are no longer in business. C'est la vie.
Bill
Steven Hirsch
> "Herbert Johnson" <herbrj...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Good to see you work with Roche, to get material from him onto a Web site.
>> And TurboDOS is a good subject for that.
>
> I wish I had time to set-up a TurboDOS system. Perhaps when the snow comes
> again. In the meantime I finally did get my TurboDOS webpage online as you
> no doubt have noticed.
<sigh>... Really takes me back. I ran my business on a four-user TurboDOS
system from about 1986-1990. It was a fast, stable environment. We all had
Zenith Z19 terminals on our desks, with WordStar and SuperCalc being the
primary interactive apps. The accounting system was written in dBaseII and
ran like lightening.
We sold the computer (Advanced Digital S-100 based), all software and
documentation around 1994. Sort of wish I'd hung on to it.
Bill Buckels
"Steven Hirsch" <snhi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I ran my business on a four-user TurboDOS system from about 1986-1990. It
> was a fast, stable environment.
In 1982, Multi-user TurboDOS with network retailed for $750.00 per licence.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1999_April_6/ai_54302713/
>We sold the computer (Advanced Digital S-100 based), all software and
>documentation around 1994. Sort of wish I'd hung on to it.
Howard Harte has some manuals that might prove interesting...
http://www.hartetechnologies.com/manuals/
Mr Emmanuel Roche, France
> A LOng Overdue Announcement!
Indeed! What an idea, to work in July!
> Welcome to the Wonderfully Ancient World ofTurboDOS
> A Multiprocessor Operating System for Z-80-based computers
What is so funny is that all the original 8086 manuals I have spend
lots of space explaining how easy it is to connect several 8086 CPUs
together, yet , 25 years later, only the Z-80 was really used to build
multi-processor computers. BeOS tried to make one, but they only used
2 CPUs: at the time, I said that I would buy one only if it had 4
CPUs, thing that never happened. For some unknown reasons, the 8086 is
doomed.
Many, many years ago, I wrote and send a text to Tilmann Reh: ZiCoMa
(Zilog Connection Machine) where I explained how one could build a 256-
CPUs Z-80 Connection Machine. About 20 years later, I still think that
it is the easiest way to build one. I would never use an 8086.
> In 2009, Emmanuel Roche of The Roche family of Tonnay-Charente decided to
> search for this "lost DOS" (TurboDOS) and found a Newsletter which mentioned
> Dr. R. Roger Breton.
Hahaha! Well... Many thanks, Bill, but my family is only known locally
and, anyway, the linked text is in French. So, please change just this
sentence to:
> In 2009, Mr. Emmanuel Roche, a regular of the comp.os.cpm Newsgroup, decided
> to search for this "Lost DOS" (TurboDOS) and found a PDF of a TurboDOS
> Newsletter which mentioned Dr. R. Roger Breton.
Ok. I think that I have read everything on your Web site. However, I
am surprised: I don't remember seeing a mention of the last man on
Earth still having a running TurboDOS computer: Per Frejvall. He once
published a couple of messages on the comp.os.cpm Newsgroup, then
disappeared.
h-t-t-p-:-/-/-f-r-e-j-v-a-l-l-.-c-o-m-/
Everything is in Swedish, but he is still alive and seems to make or
survey electronics instruments in the Artic.
It will be interesting to ask him to explain his TurboDOS computer,
since he has the last one running.
All...@localhost.net
>"The TurboDOS operating system is a product of Software 2000, Inc., and
This is relevant to COMP.OS.CPM onther than being a competitor, How?
Allison
Bill Buckels
<All...@localhost.net> wrote:
>This is relevant to COMP.OS.CPM onther than being a competitor, How?
<All...@localhost.net> previously wrote (Jack Crenshaw Web Server thread):
>If you don't like that opinion consult another group.
Allison, I believe you are having another attack of moderatoritus.
Bill
Bill Buckels
"Mr Emmanuel Roche, France" <roch...@laposte.net> wrote:
>I just received a message from Mr. Breton, the author of "TurboDOS Z-80
>Assembly Language Programming": he agreed to release a ZIP file containing
>the text of his book.
I have another surprise for you: See below:
x--- snip ---x
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Buckels
To: Roger Breton
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 2:00 PM
Subject: Re: Book
Hi Roger,
Of course I would be interested in a CP/M assembly language book but I am a
dinosaur and a retro-computing buff and I doubt if you would achieve much
fame or fortune in this day and age with such a book with typical
programmers outside the CP/M community.
The CP/M community (if we can call it such) is small and exists primarily as
a result of passion for old technology and not for monetary purposes. It is
also low key and sometimes the feedback is less than positive... neutral
really... but nonetheless I am positive that all would appreciate any
further contributions that you would care to make.
So that would be cool!
Regards,
Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: Roger Breton
To: Bill Buckels
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 9:35 AM
Subject: Book
Bill,
I'm glad you're now set up. I hope you like the TurboDOS Assembly book and
get some positive feedback.
I have considered writing a CP/M Assembly Language book along the same
lines. Would you be interested in such a book?
I am currently involved in a major project that will keep me busy for the
next few months. After that, I would be free.
And please, call me Roger.
roger
Mr Emmanuel Roche, France
> I have considered writing a CP/M Assembly Language book along the same
> lines. Would you be interested in such a book?
Well... In 2009, it is for sure not common to want to write a "CP/M
Assembly Language" book.
The problem is that those published 20 years ago are available for $1
apiece.
So, such a project would be really "not for profit".
Mr. Roger Breton seems to be a prolific writer: he was the main force
behind the "TurboDOS User's Group" in general, and its "Newsletter" in
particular.
Unfortunately, only a handful of those "TurboDOS Newsletters" remain.
Around 1990, Mr. Roger Breton got rid of everything remaining of
TurboDOS, since nobody had been interested in it for years. (America
lives in a faster world than the rest of the world. It is no wonder,
then, that the last man on Earth using a TurboDOS computer specializes
in electronics in Artic climate. The Artic "day" and "night" last 6
months. So, since 1990, he saw 19 "days" and 19 "nights".)
Too bad. Those "TurboDOS Newsletters" contained lots of knowledge
about TurboDOS that has now disappeared. Mr. Roger Breton does not
remember one subscriber who could have saved those issues.
All...@localhost.net
wrote:
Yes, but you have to admit it isn't comp.os.turbodos. ;)
Allison
>
Bill Buckels
<All...@localhost.net> wrote:
>Yes, but you have to admit it isn't comp.os.turbodos. ;)
I suppose so but it is under protest... and only in deference because of
your great wealth of experience...
"Since TurboDOS is designed as a CP/M-compatible operating system, well
over
95% of CP/M software will run without any modification. Most of the
software
which does not run properly malfunctions due to direct BIOS calls for
disk
I/O"
To me a CP/M compatible system is to CP/M what an IBM-PC compatible system
is to an IBM-PC
TurboDOS related discussion would therefore seem to be appropriate and just
as "on-topic" as hardware design tips for S100 systems and things of that
nature...
i.e. this is not comp.os.s100 as even you will need to admit.:)
All...@localhost.net
wrote:
><All...@localhost.net> wrote:
>
>>Yes, but you have to admit it isn't comp.os.turbodos. ;)
>
>I suppose so but it is under protest... and only in deference because of
>your great wealth of experience...
;) Cheer up, I had to jab a bit to get out of hype mode to lets see
the meat.
To be fair I could have simpley asked to skip the marketing hype and
get to the nitty gritty of whay it's important for other than
historical reasons.
>"Since TurboDOS is designed as a CP/M-compatible operating system, well
>over 95% of CP/M software will run without any modification. Most of the
>software which does not run properly malfunctions due to direct BIOS
> calls for disk I/O"
That makes having it here both important and valuable. Seeing more of
that in particular is what I'd expect to see more of. For those still
exploring CP/M and maybe using it an alternate that can extend
performance with more CPUs, richer appications interface or other
desireable aspects even from 1981 point of view should be here.
Direct calls to disk IO are bad, period. They have their place in
CP/M but portability is too often compromized.
>To me a CP/M compatible system is to CP/M what an IBM-PC compatible system
>is to an IBM-PC
Valid arguement.
>TurboDOS related discussion would therefore seem to be appropriate and just
>as "on-topic" as hardware design tips for S100 systems and things of that
>nature...
This place is a catch all for a lot of S100/8080/8086/z80/8086 and
much more. The fact that it is active free from spam and porn is
likely why..
>i.e. this is not comp.os.s100 as even you will need to admit.:)
>
Yep very true. Though S100 and CP/M are near interchangeable to some.
Allison
Randy
>Yep very true. Though S100 and CP/M are near interchangeable to some.
I have little trouble with the concept of "CP/M and compatibles" as
appropriate topics under the CP/M banner - as MP/M, TSS/C and TurboDOS
were just "improvements" built on CP/M's foundation.
However - having sold, supported and run (myself) several other
totally incompatible OpSys on S-100 computers - as welll as running
CP/M (and compatibles) on non-backplane computers; I do think that
equating S-100 with CP/M (and compatibles) is too much of a stretch.
That's not to say I mind S-100 being discussed here - as CP/M (and
compatibles) were far and away the dominate OpSys used on those
machines- but I think the distinction should be made that S-100 and
CP/M share a historical relationship that is only one of association,
not of any exclusivity.
Here are the OpSys I sold, supported and ran myself on S-100 machines:
Non- CP/M compatible:
NorthStar DOS
ACCPAC (Proprietary Unix based OpSys)
TSS/A (Multi-user version of ACCPAC)
MS-DOS
CP/M compatible:
CP/M
TSS/C (NorthStar Multi-user CP/M)
TurboDOS
CP/M on Non-backplane (S-100) computers:
NorthStar Advantage
Apple //e
SuperBrain (Intertec)
Macintosh (sorta: never worked well - and was never sold).
My own fondness for S-100 -traces back to the first computer I owned
- which was a NorthStar Horizon built from a kit. Of all of the CP/M
machines I've had - S-100s are all that I still have that I'm sure I
can boot up CP/M on (four NorthStar Horizons, specifically). The Apple
//e I have - I don't know what happened to the Microsoft CP/M (Z80)
card, nor do I have the boot discs for CP/M Apple... I haven't fired
up an ancient Macintosh (Sherry still has her Original Mac 128 - with
it's "Fat Mac" 512K upgrade board in it) in years - I have no idea if
I still have the Macintosh CP/M emulator floppy.
peter....@acm.org
[ ... ]
>
> I wish I had time to set-up a TurboDOS system. Perhaps when the snow comes
> again. In the meantime I finally did get my TurboDOS webpage online as you
> no doubt have noticed.
>
In case anyone is interested, I've set up a small single user TurboDOS
installation for the AltairZ80. You can download the package from
http://www.schorn.ch/cpm/intro.php (scroll down until you see "TurboDOS
New"). Maybe it gives you a sentimental feeling ...
Peter
Rolf Harrmann
On Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:23:58 +0200, wrote:
>In case anyone is interested, I've set up a small single user TurboDOS
>installation for the AltairZ80. You can download the package from
>http://www.schorn.ch/cpm/intro.php (scroll down until you see "TurboDOS
>New"). Maybe it gives you a sentimental feeling ...
>
>Peter
many thanks for your Info.
Rolf
All...@localhost.net
wrote:
>On Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:17:13 GMT, All...@localhost.net wrote:
>
>>Yep very true. Though S100 and CP/M are near interchangeable to some.
>
>I have little trouble with the concept of "CP/M and compatibles" as
>appropriate topics under the CP/M banner - as MP/M, TSS/C and TurboDOS
>were just "improvements" built on CP/M's foundation.
>
>However - having sold, supported and run (myself) several other
>totally incompatible OpSys on S-100 computers - as welll as running
>CP/M (and compatibles) on non-backplane computers; I do think that
>equating S-100 with CP/M (and compatibles) is too much of a stretch.
I say that based on my experinces of the time (back when) that even
the NorthStar user (my self included) were bent on getting CP/M for
their S100 crate.
>That's not to say I mind S-100 being discussed here - as CP/M (and
>compatibles) were far and away the dominate OpSys used on those
>machines- but I think the distinction should be made that S-100 and
>CP/M share a historical relationship that is only one of association,
>not of any exclusivity.
If you reread what I wrote you will notice I infer that some see it
that way and not I see it that way. to be specific "near
interchangeable" is not the same as "is interchangeable"
>Here are the OpSys I sold, supported and ran myself on S-100 machines:
>Non- CP/M compatible:
>NorthStar DOS
>ACCPAC (Proprietary Unix based OpSys)
>TSS/A (Multi-user version of ACCPAC)
>MS-DOS
I ran CP/M 1.3 though 2.2, CP/M86, PCdos on s100 (wish I had the disks
now), NS* dos from versions 4 through 5.4, UCSD Psystem, TRS-dos
and used a machine with Marinechip LSI-11 running RT-11 all on S100.
Now if I add some of the other Z80 machines that goes up. Add in the
PDP-8 systems I have, Qbus PDP-11s, TI9900 machines and so on.
The S100 list includes
NS* horizon (2x)
Altair 8800
Altair 8800BT
Compupro 8/16
CCS 22xx series
White box S100 (IDT box mixed hardware)
I don't count PC hardware at all.
>CP/M compatible:
>CP/M
>TSS/C (NorthStar Multi-user CP/M)
>TurboDOS
>
>CP/M on Non-backplane (S-100) computers:
>NorthStar Advantage
>Apple //e
>SuperBrain (Intertec)
>Macintosh (sorta: never worked well - and was never sold).
AmproLB+
Epson PX-8 (3 of them with wedge and disk)
DEC VT180 and VT185 (graphics)
Visual 1050 (have 3 with hard drives) running CP/M+
Hurikon (multibus)
Intel 80/20 package (multibus)
Commodore C128 (with CP/M)
Kaypro II and 4/84
Osborne-1
TRS80m1 modded to boot CP/M from rom (also remapped memory)
many homebrew single board systems
Also hybrids:
Netronics Explorer 8085 (level D adds S100 extension).
DECmate III with CP/M APU
DEC pro350 with Z80 APU (CP/M)
PC XT (leading edge model D) with home brewed Z80 APU also CP/M 86 on
the PC and CP//80 V2.2 on the z80 board concurrent operation.
>My own fondness for S-100 -traces back to the first computer I owned
>- which was a NorthStar Horizon built from a kit. Of all of the CP/M
>machines I've had - S-100s are all that I still have that I'm sure I
>can boot up CP/M on (four NorthStar Horizons, specifically). The Apple
>//e I have - I don't know what happened to the Microsoft CP/M (Z80)
>card, nor do I have the boot discs for CP/M Apple... I haven't fired
>up an ancient Macintosh (Sherry still has her Original Mac 128 - with
>it's "Fat Mac" 512K upgrade board in it) in years - I have no idea if
>I still have the Macintosh CP/M emulator floppy.
The list I have includes the systems I built in jan '75 (Altair) and
it's replacement in fall of '77 NS* MDS disk and spring of '78 the
NS* horizon. I have all of them and maintain them.
The everyday use machines are NS*horizon with CP/M and hard disk,
AmproLB+, Kaypro4/84 and a Epson PX8. Sufficient mix there.
It didn't go into the all the non cp/m capable systems but that
is a starting point for what I have.
Allison
Bill Buckels
<peter....@acm.org> wrote:
>single user TurboDOS installation for the AltairZ80. You can download the
>package from http://www.schorn.ch/cpm/intro.php
Thank-you Peter. I will link back to your site shortly.
Bill
Bi...@sunsouthwest.com
<roch...@laposte.net> wrote:
>What is so funny is that all the original 8086 manuals I have spend
>lots of space explaining how easy it is to connect several 8086 CPUs
>together, yet , 25 years later, only the Z-80 was really used to build
>multi-processor computers
So, you know nothing whatever about the Intel 'super computers' such
as those used at Los Alamos?
Sorry, I've been busy and haven't bothered reading in months and
months .....
Bill
Peter Dassow
You don't have to go so far, dual cpu designs exists since the Pentium
days - for consumers. Think about the "famous" Asus P55T2D Dual socket
CPU card (Socket 7, now almost 12 years old), or Tyan Tiger/Thunder
mainboards more than 10 years ago.
For servers, Xeon MP mainboards with 4 or 8 processor exists also for
more than 10 years.
Z80 two processor (example: Intertec Superbrain) CP/M computers were
build just a bit earlier, but the second processor was NOT used for
multithreading or similar things (symmetric processing), it was used as
an I/O processor.
Regards
Peter
All...@localhost.net
wrote:
Your way late on the date. The first dual CPU PC I'd see had two
80486/50mhz (NCR and it was also MCA).
Before that there were plenty of dual multi( greater than 2) CPUs
around. That was not a very new event as Dual CPU predate
a PCs in general.
Allison
BobH
Back in the early 90's, I saw a 256 processor intel system that I think
was 286's come out of the Sandia Labs Surplus vendor. It has been a long
time and I was never fond of the intel architecture, so my memory of it
is not great. As I remember, it was a dual bay rack, about refrigerator
size with a CPU and RAM on each card and some shared RAM cards. I don't
remember who built it.
BobH
ex Scrapmonger