Messages in this thread | | | Date | Thu, 29 Jan 1998 12:15:05 +0100 (MET) | From | Gabriel Paubert <> | Subject | Re: Suitable chipset for a pocket linux box |
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On Thu, 29 Jan 1998, Adam Wiggins wrote:
> > Don't rule out the PowerPC chips, though. IBM has some nice inexpensive > > embedded versions, like the PPC403 series, with cache, DRAM interface, > > multiple DMA and more goodies. Do a search on the IBM website; there's > > pretty complete documentation on all chips. > > I'd love to use powerpc but i'm sure they are a very expensive > option. If they have a cheap portable series then ok but unless they are > cheap they are a no go. We can put some money in now because its been > assigned as a thesis project to one of the undergrads.
It depends of your definitioon of expensive ;) But AFAIR IBM announced that the cheapest 401 or 403 were in the $15-20 range in large quantities. This should not scale to unaffordable amounts for a few chips. Motorola are somewhat more expensive, but you get what you pay for. For example the MPC823 includes (if you believe it):
- Instruction and data cache - MMU - PCMCIA Master controller - USB controller - LCD display controller (color) - Video controller (?) - Memory controller (8 banks)
I don't know how they fit this into only 256 pins. And for me the hardest part would be to solder a BGA package ;).
OTOH the evaluation boards of Motorola are too expensive IMHO (approx $2500).
(downloading the full doc soon but today my BW to Motorola www server is around 2 bytes/second :-()
Gabriel
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