On 2016-Nov-29, at 1:10 PM, Paul Berger wrote: > On 2016-11-29 5:00 PM, Eric Smith wrote: >> On Tue, Nov 29, 2016 at 12:11 PM, Brent Hilpert <hilp...@cs.ubc.ca> wrote: >> >>> is the 8X300 the 'unusual', proto-DSP device discussed in a chapter of >>> the Osborne book? >>> >> I don't know whether Osborne described it that way, but since the 8X300 and >> 8X305 don't have a multiplier, only support 8-bit addition, and can only >> address 512 bytes of data address space, they wouldn't make very good DSP >> processors. However, since all instructions execute in 250 ns, they'd be >> able to perform some DSP operations faster than contemporary 8-bit >> microprocessors, which usually took at least 2 us for the simplest >> instructions, and even longer for fancier instructions. > > I just went and got my Osborne book... > > " The 8X300 is described by its manufacturer as a "microcontroller" rather > than a "microprocessor". This distinction draws attention to the unique > capabilities of the 8X300 which make it the most remarkable device described > in this book" > > "The 8X300 is designed to serve as a signal processor or logic controller, > operating at very high speed."
Those are the statements I was recalling the sentiment of. I used the phrase proto-DSP in the sense of not-quite a DSP but directed towards high data/IO throughput, or precursor to DSPs. I remember the device from going through the Osborne book, and had wondered where it might have been actually used, thinking of medical or mil/avionics, so it's interesting to hear in this thread it found use in more commonplace/accessible products.
