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Information about the Apollo CPU and FPU.

Few Questions About Apollo Processor

Szyk Cech

Posts 191
30 Dec 2015 16:00


Hello

1. How many MHz has Apollo processor?
Sysinfo shows 133MHz Morotrola 68040 compatible (115 MIPS). Is that true it has 133MHz?

2. Where is limit to Apollo frequency? Is it lies in chosen architecture? Or maybe is it lies in chosen chipset? (Altea or something).

3. I know that your target is to make Motorola 68060 compatible processor. But my question is:
What is target frequency for Apollo processor? What it involve?

4. For now Apollo is used in Vampire turbo card for A600. It is small computer with small needs (how ever compared to other solutions Vampire is powerful). But my question is:
Is it planed to create faster version Apollo core for bigger Amigas?

thank you, and wish luck!
Szyk Cech


Gunnar von Boehn
(Apollo Team Member)
Posts 6207
30 Dec 2015 21:26


Hello Szyk,
 
 
Szyk Cech wrote:

  1. How many MHz has Apollo processor?
 

  This can vary.
 
 
Szyk Cech wrote:

  Sysinfo shows 133MHz Morotrola 68040 compatible (115 MIPS). Is that true it has 133MHz?
 

  No, Apollo is faster per clock than 68040.
  I think the core in this screenshot was clocked at real 100 MHz
 
 
 
Szyk Cech wrote:

  2. Where is limit to Apollo frequency? Is it lies in chosen architecture? Or maybe is it lies in chosen chipset? (Altea or something).
 

 
  Both.
 
  Maximum clockrate is a product off pipeline design and production method.
 
  If you instantiate Apollo in an FPGA the maximum clock rate will be somewhere between 70-300 MHz - it will depend of the used FPGA type.
  While when you would instantiate Apollo in todays ASIC process a lot more, e.g. 1.5-2 GHz clockrate is realistic.
 
 
 
Szyk Cech wrote:

  3. I know that your target is to make Motorola 68060 compatible processor. But my question is:
  What is target frequency for Apollo processor? What it involve?
 

  Actually the target was to make something better than 68060.
  Apollo is designed to be MORE compatible than 68060
  but also to be more advanced than the 68060.
 
  As mentioned, the target frequency does depend on the used technology.
 
 
Szyk Cech wrote:

  4. For now Apollo is used in Vampire turbo card for A600. It is small computer with small needs (how ever compared to other solutions Vampire is powerful). But my question is:
  Is it planed to create faster version Apollo core for bigger Amigas?
 

 
  The Vampire card is a good balance of performance, and extra features like GFX Chipset, for a very affordable price.
  I think this balance makes sense.
 
  Of course one could create a high end solution for $1000 per card, instead a solution for $150. But I think its better for all Amiga fans to focus on an affordable solution.
 
 
I see a lot of potential of Apollo.
I think we can tune and tweak the core more and reach even higher speed than now, while keeping the existing Vampire.
I think that in the next month more performance tweaks to the core can be provided to give to Vampire users even more performance.

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