>* Graphics
Xcore could be used for simple GFX output.
(it can be done also with a 20Mhz micro controller + 1k of RAM, xena has 64k and 500Mhz)
It can also be used for custom graphics/video HW that plugs on xorro or bridges both xorro and PCIx1.
>* SATA
Most likely it could also do SATA and PATA, but it's better to use those onboard SATA and PATA connectors for that.
>* Network
Xcore could handle a lot of networking tasks. But things like ethernet is better to be handled by the onboard ethernet chip and by the telecom monster, the PPC.
>* USB 2.0
x1000 has 10 ports for USB2.
>* Classic Amiga Emulation
XCore could be used to build a bridge to classic expansions, lagacy ports and motherboards.
Page 32 defines relevant use cases1 and 2 for xena:
https://electronics.wesrch.com/User_images/Pdf/SE1_1261077219.pdf>Suitable for:
>* Audio I/O
Yes, but SB600 already provides 7+1 Audio.
Xena could be used to connect to old MIDI adapters and to old midi devices.
>The above assumes that there is a sensible interconnection between the XCore chip(s) and the resources of the system (DMA, Interrupts, address and data lines).
According to latest information, xena uses 16 I/O lines to communcate with the PPC (perhaps the connection is to the serdes/Envoi lines of PA6T). And xena JTAG lines are connected to the PPC GPIO lines.
So, to me it seems that the interface is very powerfull for I/O toys.
(for calculation cluster we would need 64 core xcore chips on a xorro+PCIeX1, xena would only enable a good (low latency) control interface to that)
And about interrupt driven mouse pointer etc. stuff...
For memory refresh. The nonsmooth mouse movement in the mainstream is caused by what? Serial interface to the system? Polling I/O of the system? Wrong priorisation of GUI tasks?
