MiniMig + PowerPC = OS4 Hardware for all

[SamuraiCrow]

nBit7 wrote:

The Virtex4 FX chips have one (or more) embedded PPC blocks which could theoretically be employed to run OS4,

The Virtex4 uses PowerPC 405 core.
Piru pointed out that you need 603/604 compatible CPU.
At a guess the 405 would not be compatible enough.
As far as I know OS4 has never been targeted to 405.

It would work with a non-classic version of AOS 4, it just wouldn't be available for sale, currently.

[SamuraiCrow]

nBit7 wrote:

...Obviously the Minimig would need to be revised with the addition of AGA...

Why would it need AGA to run OS4?
OS4 is best run on non-AGA graphics hardware.  I think it would be better to implement RTG.  Or use a PPC SoC with integrated graphics.  I couldn't see OS4 relying on AGA before the RTG graphics drivers kicked in.

The Classic version of AmigaOS 4 uses the custom chips but it doesn't require AGA.  It works on an A3000 as well.  The MiniMig would have to be reconfigured for the A3000's 32-bit version of the Enhanced Chipset.

[SamuraiCrow]

downix wrote:
http://www.genesippc.com  Ekifa2 meets your needs.

Genesi rejected the idea of sending Jens Shoenfeld an Efika so he could produce his CloneA ECS-compatible graphics chips on a PCI card.  Why would they do any differently for the MiniMig?

I think the integrated FPGA on the SAM 440ep would do the job for backward compatibility using CloneA or MiniMig as the gate layout.

[SamuraiCrow]

pixie wrote:
MiniMig + PowerPC = [Sam | Efika 2]

:-?

Sam 440ep, yes.  It has an FPGA built in.

Efika 2, probably not as you'd need an external board to add AGA or 32-bit ECS (A3000-style).

[SamuraiCrow]

downix wrote:

jkonstan wrote:
OS4 is PowerPC based; thus, a PowerPC solution is best practical option.

OS4 is just OS 3.1 ported to PowerPC, so I understand, I'm sure folk with more know-how can be more clear on this.  But, being that, there is no practical reason for locking it onto PowerPC.  Infact, I'd almost say it would be smarter to keep the OS on m68k and use a fast JIT emulator to bring it to other CPU's, a la Amithlon.

Having seen the AmigaOS 4 SDK, I can tell you that you are 100% wrong on OS 4 being a direct port of 3.1 .  You have to use a bunch of macros just to be able to compile the old pre-OS4 source codes on it due to some extensive changes in the Exec.library functionality.  Most of Exec.library was scrapped in favor of new functionality.

As for locking it onto PowerPC, the only part of OS4 that is "locked in" is the Petunia JIT compiler.  If OS4 could be ported to LLVM or some other JIT compiler then there would be no need for any sort of "lock in".