68EC030 vs 68030

[sim085]

Hi,

I was looking at some accelerator cards and found that for example the VXL used to come with either a 68EC030 or 68030 processor. Now what is the main difference between these two type of processors? Does it have something to do with the Mhz that processor can reach?

Regards,
Sim085

[meega]

The EC is not rated to have a working mmu, the full 030 does have a working mmu.

[sim085]

My knowledge is not that much on these things; but doesn't MMU mean 'Memory Management Unit'?

If so then how does an EC processor manage memory without an MMU? or 'not rated to have' means something else.

In short from your answer I understand that an 030 is better then an EC030

Thank you,
Sim085

[CLS2086]

EC produce less heat..

[bloodline]

sim085 wrote:
My knowledge is not that much on these things; but doesn't MMU mean 'Memory Management Unit'?

Yes it does :-)

If so then how does an EC processor manage memory without an MMU? or 'not rated to have' means something else.

With AmigaOS there is no memory management, the final nail in AmigaOS's coffin :-(

If to ever plan to run a UNIX OS on your amiga, not a great idea with an 030... Then the MMU is useful... Piru also wrote a few tools to use the MMU kickstart remapping... Etc... But I doubt you'll every really need an MMU :-)

[/quote]
In short from your answer I understand that an 030 is better then an EC030

Thank you,
Sim085[/quote]

The non ec 030 were rated to run a bit faster... So in that regard the full 030 is better

[sim085]

Thank you! Now I understand better So if my A500+ has a 68000 processor then does it mean that it has an MMU?

Regards,
Sim085

[meega]

No, it definitely does not.

[sim085]

Thanks ... I should have thought that

Regards and Many Thanks,
Sim085

[Lorraine]

/

[A4000_Mad]

I tried something recently and the Amiga displayed "WHERE'S YOUR MMU?" at me before quitting :lol: Can't remember what game or prog it was now. Oh well!

[Ideal]

I believe blizkick requires MMU.

[spirantho]

If you want to run Linux on a 68k you need an MMU - same with any UN*X system.

I believe from memory that the 68000 couldn't support an MMU at all, but the 68010 could which was why it was used in old UN*X machines. Could be wrong though.

In practice you'll rarely need an MMU but the occasional odd thing uses it.....

[Piru]

BlizKick doesn't require MMU. It uses the maprom feature of the blizzard, cyberstorm and other accelerators.

MMU can be used to map the KS ROM, though.

[Kin-Hell]

Afaik, the only commercially released program requiring an MMU was "GigaMem". - Virtual memory from your Hard drive space!  :-)