Re: New Math Coprocessor - who has a need for it???

[swarde@unf6.cis.unf.edu (Rico)]

In article <1993Jul13.194102.16667@ifi.unizh.ch> gudat@avalon.physik.unizh.ch (gudat henrik) writes:
>In article <fmlinCA47ow.Hr8@netcom.com> fmlin@netcom.com (Frank M. Lin) writes:
>>Sounds interesting Henrik, I presume Symbolix will support?  :)  But what
>>else can?  Will there be a patch for SANE?  Since I love the GS so much,
>>I might buy it just for the heck of it.  But it should have some uses...
>>
>>Hmm, have anyone seen or own a FPE card?
>
>It is actually more useful than the FPE because it works :----)
>
>The use of a math coprocessor? Get instant spreadsheets, calc mandelbrot
>pictures in a fly (well, almost:). I think Mr. Disbrow once wrote a
>mandelbrot program for the FPE...
>
>Again, what is supposed to run with the FPE runs with the NC as well...
>
>[Symbolix? Suuuuuuure...:)]
>

Does the GS automatically invoke the Math Coprocessor when processing
math functions?  On IBM machines, there are special FP instructions that
must be used to invoke the coprocessor.  If this is the case with the GS
as well, then software packages will have to be recompiled to take 
advantage of the Coprocessor.

Or, does the Coprocessor interrupt the 65816; taking over the bus lines,
executing the instruction, and giving the results back to the 65816?

Please give me more technical details on how this Coprocessor board works.
Also, it might be nice to see some benchmarks; e.g., how long does it
take to run Mandelbrot2 using a GS with and without the Coprocessor
card installed, etc...


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