Re: Replacing the 6502 with a faster chip

[aiiadict@gmail.com (Rich J.)]

mjmahon@aol.com (Michael J. Mahon) wrote in message news:<20040820034253.26080.00002251@mb-m28.aol.com>...

> The answer is yes, but it takes a lot more than a faster processor.
> The Apple II video generation is timed by the same clock that
> creates the processor timing, and the peripheral bus must
> operate at 1.0204 MHz for compatibility.  Some I/O cards
> also require precise code timing for correct operation, most
> notably the Disk ][ Controller for 5.25" disks.


there are a few projects going on in the Apple II hobbyist
world.  4 or more people actively developing hardware.

wouldn't it be nice if:

we took a P5 chip and coded a 6502 emulator for it.  make
it plug directly into the processor socket.  a few megabytes
of ram.  Transwarp 50Mhz with 16 megs of RAM.  I would throw
away my PC if I could get one of those.

most of the C code required has already been written.  just
need to add routines to slow the processor for sensitive
I/O areas, video.

or, how about a PCI card that would do the same?  have your
entire desktop PC with ethernet, video capture, internet,
etc etc plugged into your Apple II's processor socket via a cable
you could possibly code a windows app that would send the correct
signals to the Apple II, and act as its CPU.  I imagine a windows
app that has a control panel.  You could change CPU mhz.  slow
it down to a crawl, or speed it up to as fast as the PC would
emulate.

we have the hardware and the code to make an apple II fly.
we just have to find a way to interconnect Apple II hardware
with the available hardware/code.
Rich