Re: Accelerator / VGA Graphics card

["Charlie" <charlied@NOSPAMbboard.com>]

"Sheldon Simms" <sheldonsimms@yahoo.com> wrote in message
pan.2003.10.23.02.54.24.863017@yahoo.com">news:pan.2003.10.23.02.54.24.863017@yahoo.com...

> A Transmeta Efficieon can supposedly operate with only passive
> cooling, which indicates even lower power requirements.

I looked at their website and the Efficeon does seem to be a better choice
although they are vague about the actual power usage.  The most I could find is
that it uses under 7 Watts.  You would have to add a video chip though.  There
is supposed to be a nVidia chip designed to work with it.
They also say that the Efficeon varies its speed to conserve power (at least
that's what I think they are saying).

> As for software, I know it can be done. In fact, I can do it.
>
> Perhaps I should simply write the software to run in supervisor
> mode after being booted from a DOS floppy. That would solve that
> problem. The question would then be whether anyone is interested
> in helping get the hardware in place.

Yes, I believe that writing the software is the first thing you should do,
assuming that some type of hardware is truly feasible.  I realize that this is
sort of a "chicken or egg" thing.  I wish I knew enough to help with the
hardware because I think your basic idea is cool, but most of it is over my
head.
This of course doesn't stop me from asking stupid questions.  So here goes:

Would the processor on the card be running in place of the 6502/65816 or would
both be running?

Would all Apple II memory be maintained on both the card and the Apple?

How do you handle Apple software that relies on precise timing such as disk
I/O?

Charlie