Re: The joy of octal

On 11/16/24 1:14 PM, rbowman wrote:

On Sat, 16 Nov 2024 03:20:33 -0500, 186282@ud0s4.net wrote:
 

  Alas don't think anymore 12 or 24 bit CPUs are
    gonna be made. Might still have a place for some higher-end
    microcontrollers - hell, I think Epson still makes FOUR-bit
    microcontrollers (looked at the sheet for one once, insanely
    capable).

 https://en.wikichip.org/w/images/2/25/
MARC4_User's_Guide_qFORTH_Compiler.pdf
 I don't know when the MARC4 was dropped but it held on until this century.
You don't need an Arm M4 to run a coffee pot but 8-bit devices are dirt
cheap.

   Absolutely correct ! Four bits was more than enough for
   remote controls, Mr. Coffee, microwaves, vending machines,
   a whole spectrum of 'small devices'. The chips WERE
   insanely capable, SO many ways you could set up the pins
   to serve most any need. Kinda nano-power too.
   Try :
   https://global.epson.com/products_and_drivers/semicon/pdf/id002151.pdf
   Don't see the 4-bitters in their recent product line, but
   you can still buy 'em. Of course EVERYTHING now needs a
   GUI type touch interface so .......
   https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/epson/S1C17W04F101100/8593592
   Remember buttons/switches that went "click !" ?

>
    Hmmm ... 256 of those 4-bitters running parallel - that'd be a fun
    project

 That's dangerously close to reinventing bit-slice.
 https://alchetron.com/Motorola-MC10800

   Heh heh ... I mentioned bit-slice to somebody here, but
   anyone born after 1965 has likely never heard of them  :-)
   But, it WOULD be an interesting experiment in intense
   parallel 4-bit processing without going into NVidia and
   such.
   Periodically, people offer PI "motherboards" for up
   to four of the plug-in CMs. They do feature channels
   for inter-board comms. None for the PI5 yet.