🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Aug14.121114.3814@hubcap.clemson.edu> hacksaw@cellar.org (Hacksaw) writes:
>   I apologize if this message is off-topic or idiotic, but... I was talking 
>to a friend who mentioned something about parallel computing. The idea that 
>more than one processor could be hooked together in one system and achieve 
>"super-speed". At work, he used a system(I forget the name) that had 
>4-parallel 386/25Mhz processors. It handled "animation" on a CAD program 
>called Jack with no trouble at all. I'm talking high-res images getting 
>flipped back and forth in no time. If this is what 4 386 processors can 
>achieve, then I'll be satisfied with what 2 286 processors can do.
> 
>   I'm currently running a 286/12 under MS-DOS. Obviously, I'm ready to 
>upgrade. I can pick up another 286 motherboard for under $100. Or would I 
>just need the 286 chip itself? Anyway... how would I go about hooking these 
>things together to achieve parallelism? What kind of software would support 
>it? MS-DOS seems to choke on even the itty-bittiest section of RAM above 
>640K; I don't know what makes me think it could handle another processor.
> 
>   Basically... Is parallel computing something only for the highest end 
>machines, or could it be achieved on a measly 286? Any comments would be 
>greatly appreiated. 

No, parallelism will soon be for the masses!  Technology is working its
way down from supercomputers through workstations to (even B^>) the x86
range.  That's not to say that microprocessors haven't been borrowing
supercomputing parallelism tricks like pipelining for years anyway...
Apparently the Intel 586 will have some direct hardware support for
multiprocessing in the easiest-to-understand form (shared memory).  And
the Sequent machines have been using 386/486 for years...

The main problem with chips not designed for multiprocessing (IMHO) is
that they don't believe the `no CPU is an island' philosophy, and so
are not particularly well suited to talking to other CPUs.  But there's
no reason in principle why you shouldn't use two or more 286s, none at
all.  Indeed, I have this secret wish to build a parallel m/c out of
Z80s...  The main problem is the size of the virtual memory space if
multiple processors are going to have to share it.  This is somewhat
more accute for the Z80 than the 286. B^>

Damon
-- 
Damon Hart-Davis | Tel/Fax: +44 81 755 0077 |1.22|| ALL MAIL FREE.
Internet: dhd@exnet.co.uk | Also: Damon@ed.ac.uk || US hotrod motor groups.
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