On Saturday, Feb 8, 2003, at 14:06 Europe/London, Gregg Eshelman wrote: > --- Mark Benson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> Get a clutch of 040MCs and upgrade them then you can >> try something like >> Linux or BSD on them. As a rule Unix doesn't line >> LC040s because of the FPU error/lack of FPU. > > While it can be compiled to run on an LC040, it only > works on some of them. I bet what the deal is the > ones it won't run on are actually full 040 chips that > the FPU failed testing before being placed into the > CPU package so they went in to the rework department > to be "lobotomized" by having the FPU disabled. Then > later when Apple started buying so many LC040 chips > it was profitable for Motorola to specially design > one with no FPU at all.
The story behind this is that Motorola made a serious error in the FPU on the original 040. This error was so bad they had to scrap the chips and re-jig the circuitry. They once full 040 production was unerway they were stuck with a pile of faulty 040MCs and so disabled the FPU and sold them as LC040s. Apple saw this a a great chance to get 040 speed technology at a fraction of the price and sop bought the lot and began building LC475s and Performas with them in. These were sold at cut prices becuase the chips were only a fraction of the cost. Motorola actually had to start manufacturing LC040s to keep up with demand in the end. > That's what Intel did with their 486SX. :) It's called economy, a driving force in manufacturing. This is also how chips get their Mhz rating. They are run across faster and faster test rigs until they fail the test harness routine and then they get dropped in the correct bin according to their tolerance. This is also why manufacturers have premium and low cost CPU ranges, and also why Moto and IBM still sell low-speed G4s despite the new ones being as fast as 1.42GHz. > Any exterior physical difference between an LC040 > that linux will run on (albeit poorly) and one it > won't run on at all? I know for a fact BSD will run until it encounters an FPU call then it Kernel Panics and dies. :) I don't know if Linux has a work round for it. -- Mark Benson AIM - SilValleyPirate Visit FlatPackMacs online: <http://fpm.gotdns.com> Visit my Homepage: <http://homepage.mac.com/markbenson> Vintage Macs List Nanny "Never send a human to do a machine's job." -The Matrix -- Vintage Macs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Enter To Win A | -- Canon PowerShot Digital Cameras start at $299 | Free iBook! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> Vintage Macs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/vintagemacs.shtml> The FAQ: <http://macfaq.org/> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/vintage.macs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
