AR-B1474 User¡¦s Guide

Name

Description

-MASTER [Input]

The MASTER is the signal from the I/O processor which

 

 

gains control as the master and should be held low for a

 

 

maximum of 15 microseconds or system memory may be

 

 

lost due to the lack of refresh

-MEMCS16

 

The Memory Chip Select 16 indicates that the present

[Input,

Open

data transfer is a 1-wait state, 16-bit data memory

collector]

 

operation

-IOCS16

 

The I/O Chip Select 16 indicates that the present data

[Input,

Open

transfer is a 1-wait state, 16-bit data I/O operation

collector]

 

 

OSC [Output]

 

The Oscillator is a 14.31818 MHz signal

ZWS

 

The Zero Wait State indicates to the microprocessor that

[Input,

Open

the present bus cycle can be completed without inserting

collector]

 

additional wait cycle

Table 2-6 ISA Bus Signal Description

2.4 SERIAL PORT

The ACEs (Asynchronous Communication Elements ACE1 to ACE2) are used to convert parallel data to a serial format on the transmit side and convert serial data to parallel on the receiver side. The serial format, in order of transmission and reception, is a start bit, followed by five to eight data bits, a parity bit (if programmed) and one, one and half (five-bit format only) or two stop bits. The ACEs are capable of handling divisors of 1 to 65535, and produce a 16x clock for driving the internal transmitter logic.

Provisions are also included to use this 16x clock to drive the receiver logic. Also included in the ACE a completed MODEM control capability, and a processor interrupt system that may be software tailored to the computing time required handle the communications link.

The following table is summary of each ACE accessible register

DLAB

Port Address

Register

0

base + 0

Receiver buffer (read)

 

 

Transmitter holding register (write)

0

base + 1

Interrupt enable

X

base + 2

Interrupt identification (read only)

X

base + 3

Line control

X

base + 4

MODEM control

X

base + 5

Line status

X

base + 6

MODEM status

X

base + 7

Scratched register

1

base + 0

Divisor latch (least significant byte)

1

base + 1

Divisor latch (most significant byte)

Table 2-7 ACE Accessible Registers

(1) Receiver Buffer Register (RBR)

Bit 0-7: Received data byte (Read Only)

(2) Transmitter Holding Register (THR)

Bit 0-7: Transmitter holding data byte (Write Only)

2-7

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Sony DX4, 486DX, AR-B1474 manual Serial Port, Receiver Buffer Register RBR, Transmitter Holding Register THR, Dlab

DX4, AR-B1474, 486DX specifications

The Sony 486DX, AR-B1474, and DX4 are notable examples of advanced computing technologies from the early to mid-1990s, a time when personal computers were rapidly evolving to meet increasing user demands. These systems played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of modern computing.

The Sony 486DX is built around the popular Intel 80486 microprocessor, which was a significant step up from its predecessor, the 386. The 486DX featured a 32-bit architecture and introduced integrated cache memory, which greatly enhanced data processing speeds and overall system performance. Operating at clock speeds typically ranging from 25 to 100 MHz, the 486DX models provided a solid foundation for running more sophisticated software applications and advanced games of the era.

Accompanying the 486DX was the AR-B1474 motherboard, designed to maximize the potential of the 486 architecture. This motherboard featured support for up to 512 KB of level 2 cache memory, further boosting performance for data-heavy tasks. The AR-B1474 also included extensive connectivity options, with ISA slots for legacy devices, as well as support for EISA, making it compatible with a wide range of hardware peripherals. This versatility made the AR-B1474 a popular choice among builders of custom desktop PCs during its time.

The DX4, another significant milestone, built upon the 486 architecture by introducing a clock-doubling technique. By effectively allowing the processor to perform operations at up to three times its base clock speed (typically 75 or 100 MHz), the DX4 could handle even more demanding applications, thereby providing users with significant performance improvements without requiring a complete overhaul of their systems.

Both the 486DX and DX4 processors facilitated advancements in multimedia capabilities, with improved graphics rendering and audio performance that supported CD-ROMs and early gaming technologies. This made them particularly appealing to consumers looking for a versatile machine for both work and entertainment.

Overall, the combination of the Sony 486DX, AR-B1474 motherboard, and DX4 processor exemplifies a significant chapter in computing history, showcasing how hardware advancements seamlessly integrated with user needs for performance and flexibility. As these technologies laid the groundwork for future innovations, they remain noteworthy for their contributions to the evolution of personal computing.