AR-B1474 User¡¦s Guide

9.MEMORY BANKS & PROGRAMMING RS-485

9.1 USING MEMORY BANK

This section provides the information about how to access the memory on the AR-B1474 without using the AR- B1474 SSD BIOS. The AR-B1474 hardware divides every 8K bytes of memory into a memory bank. To access the data in the memory, you have to assign the chip number and the bank number. On every chip, the memory bank number starts from zero. The last memory bank number depends on the size of the memory chip used on the AR- B1474. For example, if you use the 256K bytes memory chip, the bank number on every chip would be in the range of 0 to 31. The chip numbers and the bank numbers are determined by the bank select register on the AR- B1474.

The I/O addresses of these registers are determined by SW1-1and SW1-2. The memory address of the memory bank is located on the range selected by SW1-3 and SW1-4.

The I/O port address of the bank select register is base port+0. The following is the format of the bank select register and bank enable register.

BASE+0

 

D7

D6

D5

D4

 

D3

 

D2

D1

 

D0

 

CS1

CS0

K5

K4

 

K3

 

K2

K1

 

K0

Where:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CS1-CS0 : Chip select

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CS1

 

 

 

CS0

 

 

Socket

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

Disable

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

1

 

 

MEM1

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

0

 

 

MEM2

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

 

MEM3

 

For different types of memory, K0 to K5 have different explanations. These bits are used to select the bank number of specific memory located in CS0 and CS1.

Memory

K5

K4

K3

K2

K1

K0

64KB EPROM (FLASH)

0

1

0

BS2

BS1

BS0

128KB EPROM (FLASH)

0

1

BS3

BS2

BS1

BS0

256KB EPROM (FLASH)

BS4

1

BS3

BS2

BS1

BS0

512KB EPROM (FLASH)

BS4

BS5

BS3

BS2

BS1

BS0

128KB SRAM

1

0

BS3

BS2

BS1

BS0

512KB SRAM

BS5

BS4

BS3

BS2

BS1

BS0

NOTE: BS0 to BS5 are the memory bank select bits. For example, 128KB memory has sixteen 8K-byte banks, so 4 bits (BS0 to BS3) are needed, and 512KB memory needs 6 bits (BS0 to BS5), etc.

9-1

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Sony AR-B1474, DX4, 486DX manual Memory Banks & Programming RS-485, Using Memory Bank, CS1 CS0, Socket

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.