Newsgroups: comp.sys.transputer
From: altatech@xmission.com (Alta Technology)
Subject: Re: Boards for PC. Was LOOKING FOR DISTRIBUTORS...
Organization: XMission Public Access Internet (801-539-0900)
Date: 29 Sep 1994 08:51:25 -0600
Message-ID: <36ek9d$4e5@xmission.xmission.com>

Paul Walker (paul@walker.demon.co.uk) wrote:
: In article <36976v$5qh@xmission.xmission.com>
:            altatech@xmission.com "Alta Technology" writes:

: >Paul Walker (paul@walker.demon.co.uk) wrote:
: >: If I may be permitted a mini-plug of my own:
: >
: >: A problem with most existing transputer host interface boards is that they
: >: are designed for a single process running on the host, with a single
: >: channel in each direction. [..]
: >
: >Altatech provides 2 ISA and 1 EISA tram holder board designs; each with four
: >links to the host; making the host work just like a tram.  We've been supplying
: > this
: >design for many years, with both hard links and virtual channels. [...]

: Sounds like a good product. Having read the sales literature for it again
: this morning though, one could be excused for not noticing these benefits.

: But there is still (plenty of) room for improvement:

: Andy Rabagliati has pointed out on this group that if you want a 
: fast interface from the PC to transputers, then use Ethernet. The 
: standard NE2000 compatible Ethernet boards provide master access on ISA,
: which is inexpensive and fast (well up to 5Mbytes/s).

We're better than 6MB/sec, using 4 links.  And we don't have to
contend for the network.

: Does anyone want the expense of EISA in order to get master access?

Yes, many customers like the ability to keep their PC free to do
other processing; the bus mastering works very well.  The speed is
reliable too; unlike an ethernet.  

: Does anyone want the 30MBytes/s that EISA offers in master access?

: The slave access on the ALTA ISA board (1.5Mbytes/s) is hardly faster 
: than Ethernet. So is it worth having?

1.5MBbytes/sec/link.  You missed an important factor.  Really, it's
link speed per link, but I like to quote real numbers, that account
for the software in between.

: I repeat that IMHO, the Coral board is currently the best interface 
: to the PC, and that, again IMHO, it can be improved by designing 
: explicitly for virtual channels.

: But the Alta boards come in a good second. Sorry I did not mention them.

Wrong. Given the breadth and depth of the product line; Alta's still #1.

Wanna race?

Chris

