[Coco] Re: Coco Repack

[Steve Ostrom]

Is there any chance that when Tandy limited the number of pins on the 
GIME to save money, the "lost" graphics modes were really lost by doing 
this?

Sorry, just an idle thought.

-- Steve --


jdaggett at gate.net wrote:

>Mark 
>
>The MMU is real simple. It is basically a 2 to 1 4 bit wide multiplexor that feeds a 
>16x8 ram. The GIME chip uses a 16x6 ram. Most  likely the package was limited to 
>68 pins by Tandy and cost factors. Next standard size up is 84 pins in a PLCC 
>package. Given that during the 80's it was around 10 cents a pin for package cost, 
>another 16 pins would have meant another $1.60 for the part. 
>
>I really believe that many of the limitations of the GIME chip is solely due to keeping 
>costs to a bare minimum. 
>
>
>  
>
>
>
>
>  
>