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The Microprocessor temptation

05/17/2009

I see that modern "mini-computers" such as the IBM AS/400 are based on Microprocessors, so what wrong with doing so for my project? Actually, it would be funny because the "fun" were in to escape from Microprocessors in the first place.

But what do I really want to build? The fastest computer in the World or the most primitive one? A replica of the IBM360 or a bizarre computer that just lights LEDs and makes noise when is not crashing?

What do I actually mean by "Mini-Computer" and what is the underlying motivation of my project?

Well, I believe that "Mini-Computer" is a machine that is somewhat between a PC and a "Super-Computer". A machine that is affordable but is not hardware compatible with PC-industry components such as NIC and video cards... just to say.

So where is the fun? It is (I believe) in actually designing the machine. Components to use are not the matter. The point is to define (or adopt) an architecture making the pertinent decisions to full fit the envisioned design goals and specifications. A Microprocessors will fix much of the work, but not the whole, not the design per se.

The motivation is in to learn Computer Science throughout a hands-on project. And the project is to produce a manageable design and, eventually, to build a functional computer. This is not much different from any College student's project.

In this respect, I don't think Microprocessors would help me much. Today's microprocessors are very complex. Being this my first Computer Science project it has to be manageable, so it must be simple.

Nevertheless, this may change...