I know there is the:
NeXTstation @ 25MHz
NeXTstation Color @ 25MHz
NeXTstation Turbo @ 33MHz
But was there a NeXTstation Color Turbo @ 33MHz?
Quote from: "trent823"I know there is the:
NeXTstation @ 25MHz
NeXTstation Color @ 25MHz
NeXTstation Turbo @ 33MHz
But was there a NeXTstation Color Turbo @ 33MHz?
Hello Yes, here is the original brochure:
http://www.nextcomputers.org/NeXTfiles/Docs/Hardware/nextstation_color.pdf 8) Best regards Rob Blessin
Quote from: "trent823"I know there is the:
NeXTstation @ 25MHz
NeXTstation Color @ 25MHz
NeXTstation Turbo @ 33MHz
There's also the more uncommon NeXTstation Turbo @ 25MHz
(Turbo chipset but still 25mhz)
Hey Rob, thank you for those details - that whole directory has great original NeXT documents
pergamon, 25MHz Turbo? Thats confusing - how is it different from the NeXTstation Mono and the other models?
Quote from: "trent823"Hey Rob, thank you for those details - that whole directory has great original NeXT documents
pergamon, 25MHz Turbo? Thats confusing - how is it different from the NeXTstation Mono and the other models?
it has the late revision turbo (33 MHz) mainboard built in but runs at only 25 MHz.
So it came after the 33MHz board? That seems very weird that they would call a machine a Turbo when it was effectively as fast as the standard model
It allowed them to use the same board with a different cpu purely for price descrimination.
Quote from: "trent823"So it came after the 33MHz board? That seems very weird that they would call a machine a Turbo when it was effectively as fast as the standard model
it wasn't called "Turbo".
Quote from: barcher174It allowed them to use the same board with a different cpu purely for price descrimination.
Okay that makes sense - also makes sense that it wasn't called a Turbo.
But then wouldn't that mean there's no different from the NeXTstation Mono though?
Unless there PCB is different in the way its constructed? I've only seen and used a color slab so I have no idea about the minor differences. Sorry for my lake of knowledge guys
The chipset of the Turbo machines is different from the one used in the non-Turbo machines. That means if that special model uses a 25 MHz CPU instead of a 33 MHz one, it still has the other changes in it.
The Turbo chipset for example has support for more memory. It uses some different controllers, for example a different Ethernet transceiver. Maybe the most notable difference is that the Turbo chipset supports ADB. All machines with ADB have the Turbo chipset inside.
Okay, by support do you also mean that they have ADB ports instead of Non-ADB ports or simply that they support them in a sense that with an ADB soundbox you can attach ADB devices and the system has the controllers to handle that.
If Non-ADB ports aren't replaced in turbo models then how are the ADB port used on a Turbo Cube as they don't have a soundbox
Sorry for the noob questions - in Australia it's very hard to come across NeXT hardware - and shipping to Australia is just murderous. Therefore I can't get any toys to play with and learn from
I only know that from what I've learnt while implementing the Turbo chipset into Previous (NeXT hardware emulator). I don't have real hardware, so I'm not sure how it was finally implemented.
But all machines with Turbo chipset do have internal support for ADB. They also have support for the non-ADB connections of the older machines.
I'm not sure, but I think the actual ADB ports are only found on the ADB soundbox, that is connected to the NeXTstation with a custom cable? Or did some NeXTstations have ADB ports?
The N4000B monitor (the last 17" MegaPixel Display NeXT made) had an ADB port. I have a 25 MHz NeXTStation mono with the Turbo motherboard that takes 72 pin SIMMs instead of the 30 pin ones. The monitor that came with it is an N4000B, uses the same 19 pin connector (although apparently the cable is slightly different and older cables won't work with ADB) but has an ADB port on the back instead of the non ADB.
Also, isn't the actual ADB supporting hardware in the soundbox/soundboard, just that for some reason code that only exists in Turbo ROMs is required for it to work?
ADB is provided in the turbo chipset. The ADB soundbox or Megapixel with an ADB soundboard is required to make use of it. The ADB signal comes from pin 7 on the 19pin cable and was previously unused by older systems. The pin is present and connected on all cables, so any NeXT cable will work. The soundbox itself only supplies power (5V) for the ADB devices. The ADB signal is a straight connection from the peripheral devices into the turbo chipset. It is correct that a proper ROM is required to enable ADB support. The ROM initializes the devices.
--
Brian
barcher174 you killed that response, you even answer questions I hadn't asked yet. everyone who has responded has given incredible detail for such an old system - thank you to everyone.
On that last comment barcher174 - If you have a Turbo unit with a non-turbo ROM then ADB would not work, likewise in reverse, non-turbo machines will not support ADB simply because the ROM is for a Turbo machine?
QuoteIf you have a Turbo unit with a non-turbo ROM then ADB would not work, likewise in reverse, non-turbo machines will not support ADB simply because the ROM is for a Turbo machine?
First let's clarify that when I talk about the turbo chipset this includes 4 machines:
Nextstation Mono Turbo (33mhz)
NextCube Turbo (33mhz)
Nextstation Color Turbo (33mhz)
Nextstation Color (25 mhz) ( only models with the turbo chipset. There is no way of knowing from the outside of the machine if it has the turbo chipset or not)
The turbo chipset is what allows for ADB. The proper ROM enables the software to support it. Each of the above machines is able to run the 3.3 v74 ROM which is mandatory to enable ADB. Without ROM v74 none of the above systems can use ADB devices.
The proper ROM is available here:
http://www.nextcomputers.org/NeXTfiles/Software/ROM_Files/68040_Turbo_Chipset/--
Brian
Also, I believe that non-Turbo hardware won't boot with a Turbo boot ROM since it expects Turbo chipset features. So, from what barcher174 is saying, non-Turbo NeXT hardware simply can't use the ADB peripherals, and trying to use a turbo ROM on a non-Turbo NeXT just plain won't boot.
Sorry all for failing to contribute to the thread after opening up the 25mhz Turbo-chipset can of worms ;)
Looks like the correct answers were arrived at anyway though!
Quote from: "pergamon"Sorry all for failing to contribute to the thread after opening up the 25mhz Turbo-chipset can of worms ;)
Looks like the correct answers were arrived at anyway though!
I have 25 MHz mono stations with turbo chipsets that were used in a virtual reality display. Also you can swap out non adb sound cards in NeXT 17" mono 4000a monitors with adb sound cards. The video cables are also important as adb monitor cables 4536 will work with both adb and non adb but early non adb cables 150 will not work with an adb setup because of pin 9 , it'll power up with power button an adb system but keyboard keys will not function
I've also swapped an adb soundcard out of a 4000b and replaced with non adb.
You also have uber rare boxes like the nitro 40mhz and add on like the pyro 50 MHz clock speed doubler. The holy grail would be the NeXT risc box ..
Thank you for all of the awesome information guys