DOS ain't dead

> Do you know any DOS apps that really need 512MB? I think it's OK.

You can never have enough memory I just think including 512 mb will add very little extra expense and give a lot more breathing room. Archivers like 7zip, uharc, and ACE require large amounts of RAM when using large dictionaries, many games like Hexen 2, Quake, etc can utilize and require lots of RAM. Hey, I'd love to try to get MPLAYER running on it! Any excess can be used a RAMDRIVE, of course. It would sure beat the slow access of a USB memory stick or SD drive. Granted, we're talking about a 300 Mhz CPU, and I agree most if not all DOS programs meant for that class of CPU will not "require" > 64 MB, I remember always being starved for RAM back in the days when such a CPU was very fast.

And I would also think power consumption would be around 1- 2 W, but couldn't find the datasheet either.

> 86duino.com list power consumption at 3.3V at 400mA (1.32W). Should be an
> excellent candidate for running off AA or AAA.

Let's stop guessing. I was notified about released datasheet. It's detailed and include el. spec. https://github.com/roboard/86Duino/blob/master/pcb/cpu_module_128/datasheet/Vortex86EX_datasheet.pdf

Core Voltage | System clock | Core Frequency | Max Power | Typ Power
1.2V (Nominal)|    25MHz    |    400MHz      |    3 Watt | 2 Watt


---
DOS gives me freedom to unlimited HW access.

> > Intel seems to have just come out with a new line of processors-"Quark".
> > It's a SOC with a 32-bit "Pentium ISA" cpu (586, not sure if it has
> mmx),
> > running at 400 MHz (fixed speed), and allegedly at ~ 1/10 the power of
> an
> > Atom; I see 1.9-2.2 W TDP claimed. 512 kilobytes of onboard
> SRAM--enough
>
> Nice to see another competitor for reasonable price. I missed why they
> called it Pentium ISA when it doesn't have external ISA bus or does it have
> different meaning?
Xyz ISA = Instruction Set Architecture
In other words, i586-compatible.

> I'm waiting for vortex datasaheet, then we can compare
> power consumption. I don't like fixed clock idea. I think it shouldn't be
> hard to add one MSR and some logic to program CPU multiplier or set some
> clock modulation to let user decide what computing power actually needs.
> Well if static consumption is very low it can achieve it by halting...

Intel engineers have recently been claiming that full speed, then halt,
is the most power efficient approach on "modern processors".

> Then compared to vortex it doesn't provide sound and use some closed source
> firmware. Also I like the idea of vortex making the computer as addon PCI-E
> card but it lacks shared memory mapped area for framebuffer - only console
> IO :(

There's a lot it doesn't provide. I'm inclined to think that if 86duino could sell for less than $80, it would be more for your money than a $60 Galileo.

> > Intel seems to have just come out with a new line of processors-"Quark".
> > It's a SOC with a 32-bit "Pentium ISA" cpu (586, not sure if it has
> mmx),
> > running at 400 MHz (fixed speed), and allegedly at ~ 1/10 the power of
> an
> > Atom; I see 1.9-2.2 W TDP claimed. 512 kilobytes of onboard
> SRAM--enough
>
> Nice to see another competitor for reasonable price. I missed why they
> called it Pentium ISA when it doesn't have external ISA bus or does it have
> different meaning? I'm waiting for vortex datasheet, then we can compare
> power consumption. I don't like fixed clock idea. I think it shouldn't be
> hard to add one MSR and some logic to program CPU multiplier or set some
> clock modulation to let user decide what computing power actually needs.
> Well if static consumption is very low it can achieve it by halting...
> Then compared to vortex it doesn't provide sound and use some closed source
> firmware. Also I like the idea of vortex making the computer as addon PCI-E
> card but it lacks shared memory mapped area for framebuffer - only console
> IO :(

Like RayeR mentioned, the currently available Intel Galileo/Quark datasheets imply a custom "BIOS"/firmware boot system, similar to the BifferBoards <Info Blog and Project Home> that used RDC x86 CPUs. Last week, Mouser had these Galileo boards for $65 on presale <Mouser Info and Mouse Sale>. Today, they're $70. :/ Their datasheets recommend 5V 3A power but supposedly can run/boot 3.3V at 800mA and 5V at 800mA. Oddly, they list Mac OSX as "Compatible Software" but I assume that means host SW.