http://www.ant.co.uk/com/aleph1/ds52.html (The Risc Disc Volume 2, 10/1995)

Data Sheet 52 - 486PC Expansion Cards

The 486PC-25 and 486PC-50 Expansion Cards are the latest generation of Aleph One's highly successful range of Podules for Acorn RISC computers. The cards enable users of Acorn computers to run DOS and Windows programs as if using a dedicated PC compatible computer, either in full-screen mode or within a window on the RISC OS desktop.

Two models are available. The 486PC-25 Card includes a powerful 486SLC processor, while the 486PC-50 Card has a "clock doubled" 486 chip. This means that although the PC Card itself runs at 25 MHz, the 486 runs internally at twice that speed (50 MHz), providing improved performance.

In addition to PC functionality and speed far in advance of Acorn's software PC Emulator, Aleph One PC Cards offer a high degree of integration between the PC and Acorn worlds on your desktop.

Prices

Consult the current price list for details.

Integration

The PC Card has been thoroughly tested with a wide range of DOS and Windows software. All modern variants of MS-DOS and Novell DOS, Microsoft Windows and well-written application programs work without any compatibility problems.

Swapping text and graphics between PC and Acorn worlds is as simple as cutting and pastingŅimagine pasting text from PC-only CD-ROMs directly into your RISC OS word processor or database. You can even use your PC Card to allow your Acorn computer to connect to PC networks such as Novell Netware, Windows for Workgroups and LAN Manager.

With the addition of Aleph One's Windows driver software, supplied as standard with these cards, the 486 and the ARM processor in your computer work together to improve performance, with the ARM acting as a graphics coprocessor.

The cards work in two modes. In multi-tasking mode the PC screen appears as a window on the RISC OS desktop; in single-tasking mode the PC takes over the whole screen and runs more quickly because the ARM processor is devoted to supporting it. A keyboard short cut lets you switch between the two modes.

Processor

Two processor options are available. 486PC-25 cards feature a 486SLC running at 25 Mhz. 486PC-50 Cards feature a clock-doubled processor which provides an additional boost to performance. Both cards support an optional 80387SX or equivalent maths coprocessor.

Software support

All cards are supplied with our !PC software which controls operation of the PC, as well as providing configuration and setup facilities. Configuration of your hard drives is made easy.

You can run Microsoft Windows3.1 and Windows for Workgroups on your 486 PC Card. All cards are supplied with a Windows driver which dramatically improves the performance of the cards when running Microsoft Windows. The graphics power of the ARM chip inside your Acorn computer is harnessed to perform many of Windows graphics tasks, reducing the workload of the 486 processor and improving the speed with which Windows programs are displayed. The Windows driver software supports all PC modes which can be displayed on Acorn hardware - the precise combination depends on the type of ARM platform.

Networking

We have increased the range of networking systems supported by the PC Cards. It is now possible to connect to the following types of networks using the PC Card:

Novell Netware 3.xx, 4.xx
Microsoft Windows for Workgroups
Microsoft LAN Manager
IBM LAN Server

Networking options are optional extras available at extra cost. Consult the current price list for details.

Expansion capabilities

Users with particularly demanding requirements of their PC Card will benefit from fitting optional extras to their card. All cards feature an IDE expansion bus, enabling an IDE hard drive to be connected directly to the card. This is not only convenient for storing PC applications and data, but provides a significant boost to performance.

Our software enables you to use many of your Acorn peripherals with the PC Card. CD-ROMs and removeable discs can be accessed. You can connect printers directly to the PC Card's parallel port, or send printing output through your Acorn computer's printer port. An additional serial port can be fitted as an optional extra. Both ports permits high-speed communication at up to 113.4 Kbaud.

Compatibility

The 486PC Expansion Cards may be fitted to any Acorn RISC computer with at least one vacant 16-bit Podule slot, including the A305, A310, A400, A540, A3000 and A5000 models.

Although the 486PC Expansion Cards may be fitted, a range of superior Open Bus Coprocessor cards exists specifically for Risc PC.

Mini-podule PC expansion cards are also available from Acorn for the A3010/A3020/A4000.

Peripherals

The 486PC Expansion Cards occupy a single expansion slot and conform to Acorn's expansion card specification. They automatically use the keyboard, mouse, real-time clock and drives in your computer.

The specification of your computer affects the performance of the 486 PC Card in the following way:

Floppy drive: A5000 and RISC PC: 1.44M DOS
: A300, A400 and A3000: 720K DOS.
Hard drive: Recommended. Any RISC OS hard drive; DOS partitions up to 512MB.
CD-ROM: Optional. Any CDFS-compliant CD-ROM drive.
Monitor: Required. A VGA or better (eg SVGA, XGA) monitor is needed.
Memory: Requires 640K RAM free for maximum configuration.

Technical data

Processor: Texas/Cyrix 486SLC at 25/50MHz
RAM: SIMM slot accepts up to 16MB in 72 pin SIMMs
Numeric coprocessor: 25MHz 80387SX or equivalent (optional)
EMS: LIM/EMS 4.0 in hardware
Serial port: 9-pin IBM-style RS232
Parallel port: 25-pin Centronics, bidirectional
BIOS: Fully custom, RAM shadowed for speed
Display: MDA/CGA/EGA/VGA/SVGA/XGA dependant on monitor
IDE: IDE drives up to 528MB capacity
Floppy: Host floppy: 720K/1.44M (see above)

This information concerns a product under continuous development. Aleph One reserves the right to alter its specification without notice. E&OE. HTML Edition - ARvS - ŠAleph One Ltd. April 1995.