Aleph One Risc PC 486 Card - FAQ

Risc PC users will now be able to turn their computers into powerful IBM-compatible PCs with the addition of a Risc PC 486 Card from Aleph One. See the press release for the official announcement.

Fit an Aleph One Risc PC 486 Card into the coprocessor slot of your Risc PC and the computer becomes a powerful IBM-compatible PC capable of running all the latest DOS and software. The original ARM CPU acts as a powerful graphics accelerator when running Windows, improving the performance of your PC further.

Powerful processors

Two processor options are available from Aleph One, the Cyrix 486DX40 and the Cyrix 486DX2/66. These will provide a level of PC performance equivalent to dedicated PCs of similar specification. Consult the data sheet for more detailed information.

Frequently asked questions...

Here are some questions we are often asked about the PC cards from Acorn and Aleph One:

How does the Risc PC 486 Card work?

The card simply fits into the coprocessor slot which is a standard feature of all Risc PCs - no screws are required. Once the card has been installed, its software runs like any other RISC OS program. From then on you can enter the world of DOS and Windows, installing and running the industry-standard software which you need.

How is Aleph One's card different from Acorn's?

Aleph One has worked with Acorn to develop the full range of PC second processor cards for Risc PCs. Both companies' products are the result of the same development and testing process, using Aleph One's proven and mature technology for interfacing Acorn and PC computers.

While Acorn concentrates on providing a basic level of PC compatibility and performance with its cards, Aleph One is drawing upon its years of experience to provide the best possible performance at an acceptable price. Aleph One's cards provide a level of performance considerably in excess of that offered by the basic Acorn card, at a higher price.

By buying your card directly from Aleph One, you are also buying an unsurpassed level of support and service to help you combine the PC and Acorn environments. Our years of experience in this area mean that our technical support staff are experts in both Acorn and PC software, and no-one knows better about connecting the two together.

Can I use my Acorn peripherals?

The card has been designed to allow you to share your Acorn peripherals.

Storage: Your PC second processor will be able to access all standard hard and floppy disk drives, removable drives and cartridges, and CD-ROMs.
Printers: Printing is accessed via the Risc PC parallel/serial port, or over networks.
Modems: Modems are accessed through the Risc PC serial port.
Sound cards: An optional sound upgrade will be available through Acorn in Summer 1995.

When can I have a card?

Aleph One's Risc PC 486 Cards are available now: contact us for availability information.

How do I get the best from my Risc PC 486 card?

Your PC card will work in any current model Risc PC computer with the RAM, screen and hard disc storage you already have. However, to get the best possible use from your PC card, consider the following:

Memory: while a minimum of 4MB is required, you will find that many Windows applications are much more RAM-greedy than their Acorn equivalents, and serious usage of Windows will require at least 8MB RAM in your Risc PC. Fitting the maximum VRAM will improve performance. Aleph One can advise you on this and supply additional RAM and VRAM along with your PC second processor card.
Disc space: You'll need plenty of space for the essential DOS and Windows programs, fonts and utilities, which the PC second processor needs in order to work. Installing Windows application programs, with their many example files, extras, fonts and so on, can eat up hard disc space. Even a word processor or spreadsheet can require up to 20MB storage space if you want to install all the files. If you're planning to make serious use of your second processor, consider adding more hard disc storage to your Risc PC.
Networking: You can connect your PC to a wide range of networks if you have the optional Network Links software and an Ethernet NIC installed in the Risc PC. You can log directly on to most standard PC servers, including Novell Netware and Microsoft Windows for Workgroups and LAN Manager.

What if I don't have a Risc PC?

As the experts in Acorn to PC connectivity, Aleph One has developed a selection of expansion cards which let you add a PC to your Acorn computer. A range of models, all featuring 486 class processors, is available. Consult the list of Aleph One PC Cards sorted by machine type for details.

What about Pentium?

The PC world is a fast-moving one and new processors and variations on existing processors are announced all the time. In general, the more powerful and the newer a processor variant, the more expensive. If we built the latest processors on to cards, they would simply cost too much. It is also important to get a good balance between the second processor and the host system. Some processors might overwhelm the ARM side of the system, so customers would be wasting money on computing power which they could never get the full use of.

There are also technical considerations with some faster processors. Many of these require more power to operate than the low-power Risc PC can provide. Others generate too much heat. As always, we are looking at ways to add more powerful processors to cards, and are committed to continuing development of the Risc PC second processor range.

Pricing and availability

Consult the current price list for details or contact us for availability information.

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