[Open-graphics] YAPI (Yet Another Product Idea)

[James Richard Tyrer]

mykrowatt at comcast.net wrote:
>  -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: James Richard Tyrer <tyrerj at acm.org>
>> Dieter wrote:
>>
>>> Am I correct in thinking that a SATA controller would be easier and faster to
>>> design than a graphics/video controller, and that it would cost significantly
>>> less to get an ASIC fabbed?
>> Is it anything more than a parallel to serial and serial to parallel 
>> converter. a DMA controller, and the line transceiver?
>>
>> If we were going to market an X server on a card, this would good to 
>> include since it would give the X server direct access to the disk for a 
>> swap partition without going through the computer -- only arbitrate on 
>> the bus on the card.
> 
> 
>    An enhancement for OGA-2, perhaps?  It could get complicated; the graphics
> card might have to buffer all requests coming from the computer on that
> interface and arbitrate priorities.

The PCI bus extends onto the card and different devices are different 
PCI devices so arbitration occurs just the same as the main bus but if 
both are on the card, then arbitration doesn't leave the card.

-- 
JRT