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-- Math coprocessor? (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=9475)

Hi all,

Forgive my ignorance on technical matters like this, but is it true that the Visor's internal structure does not include a math coprocessor? I seem to remember someone saying that this was the case. If so, has anybody ever thought about making a springboard module that is just a math coprocessor, that perhaps could be used to accelerate number-heavy programs like Quicksheet? (Can such a module even be made?)

I mention this because I use Quicksheet to keep a gradebook for my classes, and this late in the semester I have a lot of stuff in each workbook and Quicksheet is almost painfully slow under these conditions. (Quicksheet is a wonderful program, don't get me wrong.) I'd shell out $35-50 for a module like the one I described above if it could speed stuff like this up. (Maybe even stick 2 MB of memory on it, ala the Innogear vibrating alarm module?)

Talk amongst yourselves.

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BertBert
Mark 12:28-31

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Originally posted by BertBert
...and Quicksheet is almost painfully slow under these conditions.

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God bless America, my home sweet home...

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Originally posted by MarkEagle

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Originally posted by BertBert
...and Quicksheet is almost painfully slow under these conditions.

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The reason Quicksheet is slow probably has more to do with the auto-recalc than anything else. You can turn off auto-recalc in the Worksheet properties... it makes a big difference. Then, you just need to remember to recalc manually!

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BertBert
Mark 12:28-31

No FPU

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Originally posted by BertBert
Hi all,

Forgive my ignorance on technical matters like this, but is it true that the Visor's internal structure does not include a math coprocessor? I seem to remember someone saying that this was the case. If so, has anybody ever thought about making a springboard module that is just a math coprocessor, that perhaps could be used to accelerate number-heavy programs like Quicksheet? (Can such a module even be made?)
...

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Have you considered overclocking QuickSheet?

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Life's just a blast, just it's moving really fast, and you'd <BR>better stay on top or life'll kick you in the ass -Limp Bizkit

Re: No FPU

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Originally posted by MPM
The 68020 can hook up to an external FPU, and the 68030/40/60 all have the FPU in them.
[/B]

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Re: Re: No FPU

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Originally posted by california boyhead
Actually...
the 68030's FPU was external and not always included... It used the 68882 FPU, derived from the 68020's FPU, the 68881. The 68040 had an FPU in its full form, but Motorola did release some as 68LC040's with out FPU functionality built-in...

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__________________
Life's just a blast, just it's moving really fast, and you'd <BR>better stay on top or life'll kick you in the ass -Limp Bizkit

Re: Re: No FPU

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Actually...
the 68030's FPU was external and not always included... It used the 68882 FPU, derived from the 68020's FPU, the 68881. The 68040 had an FPU in its full form, but Motorola did release some as 68LC040's with out FPU functionality built-in...

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There are lots of programs that are made for tracking grades. I know of two of them that you can download at least a trial version of the software. I have seen Due Yesterday and Four.Zero, but I am sure that there are lots more out there. I have not used them too much, but I am sure that the refresh rate is much faster than quicksheet. Of course, if you really like quicksheet...

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Re: Re: Re: No FPU

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Originally posted by parb33
Were you the one who once called the rest of the discussion board nerds? [/B]

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I agree, the name is a pretty poor effort. Kinda nauseating if you ask me. BTW, what is the difference between geeks and nerds?

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Life's just a blast, just it's moving really fast, and you'd <BR>better stay on top or life'll kick you in the ass -Limp Bizkit

Back to the topic at hand . . .

. . . and not that I disapprove of meandering conversations . . . but back to BurtBurt's original question.

There is no reason why someone like TI couldn't release a module with an optimized processor that actually runs the application on the module (which would have to have its own memory), and only use the Visor as a display device. Of course, if you are going to go to all this trouble, you would want more than a mere speadsheet. Maybe something like a Mathmatica-lite or Mathcad SBM. Actually, a Mathcad SBM might be feasible. Given the low volume sales for such a device, I'm afraid to even imagine what the price might be.

Re: Back to the topic at hand . . .

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Originally posted by yucca
Of course, if you are going to go to all this trouble, you would want more than a mere speadsheet. Maybe something like a Mathmatica-lite or Mathcad SBM. Actually, a Mathcad SBM might be feasible. Given the low volume sales for such a device, I'm afraid to even imagine what the price might be. [/B]

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BertBert
Mark 12:28-31

To answer your question (difference btwn nerds and geeks), you can't spell Geek without EE ;-) I heard that a lot, since it was one of my majors at Auburn!

Much of the slowdown lies not in the math but in the time it takes to display the spreadsheet, as heavy drawing code will be a kick in the pants for the Visor