Nexgen microprocessor designer

[cpudesigner]

I am a microprocessor designer and I managed a group at Nexgen which was responsible for 2 major blocks in the 586 cpu: address processor (AP) and the integer execution unit (IEU, which was designed by others & I later had to patch). The other units were the decoder (DEC) and the memory and cache controller (MCU). The floating point (FP) was originally a separate chip. Of course in the beginning all the units were separate chips as we were designing at 1.5 to 1.25 microns.

I have a Nexgen P100 motherboard which means that it has a NX586 processor that was rated as equivalent to a 100 MHz Pentium. I'm not certain but I seem to recall that the floating point NX587 was packaged with the 586 so I think it might have FP (on second thought I think this was a version where both were integrated onto a single die using IBM 5 metal process & after AMD bought Nexgen this version was never sold so probably only around 100 were ever released to insiders). The board passed QC but I've never powered it up. If anyone is interested let me know.

An interesting thing about this design is that many of the "protected mode" instructions (eg, far call) were emulated in software in an address space not accessible to the user. The code was part of the boot rom and used opcodes that were normally illegal except when in this mode. The cpu also had the ability to trap any opcode and enter emulation mode (great for patching broken prototypes). I don't know how the emulation code worked anymore but if someone wanted to they could read out the rom and find the emulation code (recognizable after decoding by its illegal opcodes). Theoretically, you could define your own instructions if you had the unavailable documents.

I also have some memorabilia: a Nexgen/AMD tshirt (used naturally, but in good shape), a Nexgen-IBM labeled cheapy flashlight, prospectus for Nexgen going public on NASDAQ, etc. I also have a multilayer drawing plot of an AP test chip fabbed on a Yamaha process.

If anyone is interested in collecting any of these let me know (no trades please as I am not a collector).

[fRaSsL]

I would like to have the Nexgen T-Shirt Details via PM?!

[Tonyo]

Hi

I am interested by your motherboard an t-shirt

have U a mail ???

[cpudesigner]

Following a short period of time to estimate interest I'll try to put a price on these items and suggest how they might be obtained.

Larry

[xsecret]

I'm in too, for sure

[x86sniper]

If it is Nx586FP I'm also in too

[gshv]

On behalf of cpudesigner I'm posting pictures of the board and the CPU:

http://www.cpu-world.com/images/forum2005/boardwhs.pdf
http://www.cpu-world.com/images/forum2005/p100cpu.pdf
http://www.cpu-world.com/images/forum2005/p100boar.pdf

These are PDF files.

Gennadiy

[Tonyo]

[Minuteman]

I think that you are not alone Tonyo

[Tonyo]

[Minuteman]

cpudesigner, you should really put it on eBay and post a link here...everyone here is watching eBay auctions so you won't miss one of us (and nobody else would buy a Nexgen anyway). I feel that it will be a big mess on this forum otherwise :p

[CPUShack]

[cpudesigner]

eom.

[Mixeur]

[Minuteman]

No, it will not increase the price as only people who are on this forum are going to bid anyway. It will just help to avoid some nasty PM background wars...And we all know what such a NexGen is worth.