Sources for SPARC chips (Summ

[terry a jones]

Now that the responses to my question regarding SPARC manufacturers have
stopped trickling in, I would like to summarize the information here as I
had promised.

First off, I would like to thank everyone that responded!  I also
appreciated the helpful comments that many of you had regarding the nature
of the SPARC International consortium.

The list of those who responded follows.  Note, some people wished not to
be mentioned here.  I have not included them in the list below.

 eirik at theory.TN.CORNELL.EDU 
 andy at polyslo.CalPoly.EDU 
 danw at tbird9.prime.com
 rutgers!indetech.com!tilman 
 validgh!validgh.com!dgh at uunet.UU.NET 
 ram at Eng.Sun.COM 
 khb at Eng.Sun.COM 
 nn at Eng.Sun.COM 
 auspex!auspex.com!guy at uunet.UU.NET 
 ameristar!rick at sbcs.sunysb.edu 
 marsmcro!br at uunet.UU.NET 
 skk at sparc.com
 slcpi!govt.shearson.com!fgreco at uunet.UU.NET 

Here is the list that I have compiled of manufacturers in the SPARC
International consortium.  The phone numbers are correct to the best of my
knowledge. 

	Bipolar Integrated Technology (BIT) - (612) 881-6955
	Cypress Semiconductor - (800) 952-6300, dept. CM44
	Fujitsu - (408) 922-9000
	LSI Logic - (408) 433-8000
	Panasonic/Matsushita - (201) 392-4290
	Phillips - (407) 881-3200
	Ross Technology - (512) 448-8968
	Texas Instruments - (713) 274-2286
	Toshiba - (617) 272-4352

I have also included two of the responses that I thought would be of
general interest below:

***

1. Fujitsu made the original Sparc chips (Gate Arrays, used in the older
   Systems like Sun4/2xx, original Solbourne class - 7/10 MIPS systems)
2. Cypress Semiconductor, San Jose, makes the first custom CMOS Sparc Chip,
   now found in all fast Sparc Machines (SparcStation 2, 4/3xx, 4/4xx, 
   the faster Solbournes, Definicon PC add-in board etc.). Good chip! Go buy 
   tons of it. 16 MIPS and up.
3. LSI Logic to my knowledge is the only manufacturer that offers the entire
   chipset. CPU is not as fast as Cypress, though. Found in SparcStation 1,
   1+, IPC, SLC. Up to 16 MIPS.
4. Texas Instruments is a second source for the Cypress chip. Don't know if they
   make it yet.
5. Bipolar Technologies (or so) has a super-fast multi-chip version (bipolar,
   high power). Not used anywhere yet.

Some other guys are working on GaAs versions etc.

***

Fujitsu Advanced Product Development
	Older IU & FPU used in SS1, SS1+
	Newer IU/FPU Combo chip
	SPARClite embedded 
	said to be working on reference MMU

LSI Logic
	Older IU & FPU used in SS1, SS1+
	Newer IU & FPU like Cypress
	Their own SPARKkit25 set, includes
		Cypress-like IU & FPU
		MMU
		MBus to SBus
		MBus Memory Controller
		SBus DMA
		Misc IO
	Versions of IU for embedded control
	Also sells the SPARCkit-20, which is the
		VLSI used in the SS1 
	Announced "Lighning" which is a new
		IU/FPU/MMU codesigned with Metaflow and Hyundai
Cypress Semi (Ross Technology)
	IU & FPU (IU used in SS2)
	MMU (CY7C604)
	Versions of IU for embedded control
	Announced "Pinnacle", which is a new
		IU/FPU/MMU chip set

Texas Instruments
	FPU used in SS2
	Announced "Viking", which is a new
		IU/FPU/MMU chip set

Phillips
	said to be working on an embedded processor

Weitek
	FPU

In addition, Cypress makes the CY7C157 which is the special cache RAM used
by most of the MMUs.  This is second sourced by Logic Devices and AT&T.
Via Technologies is working on motherboard chip sets.  So is Tera
Microsystems.

We know of more than this, but we have non-disclosures that prevent
us talking about it.

Hope this helps

***

	Again, thank you everyone for all the help.
	Terry Jones

Terry Jones   				{rutgers,uunet}!acsu.buffalo.edu!jones
SUNY at Buffalo ECE Dept.	  or: rutgers!ub!jones, jones at acsu.buffalo.edu