Creating a new ROM based using native ARM
2010-01-25 by Duncan
I am a [relatively] new user of the HP50G, and therefore been a quiet observer of this group. As it appears HP are no longer developing calculators, has this group [or a subset of this group] considered obtaining permission from HP to develop a new ROM which is based on the native ARM instructions instead of running through a SATURN emulator.
Depending on the user requirements this would allow an order or two of magnitude increase in performance [almost across the board] with no increase in power consumption, or similar performance to the current ROMs with a significant increase in battery life, and finally for the speed hungry maximise performance by redlining the ARM processor [with a safety margin that maintains correct operation with the peripheral electronics/interfaces]. This could be user selectable via a [new] system flag or function.
I would like to assist with this project, if it were to go ahead, but clearly this needs a significant level of commitment and support from group members as well as the permission of HP and full access to current ROM source code and documentation. The project would also need to scope itself appropriately particularly in terms of whether an incremental approach should be used [converting slower parts of the current ROM to ARM first] and whether backwards compatability should be maintained (I believe it should so that the extensive collection of applications and libraries will continue to function correctly - at least those that only use standard features of the ROMs and do operate between different versions of previous and current ROMs]
My apologies if this is the wrong forum to raise this topic, or if it has already been raised and dismissed.
Depending on the user requirements this would allow an order or two of magnitude increase in performance [almost across the board] with no increase in power consumption, or similar performance to the current ROMs with a significant increase in battery life, and finally for the speed hungry maximise performance by redlining the ARM processor [with a safety margin that maintains correct operation with the peripheral electronics/interfaces]. This could be user selectable via a [new] system flag or function.
I would like to assist with this project, if it were to go ahead, but clearly this needs a significant level of commitment and support from group members as well as the permission of HP and full access to current ROM source code and documentation. The project would also need to scope itself appropriately particularly in terms of whether an incremental approach should be used [converting slower parts of the current ROM to ARM first] and whether backwards compatability should be maintained (I believe it should so that the extensive collection of applications and libraries will continue to function correctly - at least those that only use standard features of the ROMs and do operate between different versions of previous and current ROMs]
My apologies if this is the wrong forum to raise this topic, or if it has already been raised and dismissed.