3 ms·
The explanation I read back in the early 80's was Intel had the 8088 which required 8 DRAM chips. And the 68000 required 16 DRAM chips. For early microcomputers
by Gibbon1 6y ago
The explanation I read back in the early 80's was Intel had the 8088 which required 8 DRAM chips. And the 68000 required 16 DRAM chips. For early microcomputers the cost of DRAM was the dominant cost.
- csharptwdec19 6y agoInteresting point. I know that with the Nintendo 64, the use of RDRAM was similar (lower overall chip count, which also helped with board cost in that case)
- Gibbon1 6y agoI think also a narrower data bus which might allow a smaller PCB with fewer layers. Used to be higher layer count PCB's $$$$. Friend worked on a layout where they did the board design first and then designed the processor pinout to match. So they could get away with a small two layer board. Ground on the bottom layer and all the signals on the top layer.