Omnimaga
Calculator Community => Casio Calculators => Topic started by: fxdev on December 10, 2011, 09:13:28 am
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Yes, it's true. They now use an SH-4A CPU (without FPU) like on the Prizm. Meaning that it should be possible to share at least some code between both platforms. Also, the new fx-9860GII SD now supports SDHC cards with up to 32 GB of memory (which the Prizm doesn't!). :D
You can identify the new models by the label "USB POWER GRAPHIC 2" or by the preinstalled firmware version "OS 2.02".
(http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/534/fx9860g3.png)
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Can the regular power graphic models use prizm code also?
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Oh, wow. That's pretty cool. =)
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Can the regular power graphic models use prizm code also?
No. The Prizm OS has been compiled directly for SH-4A meaning that new instructions and processor-specific entensions are used. These would cause critical exceptions on an SH-3 CPU. What I mean with "code sharing" is that, for instance, we could use the init code for the Prizm's frequency control register (FRQCR) to speed up the new GII CPU to 58 MHz as well.
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A couple more questions:
1.)What is your information source?
2.)Do you know if they changed the screen resolution?
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1.) Casio guru Simon Lothar ;D
2.) Just look at the picture: No, they did not change the display.
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The difference of SD and non-SD model may help to add SD support to the Prizm model (hoping, that only connector + few discrete parts are missing and Prizm FW has SD supports)
Just an idea ... :-)
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Er-, not really secure, like mod...
But sounds COOL!
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Can the regular power graphic models use prizm code also?
No. The Prizm OS has been compiled directly for SH-4A meaning that new instructions and processor-specific entensions are used. These would cause critical exceptions on an SH-3 CPU. What I mean with "code sharing" is that, for instance, we could use the init code for the Prizm's frequency control register (FRQCR) to speed up the new GII CPU to 58 MHz as well.
Does this mean that Power Graphic SH-3 FX-9860's will not be able to use add-ins developed for FX-9860 Power Graphics 2 models?
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I kinda like the look of the old model, though. :P Still nice, though.
However, does this means old FX-9860G add-ins will no longer run on this new model? ???
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Does this mean that Power Graphic SH-3 FX-9860's will not be able to use add-ins developed for FX-9860 Power Graphics 2 models?
If they solely use SH-4A-specific features, then yes.
But my hope is that most experienced hackers will make their programs cross-platform compatible.
However, does this means old FX-9860G add-ins will no longer run on this new model?
Indeed, most add-ins have stopped working.
I kinda like the look of the old model, though.
Nah! I'm still a fan of the classic fx-9860G SD! ;D(http://www.omnimaga.org/Themes/default/images/gpbp_arrow_up.gif)
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It would really suck if Casio broke compatibility with old programs. It would mean they're going the TI route in some ways (remember OS 2.53 MP and how old Lua programs break in newer Nspire OSes)
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It would really suck if Casio broke compatibility with old programs. It would mean they're going the TI route in some ways (remember OS 2.53 MP and how old Lua programs break in newer Nspire OSes)
Would? They did break compatibility. But it's not their fault as they warned their users not to access hardware directly.
If you used the official Casio SDK, your programs will continue to work. However, this SDK offers very limited functionality only.
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Hmm calm down, it happens to everyone to miss something in posts when reading. I didn't see someone mentionned they broke compatibility in previous posts, hence why I asked. Also your post above mine was edited with the answer to my question after I replied again. Anyway this still sucks. At least they warned users to not access hardware directly, though, unlike Texas Instruments with hardware changes and stuff. Also even if it's not their fault, it's still a bit their responsibility to offer a SDK that allows people enough freedom to not have to access hardware directly.
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On the plus side, that means that Prizm progs will be more easily ported to them! That's not so bad, considering the amount of prizm programs that are coming in.
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So it's much like a Prizm, but with a monochrome screen and a SDHC card reader? Sounds nice.
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Seems that way. The 9860 GII series also has a lower resolution though. 128x64, which is incidentally the same as the old TI-86. =)
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So it's much like a Prizm, but with a monochrome screen and a SDHC card reader? Sounds nice.
And only 1.5 MB of storage memory for add-ins.
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If recompiled older add-ins should be able to work. There's nothing wrong with directly accessing the hardware as long as you do it in a safe and efficient way. My preferred method is to use a set of standardized libraries that can updated when hardware changes without having to modify someone's legacy code. For example a set_cpu_frequency(int) function could be designed to be both hardware compatible with all current casio calcs and be flexible enough to be expanded for future designs. This is also why I'm such a strong advocate for open-source projects as old apps that are no longer maintained by their original authors can no longer work if they were closed source. This is especially distressing if only a few minor modifications were required to upgrade to the newer gII. To prevent this in the future I've been working on standardizing methods for the Prizm as it will be necessary if casio changes the hardware. In fact I'm going to try and extend these hardware libraries to all casio calcs that way standardized hardware functions can be used for nearly half a dozen calcs. Do note that the professional software industry deals with these issues to a far more difficult level than we do. As an example look at the x86 architecture. The number of modifications and additions it has gone through is far more than the super h. And yet something like windows has to directly access the hardware on the tens of thousands of different pc's out there and is expected to work right out of the box.
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32GB? Damn... For some reason that puts the PSP to shame...
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Because Pro 2 Duos were ridiculously overpriced?