NewtonGuts

This group of pages describes many internals of the Newton MP2100. The purpose of this collection is to understand the wonderful implementation of NewtonOS and to create a knowledge base for hardware extensions and software drivers.

Hardware Details Message Pad 2001

Hardware:

• Processing

  • GutsCpu: StrongARM SA-110 running in big endian 32bit mode

    • MMU: The MMU is an integral part of the CPU. NewtonOS uses every aspect of the MMU
    • DMA: Sound input, output and serial interfaces use DMA to take load off the CPU
    • GutsInterrupts: 32 Interrupt source are supported
  • GutsVoyager ASIC: The great mystery part of the Newton
  • GutsRom: 8MB ROM (but there is more space on the ROM board), located at 0x00000000
  • GutsRex: (REx) NewtonOS supports up to 8 ROM Extensions that can contain drivers and software
  • GutsFlashRam: 4MB at 0x02000000, many access restrictions
  • GutsDynamicRam: 4MB at 0x04000000, but will be mapped to other places by the MMU

• Devices

  • PCMCIA: the two PCMCIA ports are mapped to 0x3c000000(?) and 0x4c000000(?)
  • Screen: resolution is 320x480, 4 grays, using dynamic RAM mapped to 0xe0000000
  • Digitizer: resistive, position is read using two high-res DAC's

  • Serial ports

    • Sync port (port 1)
    • Modem port
    • Debug port (port 3)
    • IR port
  • Speaker: using DMA and interrupts, no load on CPU
  • Microphone: using DMA and interrupts, no load on CPU
  • Power and reset switch: using interrupts(?)

  • Connectors:

    • external expansion port
    • internal expansion port
    • power