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




