7100/80 doesn't have a floting point coprocessor?

I agree with Phil that you're a lot better off with native PPC apps, but
if you've _got_ to run a non-native app that needs an FPU, here's how:

John Neal's shareware utility SoftwareFPU, which is available
at mac.archive.umich.edu, in /system.extensions/cdev, will make your
68K machine think it has an FPU installed. If you use SoftwareFPU,
please pay the shareware fee. John has done a great job, and he's a
student.

The opinions expressed in this message are entirely my own.
Cy Cantrell
Center for Applied Optics
University of Texas at Dallas

More precisely, the PowerMac doesn't do floating point emulation
for the 68xxx. So an "accelerated" application will use the PowerMac's
FPU, but 68k apps cannot. Therefore, be SURE that when you install
68k applications that you select the no-FPU option, or else install
the FPU emulator mentioned previously.

IMHO:
Err. I dislike a person that makes a statement like this without thinking
it through.

My guess is the programs get the FPU error is because they are writing
directly to the FPU. Granted this saves them time & their programs run
faster on machines w/ an FPU chip (68881 or 68882). It is a trade off
between speed & compatibility. BUT, they will get this error on Q605, LC
47x, LC 57x, and other machines that don't have one. If you run Software
FPU you will see how it SLOWS the system down, it works, but what is has
to do is time consuming. It is an excellent reason to pay the shareware
fee so you can get the native version.

So, no, it is not so strange, the problem (per your definition) would have
started with the Centris 610 (4/80). Apple did do something. It is called
something like 'programming guidelines' or "Don't write to hardware, it
changes". I'm sure Apple could have done it, but that adds more
complexity, more programming, & more delays to the shipping product. This
of course gives added benefit to going to native versions. Some do it for
speed, some do it for compatability.

I apologize if this sounded personal, I don't mean it to be.

There is one, but it to some older applications it doesn't *look*
like one.

Installing the shareware "Software FPU" will take care of the
problem, even though that's not what the program was originally
intended for.

(Why doesn't Apple provide such code in its system in the first
place, you may be wondering. Strange, isn't it? This problem has
been around from the first Power Macs, yet Apple does nothing about
it.)

Here's a summary of info on Software FPU, with thanks to the Univ.
of Texas at Austin's marvelous Web site.

AKA: PseudoFPU
Version: 3.0.2
Author: Neil, John
E-Mail:
Address: John Neil & Associates
P.O. Box 2156
Cupertino, CA 95015 USA
Phone: (800) 663-2943
Fax: (415) 661-2944
License: Shareware ($10 68K, $20 PPC)
Type: Control Panel
Requires: CPU = 68020, 68030, 68LC040 or PowerPC; No FPU
Master Site: #
Source Site: macgifts
Downld URL: #
Downld Size: 82383
Local Date: 22-Nov-94

SoftwareFPU, by John Neil, is a shareware Macintosh utility which allows
applications requiring a Floating Point Unit (FPU) to work on computers
without one, such as the IIsi, IIvi, LC series, Classic II & Color Classic
series, Performa series, Power Macintosh, and some models of PowerBook,
PowerBook Duo, and Quadra series. Drop this control panel onto your System
folder and FPU applications that formerly crashed will begin working.
SoftwareFPU requires a 68020, 68030, 68LC040, or PowerPC processor.



John De Hoog, Tokyo, Japan

: Hi,
: I just got a Powermac 7100/80, and many of my graphics
: programs give me a "need a floating point coprocessor"...?
: I thought there was one already?

: am I out to left field?

Yep, that $3000 is down the drain fella. ;)))

Actually the problem is with your applications, not with the PowerMac.
The PPC601 chip that your Mac uses does indeed have a co-processor. A
VERY good one as a matter of fact. If your graphics programs were "native",
that is, were compiled to specifically run on a PowerMac you wouldn't
see this problem, but would see a huge speed increase when using the
application. The application(s) you're running are "old" in that they
are non-native PowerMac applications. When non-native applications are
run on the PowerMac, it uses a software emulator that "tricks" the
program to make it think it's running on an '040 based Mac. Specifically
the software emulator emulates the 68LC040 microprocessor that does *NOT*
have a built in co-processor. That's why you're getting the error.
Your application thinks it's running on a machine like a Centris610 that
uses the 68LC040 chip.

Solution(s): Buy "native" PowerMac applications (expensive, especially
right after you chunked out some big change for the box). Or...
grab SoftwareFPU off your favorite info-mac ftp site (or AOL has it I think).
It tricks your software into thinking there is a co-processor present.
It's shareware, and please pay the fee if you use it.

IMHO you're better off saving and buying native applications. You're
really crippling that new machine if you run old 68k applications. It's
like buying an Indy Formula race car and filling the tank with 87 octane
unleaded. :)

Phil
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