Zitat von
hap
Re: Saitek modules: Indeed, the chessboard has its own CPU. Even the manual says that with a module inserted it becomes a dual-CPU system. However, that may be marketing blabla lies, and maybe the module takes over the complete bus and directly controls the chessboard (instead of communicating with the other CPU). I haven't looked into it thoroughly yet.
Hello hap
If you talk about Saitek Gallileo, Leonardo or Renaissance and the Modules for it, it is right. The chessboard with the main Program has a 6301Y CPU and offers the Levels a1-a8 and b1-b8, while the modules (like Maestro or Analyst for example) have a 65C02, the Brute Force Module a H8 and the Saitek Sparc has a Sparc-CPU.
I don't know if the modules take over the complete bus or directly controls the chessboard. I don't know if you can really call it a dual-CPU-System then, even when the additional module is in. By selecting the level, you define what programm you use and therefore what Processor is used. Levels beginning with a, b or c (e.g. Level c6) are the main Programm on the 6301Y, other Levels are the additional module with another CPU. Can you really call it a dual-CPU-System in this case only because the 6301Y controls the bus? I am not sure. Then also a 80386 with an additional 80387 would be a "Dual CPU-System"