They're here faster CPU's from Nippon Electric
                     (inexpensive PC compatible upgrade)
                                 Mike Guffey

    Already the subject of conjecture, myth, guesses, and  outright  lies,
    the  new  V-series  CPU's  have suddenly arrived on the scene.  Called
    "cheap turbochargers" and "low-buck horsepower" the recently  released
    NEC  chips  for  PC/MSDOS  computers  will  please some and disappoint
    others.

    Well, just what are these "wonder chips", billed by  one  magazine  as
    "PC Accelerators"?  Briefly, the new NEC V-series chips are an upgrade
    or replacement for the Intel 8088 or  8086  Central  Processing  Units
    that  drive  most IBM PC/XT compatibles.  (There is not yet a V-series
    upgrade for the AT-type 80286 chips.) They are  compatible  with  most
    MSDOS machines on the market and almost all MSDOS software.  What they
    offer  now  is  a  modest  improvement  in  performance.   What  their
    potential is, remains to be seen.  They are one of the least expensive
    improvements on the market for true PC compatibles.

    The singular advantage of the V-series chips is that they will process
    more  microinstructions in a specified time.  They do NOT speed up the
    process, per se.  But they affect the total volume of  data  processed
    nonetheless.   This  is  done  because  the  chip  its elf recodes the
    microinstructions to require less processing time.  This is done  with
    about  twice the transistors, one more data bus, and other significant
    improvements over the Intel  chip.   [The  dual  buses  transmit  data
    internally  in  both directions at t e same time, sort of in parallel.
    This may reduce the time needed to pass information within the chip by
    as much as one-half.]

    Within  the  NEC V-series chips are three new temporary registers used
    only for math and certain other operations.  [These registers are  not
    directly  accessible  to programmers, but are used by the chip itself,
    as needed.] During 8088/8086 math intensive sof tware operations, some
    routines run more than 50% faster than on the Intel chips.

    The  V-series chips are inserted in the slot currently occupied by the
    Intel 8088/8086.  They are an exact match in pin  usage,  and  because
    they  are  also  (object)  code  compatible,  no  further  hardware or
    software modifications are needed.  There are currently two models  of
    the  V-series  and  each  is available in three varieties which can be
    matched to the clock speed of the CPU they replace.

    [Clock speed is rate at which calculations  are  performed  and  other
    operations  occur  in  the  computer hardware.  The standard value for
    IBM-PC compatibles is 4.77 mHz.  Some computers run faster because  of
    the  way  they  are  designed,  others  may  be  upgraded wi th add-on
    speed-up boards.]


    Yes!

    The chips ARE  compatible  with  all  true  IBM  compatibles  (the  TI
    Professional requires a BIOS patch)

    The V20 replaces the 8088;  the V30 replaces the 8086

    They  are  available  for  three  clock  speed ranges, 5.0mHz, 7.6mHz,
    10.0mHz (use the software below and specify clock speed when ordering)

    The performance improvement ranges from a modest 6% upwards (the  true
    upper limit depends on the type of computation)

    The  chip  WILL make a difference in speed for things like spreadsheet
    recalcs, assemblies, compilation, and other tasks  that  require  many
    memory moves

    They will allow CP/M 80 emulation and, with special software, will run
    8-bit CP/M programs (One ShareWare product, called V2080 or V20CPM.COM
    is already on BBS's around the country.)

    Other software is also already on BBS's:  V20DEBUG.COM and an extended
    ASM instruction set, called V20EXTND.INS

    The chip is 8087 (math co-processor)  compatible  and  uses  20%  less
    power than the Intel chip


    No!

    The chips will NOT boost performance 90% to 300% (as claimed by some)

    They  will  NOT  make  a  =BIG=  performance difference, but they WILL
    upgrade your computer for new software to come.  (Some  public  domain
    utilities  have already been developed, can the commercial programming
    world be far behind?)

    They are NOT hard to install:  out with the old, in with the new

    There is no =immediate= advantage to putting in a faster V-series chip
    than  you  need.   But  if you might ever add a clock speed-up (turbo)
    board,  your  CPU  will  be  ready.   You  will  also  add  a   higher
    grade/quality  part  than  is necessary, but the cost differen tial is
    small.

    They will NOT interfere with memory-parity check on power-up but  they
    WILL speedup this function (and will be most noticable if RAM has been
    expanded beyond 256k)

    One of the interesting features of the V-series  chips  is  that  they
    will  operate  in two modes.  In the NATIVE mode, all instructions are
    executed in accordance with 8088/8086  standards.   In  the  EMULATION
    mode,  all  incoming  instructions  are  executed as Intel 8080 (8-bit
    CP/M) instructions.  [This CP/M emulation is subject to  hardware  and
    software  limitations -- video calls and user-area calls may cause the
    operation to fail or crash.  To set this mode, a  special  program  is
    needed (see above).

    The   V-series   chips   are  primarily  available  through  specialty
    electronics houses and mail-order firms.  They are  not  to  be  found
    (yet) as a stock item in most computer stores.