Heh, 5 bit ALU. Why 5 bits? The "custom" with for the number of bits a device handles tends to be powers of 2, but you've gone and not only chosen a number that isn't a power of 2, but isn't even EVEN!!! 5 is a nice number though, so I don't fault you for defying seemingly arbitrary convention.
You did a good job getting all those functions in, and I like the aesthetics of your control-room. Given that you already have 2 registers of memory incorporated, I think your ALU is already heading into CPU territory.
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Hans Lemurson's Thread of Links:http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/371610-hans-lemursons-thread-of-links/
Look here to find links to my inventions, creations, and my Youtube channel featuring Amazing Creations of Mine (Redstone engineering FTW!!!) and charming Music-Videos about clones. I also made "Minecraft in Minecraft" (2D platformer/building game). I'm currently trying to make a computer.
Heh, 5 bit ALU. Why 5 bits? The "custom" with for the number of bits a device handles tends to be powers of 2, but you've gone and not only chosen a number that isn't a power of 2, but isn't even EVEN!!! 5 is a nice number though, so I don't fault you for defying seemingly arbitrary convention.
You did a good job getting all those functions in, and I like the aesthetics of your control-room. Given that you already have 2 registers of memory incorporated, I think your ALU is already heading into CPU territory.
Well I had done 4 bits before, and I figured "why not" and just added another bit in there. Is there a specific reason people normally use powers of 2?
Well I had done 4 bits before, and I figured "why not" and just added another bit in there. Is there a specific reason people normally use powers of 2?
I have wondered why the "Power of 2" convention exists for processors. My guess is that it has to do with addressing (4 bit addresses give you 16 locations), but I don't see how that should have any impact on the size of your daa registers and how many bits you process at a time.
I often suspect that there's a "Cult of the Sacred 2" that's developed in the computer industry.
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Hans Lemurson's Thread of Links:http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/371610-hans-lemursons-thread-of-links/
Look here to find links to my inventions, creations, and my Youtube channel featuring Amazing Creations of Mine (Redstone engineering FTW!!!) and charming Music-Videos about clones. I also made "Minecraft in Minecraft" (2D platformer/building game). I'm currently trying to make a computer.
I have wondered why the "Power of 2" convention exists for processors. My guess is that it has to do with addressing (4 bit addresses give you 16 locations), but I don't see how that should have any impact on the size of your daa registers and how many bits you process at a time.
I often suspect that there's a "Cult of the Sacred 2" that's developed in the computer industry.
Well, looks like I've broken the cult's rules :wink.gif:
The "GUI" (the place where you do the calculations) is very easy to understand and the speed is very fast. I also like the fact that you can see snow falling through the glass in the ceiling. Good job.
Thanks! I made this ALU with speed in mind the whole time, and it ended up faster then I thought it would be
Also, I'm now working on a CPU, which will have an ALU similar to this, except in a tower, and maybe 4 registers? Depends how lazy I'm feeling
I think the number 4 (third bit from the right) in the output is bugged when the AND function is chosen. It is always on regardless of the inputs. Also, I'm not good at this, but shouldn't the NOT function be called NOR? These are just some minor problems I found, but anyway the ALU is great. :biggrin.gif:
I fixed both in the new CPU. Thanks for pointing them out!
Ah, I'm glad you got RAM working! Also, quick question: When you say 2 bytes, do you mean 2 bytes of 8 bits, or 2 bytes of 4 bits (since it's a 4 bit CPU)?
Thanks!
The inputs are 4-Bit, and there are 16 bits (2 bytes) of RAM, so up to 4 different numbers can be stored at the same time.
How fast is the CPU? I ask because the torches used in the vertical transmission of data to the tower portion are going to cost you nearly 1 second. A faster way (in terms of data transmission) to get redstone up is to use a 2x2 helix. You'll need to stagger your helixes (every other line shifted forwards one block) in order to ensure that they don't interfere with each other, but it seems like a pretty easy way to boost the speed of your system.
Slow processing speed isn't something you notice when you're doing just one calculation at a time, but if you ever expand to being able to run simple programs, you'll soon learn just how long a few seconds can be an will try to shave them off wherever possible.
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Hans Lemurson's Thread of Links:http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/371610-hans-lemursons-thread-of-links/
Look here to find links to my inventions, creations, and my Youtube channel featuring Amazing Creations of Mine (Redstone engineering FTW!!!) and charming Music-Videos about clones. I also made "Minecraft in Minecraft" (2D platformer/building game). I'm currently trying to make a computer.
How fast is the CPU? I ask because the torches used in the vertical transmission of data to the tower portion are going to cost you nearly 1 second. A faster way (in terms of data transmission) to get redstone up is to use a 2x2 helix. You'll need to stagger your helixes (every other line shifted forwards one block) in order to ensure that they don't interfere with each other, but it seems like a pretty easy way to boost the speed of your system.
Slow processing speed isn't something you notice when you're doing just one calculation at a time, but if you ever expand to being able to run simple programs, you'll soon learn just how long a few seconds can be an will try to shave them off wherever possible.
Well at the moment it can take about 3-5 seconds for one calculation. That's pretty fast, but you're right, when I get to adding program lines I'll probably make those faster, it shouldn't be that hard
You did a good job getting all those functions in, and I like the aesthetics of your control-room. Given that you already have 2 registers of memory incorporated, I think your ALU is already heading into CPU territory.
Look here to find links to my inventions, creations, and my Youtube channel featuring Amazing Creations of Mine (Redstone engineering FTW!!!) and charming Music-Videos about clones. I also made "Minecraft in Minecraft" (2D platformer/building game). I'm currently trying to make a computer.
Well I had done 4 bits before, and I figured "why not" and just added another bit in there. Is there a specific reason people normally use powers of 2?
http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/374932-5-bit-alu-8-functions-2-registers/
I have wondered why the "Power of 2" convention exists for processors. My guess is that it has to do with addressing (4 bit addresses give you 16 locations), but I don't see how that should have any impact on the size of your daa registers and how many bits you process at a time.
I often suspect that there's a "Cult of the Sacred 2" that's developed in the computer industry.
Look here to find links to my inventions, creations, and my Youtube channel featuring Amazing Creations of Mine (Redstone engineering FTW!!!) and charming Music-Videos about clones. I also made "Minecraft in Minecraft" (2D platformer/building game). I'm currently trying to make a computer.
Well, looks like I've broken the cult's rules :wink.gif:
Thanks! I made this ALU with speed in mind the whole time, and it ended up faster then I thought it would be
Also, I'm now working on a CPU, which will have an ALU similar to this, except in a tower, and maybe 4 registers? Depends how lazy I'm feeling
http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/374932-5-bit-alu-8-functions-2-registers/
I fixed both in the new CPU. Thanks for pointing them out!
http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/374932-5-bit-alu-8-functions-2-registers/
Thanks!
http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/374932-5-bit-alu-8-functions-2-registers/
However, great job!
Well when one or more of the inputs (in this case there is only one) the output is false, which is a NOR gate.
http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/374932-5-bit-alu-8-functions-2-registers/
Thanks!
The inputs are 4-Bit, and there are 16 bits (2 bytes) of RAM, so up to 4 different numbers can be stored at the same time.
http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/374932-5-bit-alu-8-functions-2-registers/
Used to be, but I created a whole new ALU for the CPU. It's much more compact and goes vertically rather then horizantally.
http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/374932-5-bit-alu-8-functions-2-registers/
Slow processing speed isn't something you notice when you're doing just one calculation at a time, but if you ever expand to being able to run simple programs, you'll soon learn just how long a few seconds can be an will try to shave them off wherever possible.
Look here to find links to my inventions, creations, and my Youtube channel featuring Amazing Creations of Mine (Redstone engineering FTW!!!) and charming Music-Videos about clones. I also made "Minecraft in Minecraft" (2D platformer/building game). I'm currently trying to make a computer.
Well at the moment it can take about 3-5 seconds for one calculation. That's pretty fast, but you're right, when I get to adding program lines I'll probably make those faster, it shouldn't be that hard
http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/374932-5-bit-alu-8-functions-2-registers/