Clark Martin wrote:OS 9 running in Classic mode under OS X can still run 68K code. Any Mac OS on a PPC machine will run 68K code. Not all 68K programs will run on PPCs or under certain OS versions but this is usually due to the program not being well written.
The one problem I could see is that the 68K emulation on PPCs reported the processor to be a 68020 so if the code has to have a 68040 you might be stuck.
Is there any actual documentation on it emulating a 68020? I've read this in several places, although I've also read it emulates a 68040. I've also read it emulates a 68LC040 and relies on the PPC FPU which is slow in emulation, or something. I know I've run 68k programs on my PPC that require 68040 that work quite well, so I've always been a bit dubious about the 68020 emulation. It also seems like it'd be odd for Apple to do that when the whole reason for the emulation was maintaining compatiblity for recently-developed and widely in use apps.
At least in some old 68K programs that tell you about your computer they report it as a 68020. Even if it really emulates a 68040, if it reports itself as a 68020 some programs may stop right there. There isn't a lot of difference in instruction set between the 68020 and 68040. Not too many programs required a 68040 other than for speed.
There were some programs that didn't work on a 68040 but that was typically due to the use of self modifying code that conflicted with the cache.
--
Clark Martin
Redwood City, CA, USA
Macintosh / Internet Consulting
"I'm a designated driver on the Information Super Highway"
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