Where do I get a generic board schematic for modern PC?

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legionalways
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Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2014 3:20 am

Where do I get a generic board schematic for modern PC?

Post by legionalways »

Hi, all .Since I am Embedded ARM developer, when I write code for MCUs, I do need the User Manuals of CPU and related chips, and most importantly ,the board schematic.
Now, I am learning to write a toy OS on IA32. What I do lack ,is the board schematic. It confuses me very much how the CPU is connected with 8255,8253,8259 etc and the peripherals. DO you know where to get one (even for educational purpose)? =D>
jnc100
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Re: Where do I get a generic board schematic for modern PC?

Post by jnc100 »

Whilst certainly not a modern PC, IBM used to publish the system board schematics for its older machines. For example if you look at volume 2 of the XT technical reference here you can see the connection of the cpu and coprocessor sockets to the interrupt controller, clock generator etc (page D-1 onwards).

I'd imagine a modern machine is several orders of magnitude more complex, and most of those chips you mention are not discrete entities on the board, but part of a larger package (or integrated into the CPU itself), or may in fact not exist at all but have their functionality emulated by more modern replacements.

Regards,
John.
Octocontrabass
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Re: Where do I get a generic board schematic for modern PC?

Post by Octocontrabass »

You won't find any board schematics for a modern PC. In fact, none of those parts you mentioned have been used in PCs for over 20 years - their functionality has all been integrated into the chipset, emulated with SMM, or removed. If you want to write an OS for a modern PC, you'll have to do it without schematics.

On the other hand, programming for obsolete hardware can be fun. If that's what you're doing, you might need one of these manuals.
legionalways
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Re: Where do I get a generic board schematic for modern PC?

Post by legionalways »

thank you guys, :lol:
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