Emulation is the best flattery

By Jim Davis
Staff Writer, CNET News

Post a comment

Related Stories: Digital streamlines management
October 4, 1996; DEC, HP do double duty
September 23, 1996; Alpha eyes lower-end PC market
September 12, 1996

Digital Equipment (DEC) said today that it will make available software that allows Alpha processor-based systems to run applications built for Windows NT and 32-bit x86 platforms at speeds greater than or comparable to high-end Pentium Pro systems.

Digital FX!32, which has been in beta testing since November of 1995, will be officially released in late October, according to the company.

According to Digital, FX!32 runs applications for x86 PCs and Windows NT with a run-time emulator and a binary translator in the background, using a server to coordinate the activity. The company says that with each successive run of the nonnative software, the translator creates native Alpha instructions whenever possible so that less of the program is run in the slower emulation mode.

Digital FX!32, which runs under Windows NT 4.0, will be available free to Alpha users via Digital's Internet Roadmap CD-ROM, a technical support site on the Web, and it will also be factory-installed with Alpha NT systems.

Latest tech news headlines

In new ad, AT&T, Luke Wilson say Verizon is slow
Posted in Technically Incorrect by Chris Matyszczyk

December 5, 2009 4:54 PM PST
@Uh-oh: Twoddler lets toddlers send tweets
Posted in Crave by Leslie Katz

December 5, 2009 2:35 PM PST
DARPA's giant red balloons officially at large
Posted in Crave by Chris Jacob

December 5, 2009 1:11 PM PST
See all headlines

RSS Feeds

Add headlines from CNET News to your homepage or feedreader.

More feeds available in our RSS feed index.

Markets: Market news, charts, SEC filings, and more; Related quotes; Dow Jones Industrials (0.22%) 22.75 10,388.90; S&P 500 (0.55%) 6.06 1,105.98; NASDAQ (0.98%) 21.21 2,194.35; CNET TECH (0.29%) 4.71 1,602.07

Inside CNET News

Scroll Left Scroll Right

The Download Blog
Google Chrome now bundled with Avast
You wouldn't necessarily expect it, but Avast and Google Chrome might be the next peanut butter-and-jelly combo in the software world.
Gallery
Top-rated reviews of the week (photos)
Crave
The 30 most anticipated games of 2010
With 2009 almost behind us, it's time to look forward and make our picks for the hottest games of 2010.
Beyond Binary
Windows 7 family pack starting to sell out
Microsoft had said it was a "while supplies last" offer and, sure enough, supplies are starting to run out. It's still available at Amazon, though.
Video
Microsoft's new mapping tricks
Technically Incorrect
In new ad, AT&T, Luke Wilson say Verizon is slow
The latest punch in the battle between AT&T and Verizon sees Luke Wilson being downloaded, allegedly via Verizon's 3G, without his head.
Video
A window into the Microsoft Store
Green Tech
'Green' gas and diesel get boost in biofuel grants
Federal government pumps more than $600 million in projects to demonstrate advanced biofuels, including cellulosic ethanol and plant-based replacements for diesel, jet fuel, and gasoline.
Technically Incorrect
Bartender, gimme a beer from outer space
Japanese brewer Sapporo launches a beer it says is made from barley grown on the International Space Station. The 250 winners of a lottery for it will each receive a six-pack.
Gallery
Solar Impulse aircraft flies, briefly (photos)
Crave
@Uh-oh: Twoddler lets toddlers send tweets
A tricked-out Fisher Price Activity Center with pictures of family members and friends attached and an Arduino board inside lets toddlers sent predefined messages to their own Twitter accounts.
30 Days of Innovation
Build muscle, charge your phone with YoGen
Easy Energy will launch the YoGen at CES 2010, a mobile charger that solely relies on hand power. The pocket-size charger lets you generates energy by repeatedly pulling a ripcord.