Precedence NC: Hardware 

• Hardware
• Firmware

Network Computer

This thin client dates from 1999 and must be one of the company's first products (Precedence was founded 1999). The styling is typical of electronics of that era. The Precedence website did have a little information on Legacy Products that mentions Network Computers (NCs). The serial number of the unit I have begins NX so maybe there was an NX range. The blurb reads:

These are RISCOS-based ARM-powered thin-clients. They have a built-in web-browser. When combined with TotalBoot, they can boot from a wide-variety of networks or storage devices and can provide access to both Acorn/RISCOS and Windows software.

Specifications

Processor
Type    Speed	ARM 56MHz
Memory
Flash    RAM	?MB 16MB (max ?)
Video
Chip    Max resolution	CL-PS7500FE 1024 x 768 8-bit colour
Ports
Network    USB    Serial    Parallel    PS/2	10 none none 1 Kybd & Mouse
Power
Plug    Off    Running	12V 5.5mm/2.1mm coax 0 W 6W
Dimensions
H x W x D (mm)	45 x 300 x 265

The embedded operating system is ??

CPU

The system is built round the Cirrus Logic PS7500FE system-on-a-chip. The Data sheet overview states:

The Cirrus Logic CL-PS7500FE is designed to be used in internet appliances such as the network computer, smart-TV, intranet terminal, screen phones, DVD players, and so on.

The massively integrated CL-PS7500FE offers a complete system-on-a-chip solution that includes a 32-bit ARM CPU with cache and MMU, CRT and LCD controller, memory controller, FPU, CD-quality sound controller, interface to the Cirrus Logic DSP device for 56K modem and speakerphone, and a PC-type I/O bus. To handle streaming of audio and video data on the Internet, the CL-PS7500FE includes a double-precision FPU to accelerate software codecs.

Power Supply

The unit comes with an external 12V 3.5A supply. The connection to the unit uses a standard 5.5mm/2.1mm coaxial plug.

Circuit Boards

The guts of the thin client is a motherboard labelled PROTON NC-ARM REV 06. The accompanying ethernet interface card is only slightly smaller, and the power panel slightly smaller still.

Click on the photo for a larger version.

Expansion

Memory: Both the Flash and the RAM are 72-pin SIMMs. The board carries has 72-pin SIMM sockets one of which is labelled ROM and the other of which is labelled RAM.