Clock port
Encyclopedia
The clock port is a commonly used term for the real-time clock
interface of the Amiga 1200
computer. The port is a remnant of an abandoned design feature for addition of internal RAM and a clock for time keeping. However, it was later widely used as a general purpose expansion port by third-party developers for devices, such as, I/O
cards, sound cards and even a USB
controller. Although a real-time clock can be connected to the port, the clock was typically added by other means (usually integrated on CPU or RAM expansions) which leave the clock port free.
The A1200 was the only Amiga model to have this unique 22-pin connector (some revisions of the A1200 motherboard have additional non-functional pins). However, as the address and data signals used by the interface are available through the internal expansion connectors of other Amiga models, clock port adaptors were later created by third-party developers for these systems. This enables owners of other popular models, such as the Amiga 500
or Amiga 600
, to use the hardware created for this interface. Due to the popularity of clock port devices, developers even included one or more compatible clock port interfaces on Amiga Zorro boards to allow hosting such devices on these systems.
Essentially, the connector provides an 8-bit data interface with limited addressing.
products.
Real-time clock
A real-time clock is a computer clock that keeps track of the current time. Although the term often refers to the devices in personal computers, servers and embedded systems, RTCs are present in almost any electronic device which needs to keep accurate time.-Terminology:The term is used to avoid...
interface of the Amiga 1200
Amiga 1200
The Amiga 1200, or A1200 , was Commodore International's third-generation Amiga computer, aimed at the home market...
computer. The port is a remnant of an abandoned design feature for addition of internal RAM and a clock for time keeping. However, it was later widely used as a general purpose expansion port by third-party developers for devices, such as, I/O
Input/output
In computing, input/output, or I/O, refers to the communication between an information processing system , and the outside world, possibly a human, or another information processing system. Inputs are the signals or data received by the system, and outputs are the signals or data sent from it...
cards, sound cards and even a USB
Universal Serial Bus
USB is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the cables, connectors and protocols used in a bus for connection, communication and power supply between computers and electronic devices....
controller. Although a real-time clock can be connected to the port, the clock was typically added by other means (usually integrated on CPU or RAM expansions) which leave the clock port free.
The A1200 was the only Amiga model to have this unique 22-pin connector (some revisions of the A1200 motherboard have additional non-functional pins). However, as the address and data signals used by the interface are available through the internal expansion connectors of other Amiga models, clock port adaptors were later created by third-party developers for these systems. This enables owners of other popular models, such as the Amiga 500
Amiga 500
The Amiga 500 - also known as the A500 - was the first “low-end” Commodore Amiga 16/32-bit multimedia home/personal computer. It was announced at the winter Consumer Electronics Show in January 1987 - at the same time as the high-end Amiga 2000 - and competed directly against the Atari 520ST...
or Amiga 600
Amiga 600
The Amiga 600, also known as the A600 , is a home computer that was introduced at the CeBIT show in March 1992. The A600 was Commodore International's final model based on the Motorola 68000 CPU and the ECS chipset. It is essentially a redesign of the Amiga 500 Plus, with the option of an internal...
, to use the hardware created for this interface. Due to the popularity of clock port devices, developers even included one or more compatible clock port interfaces on Amiga Zorro boards to allow hosting such devices on these systems.
Essentially, the connector provides an 8-bit data interface with limited addressing.
Host hardware
The bus is supported by many Individual ComputersIndividual Computers
Individual Computers is a German computer hardware company specializing in retrocomputing accessories for the Commodore 64, Amiga, and PC platforms. Individual Computers produced the C-One reconfigurable computer in 2003...
products.
- Amiga 1200 built-inBuilt-inBuilt-in, builtin, or built in may more specifically refer to:* Built-in account* Built-in behavior* Built-in furniture* Built-in inflation* Built-in obsolescence* Built-in self-test* Built-in stabiliser* Built-in type* Shell builtin...
(address $d80001) - Zorro IV boards (also addresses $d84001, $d88001 and $d8d001)
- Third party Zorro bus
- Buddha flash
- VarIO
- DENEB
- HIGHWAY
- ISDN-Surfer
- X-Surf, X-Surf II
- Unity
- A603 (1×), A604 (2×)
- Third party C64C64C64 or C-64 may refer to :* Commodore 64, the most successful home computer of the 1980s* Epson Stylus C64, an Inkjet Printer from Epson* C-64 , a road in the United States of America* C-64 Norseman, an aircraft...
expansion port- Retro Replay ($de0x or $df2x)
- MMC64
- MMC Replay
- IDE64IDE64The IDE64 interface cartridge is an expansion port device for connecting ATA devices to the C64 or C128 computers.-Hardware:There were several somewhat different versions of this cartridge over the years. The interface was designed by Tomas Pribyl and Jan Vorlicek in 1994...
(address $de0x) - Turbo Chameleon 64