ROM Space

[Eric R. Kern]

> > > This provides for plenty of code space, especially when you

consider
> > > that modern EEPROMs shipping with systems are typically 512K

bytes.
> > Sure? Does anyone have sort of a "table" showing which typical

motherboard
> > has which EEPROMs and its size?
> >
> > I always thought of having only 128 kB of EEPROM memory. Well, if

this
> > would be 256 kB or even 512 kB (and, as you said, think of

compression),
> > then there would be no real need to have any code on the hard disk,

I
> > mean, to complete the BIOS code.
> >
> > Well, this size ... could contain a miniature Linux kernel plus some
> > applications to boot that system... oh, just a thought.
>
> At 512k you could get a complete Linux Kernel in it....

The current line of IBM PC300s all have 512K bytes of ROM space.  Now,
if you are talking about supporting 486 systems then those will probably
only have 128K bytes of ROM space.  There will not be a table, but a
general rule of thumb (which probably breaks down in many cases) is that
the pentiums have 256K and the pentium IIs have 512K bytes of ROM space.

As far as putting a complete Linux Kernal in the 512K byte part - you
may be able to do that if you get rid of many of the new BIOS features
(such as booting to CD ROM, LS 120, ZIP).  You could also pull out the
setup screen and maybe put that on a floppy or hard drive (that's the
screen that is used to tweak various BIOS parameters).

If you are not worried about getting a Microsoft logo then you could
pull out alot more (but Windows won't work).