Chapter 2 Coprocessor Hardware; Introduction - Commodore Amiga Hardware Reference Manual

Chapter 2
COPROCESSOR HARDWARE
Introduction
The Copper is a general purpose coprocessor that resides in one of the Amiga's custom
chips. It retrieves its instructions via direct memory access (DMA). The Copper can
control nearly the entire graphics system, freeing the 68000 to execute program logic; it
can also directly affect the contents of most of the chip control registers. It is a very
powerful tool for directing mid-screen modifications in graphics displays and for directing
the register changes that must occur during the vertical blanking periods. Among other
things, it can control register updates, reposition sprites, change the color palette,
update the audio channels, and control the blitter.
Coprocessor Hardware 7