User`s guide
70 • Appendix A 8254 Programmable Interval Timer 
Appendix A 8254 Programmable 
Interval Timer 
Note: The material of this section is adopted from  
“Intel Microprocessor and Peripheral Handbook Vol. II --Peripheral” 
A.1 The Intel (NEC) 8254 
The Intel (NEC) 8254 contains three independent, programmable, multi-mode 
16 bit counter/timers. The three independent 16 bit counters can be clocked at 
rates from DC to 5 MHz. Each counter can be individually programmed with 6 
different operating modes by appropriately formatted control words. The most 
commonly uses for the 8254 in microprocessor based system are: 
•  programmable baud rate generator 
•  event counter 
•  binary rate multiplier 
•  real-time clock 
•  digital one-shot 
•  motor control 
For more information about the 8254, please refer to the NEC Microprocessors 
and peripherals or Intel Microprocessor and Peripheral Handbook. 
A.2 The Control Byte 
The 8254 occupies 8 I/O address locations in the PCI-7300A I/O map. As 
shown in the following table:  
Base + 0  LSB OR MSB OF COUNTER 0 
Base + 4  LSB OR MSB OF COUNTER 1 
Base + 8  LSB OR MSB OF COUNTER 2 
Base + C  CONTROL BYTE for Chip 0 










