Re: TransWarp GS - How can I get it faster than 8 MHz

["Mark Cummings" <figjams@primus.com.au>]

Hi Anthony,

Congratulations on aquiring the TWGS. All later processors have a -X after
the part number, indicating the speed. The 14MHz version is marked
W65C816S8PL-14. My old 7 MHz chip is marked -7, I think the 6 MHz chip
didn't have any -X marks on it, possibly this is what you have. The crystal
on the card (top right corner) determines the chip speed, just divide it by
4. So a 28MHz XTAL will run the CPU at 7MHz etc. For 14MHz you need a 56K
XTAL. I have never found a 56K XTAL, but you can get 40MHz, 48MHz and 64MHz
XTALs more easily. The XTAL is more correctly called a clock oscillator. I
havn't found a source in Australia, but Mouser Electronics in Texas USA have
them on their web site, which is where I got mine from.

To get it to run faster some people say you can just put in the faster CPU
and XTAL, however this won't necessarily work in all cases. For best results
you also need to upgrade the speed and size of the cache chips (3 of them)
on the daughterboard, and if you look at the card you probably have 3x
600mil 8K 45ns chips, you need 3x 300mil/600mil 32K 15ns chips, which can be
stolen from old 386 and 486 motherboards. Details on how to upgrade the card
youself can be obtained from Tony Diaz web site www.apple2.org

Personally I have carried out this modification but it's quite fine work so
you may want to buy an upgrade daughterboard from Joachim Lange instead
(www.wbwip.com/shh/) who manufacturers his own version in Germany. I have
one of those too, and they are a much neater finish. He also distributes the
upgraded version 1.8 ROM which you need for 32K cache operation.

The faster Processors are avail from WDC, see their web site at
www.wdesignc.com
They only sell a minimum of $100US order so you need to get a few people
together and make a group buy. Some users may have a spares to sell you,
expect to pay anywhere from $10 to $25US each. I would have had a spare for
you, but I was let down after sending $30US to a certain forum host who
stopped replying to my e-mails over a year ago. 

The other thing you need is a lot of money. I have spent about $300AU
upgrading mine to run faster, and I'm still having problems with it
intermittantly crashing. Good luch with yours.

Mark
Townsville, Oz


>I recently aquired a Transwarp GS. The previous owner supplied me with an
>"upgrade processor" for the TWGS, but he advised me that I needed a timing
>chip or something.
>
>The chip he provided me is a "WDC W65C816SPL - SA9216A" - I assume the
>suffix has something to do with the date of manufacture. I have not been
>able to determine what speed this chip is.
>
>Could anyone advise me what I need to go faster?
>
>Thanks!
>
>--
>Regards,
>
>Anthony G Beckett
>http://www.unnamedpcmuseum.com
>
>