Re: Uprgading IIgs

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Jay C. Sabol writes ...

>I have the impression that having ROM 01 does not prevent me from
>attaching a hard drive, using GS/OS 6.01, upgrading RAM, attaching a
>modem, etc. I am still a little unclear about what I am losing by not
>having those extra intsructions in the ROM 03. Would the difference be
>enough so as to be worthwhile to get ROM 03 motherboard and replace my
>current motherboard?


     The main advantages of the ROM-03 GS are a bit more base memory, 
more system in-ROM, and a bit less noise on the Slot lines. The main 
disadvantage is incompatibility with a number of GS wares. Since 
relatively few ROM-03's were produced, very few pieces of software have 
been designed to require a ROM-03.

     If you load up any GS-- e.g. add 4MB Expansion RAM, 10MHz or faster 
accelerator, RamFAST SCSI interface, two 3.5" and two 5.25" drives, 
Focus Hard Card hard disk, ...-- you may find that audio noise, 
glitching, and crashes are a problem. It will, then, be necessary to 
fatten the +5, +12, and GND power supply leads and add power leads on 
the bottom side of the motherboard going to Slots 3 and 7. A ROM-03 is 
slightly less likely to require this mod.
 
     On the whole, if you were stuck on a desert island with a complete 
collection of ][ and ][GS software, a fully loaded GS, and, say, a solar 
power unit, you would want the GS to be a ROM-01 model.    

 
Rubywand