Re: Uprgading IIgs

[shack@deimos.frii.com (Randy Shackelford)]

In article <33A141EC.337F@swbell.net>, Rubywand  <rubywand@swbell.net> wrote:

[snip]

>     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.

A bit more base memory? Make that 4.5 times as much. More system in ROM? They
have twice the ROM space. Less noise? You betcha. As far as compatibility goes,
any crappily written software which won't run on a ROM 3 is all but assured
not to run under system software 5.0 or later either, making that a moot point.
There are plenty of advantages to ROM 3s. If you use your IIgs on a network,
the slot flexibility on a ROM 3 alone makes it the better choice. I'd have
some trouble fitting my SCSI card, superdrive card, slinky card, and Appletalk
all together in a ROM 01.

>     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.

I have the cards I mentioned plus a 4 mb memory card in my ROM 3. It never
crashes.
 
>     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.    

I dunno, you might have fatal error $0911 show up some on a desert island
since ROM 01s don't like heat too much.
-- 
Randy Shackelford                                 
shack@frii.com