Re: Uprgading IIgs

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

In article <33A17741.165E@swbell.net>, Rubywand  <rubywand@swbell.net> wrote:

[snip]

>> A bit more base memory? Make that 4.5 times as much.
>
>     This would apply only for the minimum, glorified IIe, no-expansion 
>configuration. Fully expanded, the comparison for system RAM is 4.25MB to 5MB. In 
>terms of running virtually all GS wares, it is not an important difference.

But you were saying base memory before, not expanded. Even so 5280-4352 is
896K of additional DMA compatible memory, nothing to sneeze at.

>> More system in ROM? They have twice the ROM space.
>
>     Nice; but, when you're booting a full System6 from hard disk, the advantage 
>of the larger ROM is minimal. 

Fewer toolsets loaded from disk means even more usable memory though.

>> 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.
>
>     Not exactly. If a game boots and runs from its own, original diskette on a 
>ROM-01, then, the ROM-01 user will be able to play the game. If it will not boot 
>and run on a ROM-03, then, unless the ROM-03 user can obtain a cracked 
>and/or modified version of the game, he/she will not be able to play it.

But how many of those really exist, aside from FTA demos which wouldn't run
on my box anyway since my superdrive card is in slot 6? I'm thinking more
like early ProDOS 16 software that won't run under system 5.0, much less 
system 6.

>     Okay. On the other hand, some ROM-03 users have complained of glitch problems 
>when attempting to use boards which worked fine in other ROM-03's. Clearly, 
>however, the ROM-03 is, in general, less glitch-prone than an un-modified ROM-01.

Can't recall hearing about specific cards like that. Of course, since three of
the four cards in my ROM 3 are Apple cards, I'm sure that helps with not
having problems. Not having an accelerator can't hurt reliability either.

>> I dunno, you might have fatal error $0911 show up some on a desert island
>> since ROM 01s don't like heat too much.
>
>     Definitely something to consider. Actually, the 0911 problem is due to 
>heating up through a relatively cool range of temperatures. (Heating the ADB IC is 
>one standard 'cure'.)
>
>     Even so, if you wanted to use your GS on those cool desert island mornings, 
>you would want to make sure that your ROM-01 was a later model release or an 
>earlier version which had demonstrated its reliability. 

Hmm, I own and have owned several ROM 0-01 boards over the years. It took
five swaps to get a properly functioning logic board in my original IIgs
when I bought it. Its 90 day warranty lasted from March '87 to October '87 or
so. I have boards, both installed in boxes and in my spare parts pile, with
two or three varieties of repair work. Some have the exact same repair. I 
have two ROM 3 boards which came in boxes which I have picked up. One is 
obviously an early ROM 3 from the paper labels on the ROM chips, and one is
more recent. Neither show signs of repair work and function perfectly. So I'm
not so sure I go along with the reliability angle.

Before I get tagged as an "anti ROM 01 bigot" let me point out that I own
several of those and a ROM 0 as well. There's nothing wrong with them, but
ROM 3 is more flexible, has more features, and is a better design in my 
opinion.
-- 
Randy Shackelford                                 
shack@frii.com