Re: zipgs acceleration

[rder@pro-palmtree.cts.com (Richard Der)]

JB <jbcole@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>Is there anyone out there who has successfully performed the zip gs
>acceleration?  I would like to upgrade mine but I'm too chicken to do
>it myself.  I would rather pay someone else who has done it.
>
>Please email me if you have any help.
>
>Jer
 
I'm not going to volunteer to make the modification. However, there
is a simple alternative speed-up that does not require soldering
the Zip. The procedure is outlined in the post "FAQ-Zip GS upgrade,
the 10MHz alternative." It should still be accessable since it was
posted a couple of days ago.
 
Basically, for most Zip GS boards that are running at 7MHz, the
processor is capable of faster speeds. The speed is governed by
the oscillator (the little rectangular metal box on the upper
right hand corner of the card). Note if the oscillator is in
a socket or soldered on the card. If it is in a socket, you
can easily push it up to 10MHz without modifying the board
with a soldering iron.
 
Just get a set of full TTL oscillators, one rated at 40MHz,
one at 36MHz, and one at 32MHz (about US $1.40 each). Now look at
the original oscillator on the board: make a note of which way
the oscillator is oriented (there should be a dot printed at
one corner and/or one corner that is shaped differently). Make
sure the computer is OFF. Now pull the old oscillator out of
the socket and put in the 40MHz one (use the dot or different
shaped corner to make sure the new oscillator is the SAME
ORIENTATION as the old). You are testing the board for 10MHz.
Does the computer run when you replace the cover and turn on
the power? If yes, great! If no, repeat the procedure and install
the 36MHz osc. to test 9MHz. Does it run? If yes, great! If no,
repeat the procedure and install the 32MHz osc. for 8MHz.
 
Note: as said in the "FAQ-Zip GS upgrade, the 10MHz
alternative" article, if it does top out below 10MHz, you
can STILL make it go 10MHz W/O SOLDERING by replacing the
cache chips and/or CPU. Same rules apply: when replacing
components, KEEP THE POWER OFF and the ORIENTATION THE SAME.
 
Many later model Zip boards that started out as 7MHz models
can handle 10MHz and the almost all the rest can do 9MHz.
The procedure is as simple as changing a battery. As long
as you make SURE that the POWER IS OFF and the ORIENTATION
OF THE OSCILLATOR IS CORRECT, you can do no damage to the
Zip (again, as long as you don't plug an osc. backwards!).
 
So give "do-it-yourself" a try. The results will be rewarding.
It is fun to have a 7MHz Zip GS transmorgified into a 10/32
with a tiny change of a $1.40 oscillator.
 
Now if you wanted to push it to 15MHz, then soldering would
be required and it might be time to enlist help. I have
avoided pushing beyond 10MHz myself because it just dosn't
seem worth it. Unsoldering a chip and soldering in several
half-sockets, YIKES, not a task for the faint of heart!
 
 
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