Re: ZipGS more stable with slower SRAMS?

[wbaguhn@nyx10.cs.du.edu (Will Baguhn)]

In article <Pine.SOL.3.91.960717235820.12237B-100000@moose>,
Paul Schultz  <pschultz@med.wayne.edu> wrote:
>Before I go out and buy slower SRAMS for my ZipGS, could someone
>explain why the ZipGS may be more stable at higher speeds with
>"not-so-fast" SRAMS in the DATA cache (around 35-45ns) instead
>of fast SRAMS (15ns)?
>
>Paul.
>
>pschultz@med.wayne.edu
>Paul Schultz
>
>

There should be no problem with 15ns in the DATA sockets.  Problems may
arise if you have slower chips in the TAG sockets, however.  If things
are working fine for you with the chips you have, keep them.  To other
people who may be upgrading to a larger cache, be sure and get at least
half of your chips as "fast".  My rule of thumb is to ALWAYS get the
fastest chips I can.  Fast chips can go slower, but slow chips can't go
faster.

The only possible reason to maybe use slower chips in the DATA sockets
is that (some well-knowing hardware guru want to confirm this?) I think
they use a little less power, and that becomes an issue at higher speeds
with the stock power supply and motherboard.  Fortuneately, there are
bigger (150W) power supplies available, and soldering on a larger
power trace to the motherboard isn't particularly difficult.
-- 
                                      --- Rev. SPQR (wbaguhn@nyx.net)