Re: Which would you keep: ZipGSX or TWGS?

[Warren Ernst <wernst@gmail.com>]

On Jan 17, 5:04 pm, sporadic <sporadica...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I managed to pick up a ZipGSX from eBay last week, a stock 8MHz/16K
> that ran Modulae for hours without any issues.  I also recently
> managed to upgrade a TWGS to a very stable 10MHz/32K.
>
> The ZipGS doesn't have a socket for the oscillator, so I'm stuck at
> 8MHz for now, but I suppose I can take the cache up to 64K with
> ReactiveMicro's help.
>
> I couldn't find the Benchmark v5.0 program, does anyone have a copy?
> It's not up on Asimov when I looked.
>
> So assuming I don't need to have both, which one should I keep?  Which
> one would you keep?
>
> Also managed to pick up a MockingBoard, which is kinda exciting since
> I never got one back when I was using the IIe.  Definitely want to try
> that out with Ultima III.  Then again, Virtual ][ has Mockingboard
> emulation, so I've already "heard" the enhanced audio.

Well...

Is your GS stuffed with add-in cards? Do you have a SystemSaverGS
cooling things down? Do you have a beefed up power supply?

Frankly, when it comes to accelerators, I don't find that an extra MHz
makes such a big difference, but having a stable system really does.
The TWGS makes a lot more heat and consumes a lot more power; no
biggie if your stock power supply isn't powering a lot of cards, or if
you have an uprated power supply, and you have an active cooler
sucking out the heat.

Having the CDA to adjust the TWGS speed is a nice extra (though I use
the ZipGSX's 8-bit prodos program to do the same thing), as is the
extra speed, but I have the stock PS and tons of cards, so I picked
the ZipGSX instead.

I've forgotten how they benchmark against each other, and would love
to see your results.

-Warr