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Re: TransWarp GS Speed upgrade
I'm not done with the FAQ yet, but this is what I have so far...
Let me know if you think something is missing.
Mini-FAQ ( frequently asked questions ) for upgrading TransWarp GS/Zip.
:::::::::: disclaimer & legal junk
I make no gurantee about any of the informations provided below. If you
choose to do any part of the upgrade, you are taking the rist. I will
not responsible for anything.
If some information are incorrect and/or misleading, please inform me.
I've tried to make it as accurate as I can.
Information comes from many sources... I merely put them together.
If you would like to be credited in any part, let me know.
you can reach me at:
Compuserve,
GEnie,
America Online,
ProLine,
METAL/FV,
Internet: fmlin@netcom.com
OggNet: Capsule, user #6 @ House of Games
Various BBSes: Capsule
:::::::::: common questions & answers
- Where can I get the 32k cache from?
LRO Computer Sales (800) ASK-4LRO
TMS Peripherals (800) ASK-4TMS
It costs about $70. You can also buy it from AE, but prepare
to pay retail.
It requires you to cut two little traces at the back of TWGS.
Cut it _lightly_, it's fairly easy to cut too deep. So just
take it easy.
- Should I buy the Sanyo chips? Or WDC ones?
Sanyo re-engineered the 816, but WDC sells them. You have to
get an article from they first before WDC will sell you one.
See below.
- Where can I purchase the high-speed 65816 from?
The Western Design Center, Inc.
2166 East Brown Road
Mesa, Arizona 85213
(602) 962-4545 voice
(602) 835-6442 fax
Send a 50 cent SASE ( self address, self enveloped ) to WDC
with a little note like "please send me the articles about
upgrading the Transwarp GS".
They _require_ you to have a copy of this article before they
will sell you a high-speed 816. Whether you want to upgrade
a TWGS or Zip. Most of the information applies to the TWGS,
specifically, about GALs, ROM version... etc., but information
about voltage, and the "shmoo plot" sheet is useful for Zip
owners as well.
shmoo plot - the data sheet for each hi-speed 816 you buy.
Each hi-speed 816 is individually tested. All hi-speed 816 are
designed to do 12mhz @ stock 5v. By supplying higher voltage,
your chance of going 12+mhz is increased.
price: should be $95 each. NAUG ( National AppleWorks Users
Group ) members should be able to buy at $71.25 each.
If you're a NAUG member, be sure to ask if they still
honor it.
- what GALs version do I need?
Get the article from WDC. GALs are explained in it.
Basically, you have to have the following GALs to go over
10mhz:
1A, 2B, 3E, 4B, 5A, 6A, 7A, 8B
All TWGS should have the A GALs. So looks like you need
2B - DMA fix
3E - for above 10mhz operation
4B - dunno ( if you know, tell me )
8B - dunno ( If you know, tell me )
2B DMA fix should be available for free. You need to call AE's
900 number and ask for it. You might need to pay shipping.
However, in the article it says, "In addition, current 65C816
chips cannot execute certain instructions reliably when
operating beyong 4mhz; circuitry on the TWGS intercepts those
intructions and allows extra time for their execution. However,
when you reach 10mhz, additional instructions do not execute
reliably in 16bit mode. The TWGS does not intercept these
instructions unless you use a revision E or later TWGS 3 GAL".
The 816 that this article was written for is not the same as
the Sanyo re-engineered chips WDC now sells. I was thinking,
if the new 816s are correctly engineered, all instructions should
be able to run fine at high speed. Does this mean having 3E
GAL actually slows down the machine when the new 816 can actually
do full speed with all instruction? This is just a guess for me,
but I'm wondering...
- do I really need to increase the voltage?
- where can I get the GALs?
- where can I get crystal oscillators?
- what speed of static cache RAMs do I need?
- where can I get SRAMs from?
- is it true that Zip can only go about 12.5mhz?
--
frank m. lin
fmlin@netcom.com