Re: New ][ Hardware

[johnmac@fawlty.towers.oz.au (John MacLean)]

In article <1993Feb8.064851.19106@nuscc.nus.sg> ltchean@iss.nus.sg (Lim Thye Chean) writes:
>scraft@graphics.rent.com (Steve Craft) writes:
>
>The prducts mentioned below seems very interesting.
>
>: SUPER II
>: Specifications:
>:      4MHz 65C816
>:      1-16MB SIMM RAM on the board (uses standard 1MB SIMMs)
>Why don't just upgrade to the IIGS? Besides the speed and memory enhancement,
>it is no where near the IIGS.

The speed is far greater than the IIGS. Even with an 8MHz zip or transwarp,
the IIGS is only just on 4Mhz average speed.
The GS is also only capable of taking 8Mb of RAM, not 16Mb (less 128K).
Not considering sound and graphics, a //e with one of these boards is FAR
superior hardware to a GS.
[Note that you could add SHR graphics to a //e with the VOC].

>A used IIGS is quite cheap nowadays... it has a much improved resolution,
>colour, sound, toolbox interface, very well design operation system, etc.

I Absolutely agree - I would never buy one of these boards unless they
somehow got IIGS system software working on it - which is highly unlikely.

>: HYPER IIGS
>: Turdnil at Fortress Citadel  (#69@#25)
>: Monday, January 25th, 1993  19:03:07 CST
>:  
>First, why two cache? For the minor improvement in speed, the 8MB of 5MHz
>RAM is not worth it.

You have to have more than 64K memory anyway, and it didn't say you HAVE
to have 8Mb.
Whether your memory is in your memory expansion slot, or on the accelerator
board doesn't matter too much.
This way you don't need a memory expansion board in your memory expansion
slot at all - which saves at least $100.

>64K cache should give you about 95%-99% of hit ratio, for the extra 1-5% of 
>speed, would it really mind if it runs at 2.5 or 5 MHz?

Any solid data to back this up?
Can the zip or transwarp tell you what the hit ratio is?
When people quote 3.9Mhz average for an 8Mhz board, I'm a bit sceptical
about this claim.

>The Hyper IIGS is not as interesting as the Super II. If it would adds an
>enhance video (even if it is not as good as TurboRez), stereo sound, it 
>would be a hit for those GS user who have not upgraded yet.

I don't necessarily agree.
I find them all interesting, as they give a small hint of what the GS
could be.

>I personally would like to own a GS with 15Mhz and TurboRez installed. 
>Actually, all I want is Avatar, or a card that transform your GS to something
>more powerful.

Rest assured that you are not alone.

>          Lim Thye Chean: Lim is my surname. My name is Thye Chean.
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