Re: Gus, IIgs emulator...

[spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

[Lurk mode off]

In article supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer) writes...

>Back when my 6x86 Windows PC was a PR200+ (it has since
>been underclocked to PR166+ after I static shocked the
>processor while installing a hard drive) I thought I would
>try emulation because I heard it was so great and all.

    Doubt it was a static shock, those IBM designed processors
are notorious for cooking themselves to death, quite literally.

>So I spent a long time online looking for and downloading
>XGS for the Windows PC.
>
>Well, I set it up and was pretty excited.  Using an 12.5Mhz
>TransWarp GS is one thing, but here was a computer with
>speed in excess of a Pentium 200!

    An IBM/Cyrix PR200+ is not faster than a 200 MHz Intel
Pentium CPU in the vast majority of cases (the same applies
to a PR166+ as far as being faster than an Intel P166).

    We argued this before and I explained why your claim was
in error, but you refused to believe me--or anyone else for
that matter. Mind you, your the same person who claimed an
accelerated IIgs outperformed his "486", which turned out
to be a 486SLC-25 laptop.

>I have never used such a slow IIGS before, real or
>emulated.  Not only was it slower than my 12.5Mhz TWGS,
>it was slower than the STOCK IIGS.  It was like trying
>to run the IIGS set to the IIe (normal instead of fast)
>speed.  There was also random glitches that locked up
>the system all the time.

    Ah ha! Now we have some solid proof your "PR200+" is
not speedier than a Pentium 200. My system, running with
a 166 MHz Pentium CPU (not even MMX) runs XGS not only
up to par with a stock IIgs system, but slightly faster.
The 'bootlog' file reports it running at 3.5 MHz, and I
can tell it is running faster than my stock IIgs (even
if just slightly) since I have a real IIgs sitting next
to my Pentium to compare.

    Now do you finally believe me when I say your system
is not what you claim it to be? (no matter if you don't,
I'm not sticking around this group to listen anymore).

>I'm not complaining.  It is free software.  However, I have
>not booted XGS for a long time.  ;-)  It is sort of like
>UAE, that cross platform Amiga emulator for the
>Windows PC.  You know what they jokingly called
>UAE?  The "Unusable Amiga Emulator."  UAE has
>improved, but XGS still needs A LOT of work.

    Despite it running slightly faster than a stock IIgs
on my currently system, you'll get no arguement from me
that it is a terrible emulator. It is horribly slow, is
crammed with bugs, has an awful interface and keyboard
mapping, and probably only 50% complete. I'm waiting for
Bernie ][ the Rescue to get ported as a Win32 program
(what an appropriate name for PC XGS users :) or that
new "dApple" emulator which promises IIgs emulation.

    I'll be playing with XGS and UAE again, though next
time it'll be on a 450 MHz system. :-)

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca

[Lurk mode back on]