Re: GS memory expansion

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

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

>suprdave@aol.com (SUPRDAVE) wrote:
>
>>i picked up another GS today, and this one came with an apple GS mem
>>card. sockets UA9-UB16 are empty though. is there any memory on this card
>>right now? there are some soldered chips on it. what are the specs on the
>>dip ram i need? i have many memory dip chips from a PCXT. but dont know if
>>they'd work in this card.
>
>It takes 41256 memory chips.  Plug the PCXT ones into your card and install
>it on the IIGS.

    More specifically, 256Kx1 DRAMs chips that are at least 150 ns or
faster and follow CAS before RAS for the refresh order. IBM PC and XT
clone boards are certainly a good source, as are 286 AT boards.

>If the total comes out to 1MB (ROM 1 unit), then better ditch
>the card 'cause the IIGS NEEDs 4MB at least to do stuff you would expect
>a computer to do.

    Actually 1.25 MB will run 99% of the Apple IIgs software out there,
and completely suitable to someone purchasing the machine to just play
games, demos, educational software or even to just explore the system.

    More than that only becomes essential if you plan on using the
machine as a serious tool. For example, if your going to use it for
word processing with TrueType fonts, or desktop publishing, graphic
design and complex animation, editing digital sound, etc. If you
add a hardrive to a IIgs running GS/OS, then adding extra memory
quickly becomes essential with all the 3rd party extensions your
going to want to add--not too mention even use all the features
of System 6. I'm not disputing extra memory is required (I'm the
one who's always said you need memory, speed and mass storage to
make the IIgs a true "GS") but for a hobbiest, beginnier or even
a collector who likes to tinker/explore, an Apple IIgs with 1 MB
is still passable. At least it's a start, _not_ a dead-end until
you add more memory.

>If you do have a ROM 1 unit, go to http://www.allelec.com/ Alltech
>Electronics and order a Sirius RAM card.  The Sirius card maxes out at
>8MB and takes 30 pin 1MB SIMMs.  Probably a good idea even if you
>have a ROM 3 'cause anything less than 4MB is iffy for a IIGS.

    Yep. Both my Apple IIgs's have 4 MB cards installed, since I
like to get the most out of the systems. Adding an accelerator
and hardrive also drastically help towards making it a usable
system (though as mentioned above, you can still make use of
any IIgs you may came across with only 1 MB installed; no need
for anyone to think it is useless without 4 megabytes).

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca