Re: WOLF3D fot A2 GS

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

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

>TWGS is a superior accelerator.  When Nathan was here, it was
>not Politically Correct to face this fact (he had a ZipGS) but
>now that he is gone, we can admit it....TWGS is better!

    I have to disagree. When you weigh the pros and cons between
the two GS accelerator boards, the ZipGS is clearly the superior
product. As an owner of both, here is what I've observed, off the
top of my head:

----------------------Negative issues:

TransWarp GS
------------
- Vast number of chips covering both sides of PCB, plus a daughterboard
- Gets *extremely* hot
- Original firmware does not support beyond 6.25 MHz
- Cache and ROM soldered to daughterboard
- Not DMA compatible
- Compatibility issues with certain software and hardware
- Poor stability (newer CPU cable and cooling may fix this though)
- Requires newer GAL chips for high speeds with pre-1993 65C816's
- Sensitive to electric "noise" and creates a lot of its own
- Puts a huge drain on powersupply; power hog
- Requires fan

ZipGS:
-----
- No ROM based software (i.e. CDA), must be loaded off disk
- Upgrading beyond 9-10 MHz requires soldering
- Oscillator soldered to most boards (required for ANY speed change)


----------------------Positive issues:

TransWarp GS:
------------
- Simple to upgrade (daughterboard and oscillator socketed)
- ROM based software to adjust speed/configure of card
- More efficient caching method, runs slightly faster

ZipGS:
-----
- All logic in single ASIC (minus CPU and cache, only 3 chips!)
- Runs VERY cool
- Less sensitive to electric "noise", more likely to run higher
- DMA compatible
- Compatible with most software and hardware
- Very stable (at standard speeds at least--7 to 10 MHz)
- Cache chips socketed
- Uses low power
- Can be operated without a fan (though I wouldn't recommend it)

    If I've left anything out, or observed anything incorrectly,
please feel free to add/correct. The major advantages I can see
in owning a TWGS are it is easier to upgrade, can be controlled
without having to load software from floppy/hard disk and best
of all, much more affordable (used) today than the Zip GS. Oh,
I've also heard it runs a bit faster than a ZipGS at the same
speeds.

>If your TWGS card is capable of 15Mhz, it will go at that speed
>without soldering. Swapping SRAMs maybe, but never soldering.

    Aren't you required to cut some trace on the back of the
board? That is much easier than soldering, but still requires
some degree of skill and a steady hand.

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca