Re: GS Rom version question_ Which one to buy

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Bryan Dunphy writes ...
> 
> What is the difference between the GS rom version and how do you tell
> which version is installed in a system?
>

     When your GS boots it will display the ROM version (01 or 03)
unless it is a ROM-00 machine. If it is ROM-00 GS, no ROM version will
be displayed. 
 
> Also, if someone wanted to get a GS for any reason, which rom version
> should hey look for?

     Look for ROM-01 or ROM-03. As for deciding which of the two to go
for, here are some things to consider ...


     First, there are two basic kinds of ROM-01 GS. One is a ROM-00
machine which has had the ROM-01 upgrade installed. The other is a
ROM-01 machine produced after mid-1997.

     Many of the first GS's (the ROM-00 "Woz" GS's with the signed
"Limited Edition" case) were upgraded to ROM-01 via swapping-in a new
ROM and Video Controller. Many other ROM-00 machines were also upgraded.
These machines _are_ ROM-01 GS's.

     Unfortunately, some of the upgraded machines have ADB circuits
which tend to bomb at slightly below normal room temperature and produce
the famous Fatal System Error 0911. A fairly good test for 0911 problems
is to power-up the machine after it's been sitting for a few hours in a
cool room (about 65 degrees F) and, over a period of an hour, do
frequent OpenApple-CTRL-ESC accesses to the CDA menu.

     Another, relatively minor, problem with upgraded ROM-00 machines is
that the ADB ciruitry is not compatible with Kensington's TurboMouse
trackball. One distinct plus for the upgraded ROM-00 "Woz" GS is that
you get the signature Limited Edition case. 

     If you go for a ROM-01 GS, try get one which is not an upgraded
ROM-00 or an upgraded ROM-00 which you've had time to test or one which
is guaranteed by the seller to be free of the 0911 problem. (My GS is an
upgraded Woz GS and it works fine.)

     The major advantages of going for a ROM-01 over a ROM-03 are ...

 1. Compatibility with virtually all GS software including some early
games, etc. which will not run on the ROM-03 GS.

 2. Availability. It will be easier to find ROM-01's for sale.

 3. Price. A basic ROM-01 GS is likely to sell for at least $50 less
than a basic ROM-03 GS.


     The major advantages of going for a ROM-03 over a ROM-01 are ...

 1. You get an extra 750kB of built-in main memory and can upgrade to
5MB of fully functional main memory (vs. 4.25MB on a ROM-01 GS).

 2. The Slot bus is quieter (less noisy/ less glitchy) than the Slot bus
of a ROM-01 GS which has not had motherboard power jumpers added. This
could be significant if you plug-in an accelerator board, RamFAST
interface, etc.. On the other hand, to avoid system glitching, even a
ROM-03 GS may require the addition of motherboard power jumpers when its
Slots are loaded with boards. 

 3. You should not have to worry about checking for 0911 problems.      


Rubywand