Re: RamFAST, //e, Zip8, and DMA

[Chet Gerhardt <transit@wco.com>]

Nancy Crawford <nancyc@pro-aplbytrs.pro-nsdapple.cts.com> wrote:
: Chet,
:  
: Hugh Hood, H.Hood@genie.com, a couple of months ago, said he sent his
: RamFAST ...umm... 'D' model? -AND- his Zip8 to Sequential so they could
: figure out what the heck was the reason the R-Fast and the Zip8 wouldn't
: work together properly. At that time, Hugh stated Sequential didn't have a
: Zip8 of their own to test with.
:  
: Do you have any notes about what was done to your Rev 'B' in order for it
: to properly talk to your Zip8? If I remember correctly, Hugh said
: Sequential didn't have any paperwork on the needed change.
:  
: Heaven knows there are people who would like to be able to use their //e,
: late-model RamFAST, 8Mhz Zip Chips _and_ do DMA.
:  
: nancy     n.crawford@genie.com

Nancy and interested others Apple II folks.....

Several Years ago I had 2 Ramfast 'C' boards updated to work with My Apple
IIe.  The IIe does not like the Ramfast D, only the earlier versions,
the 'B' and 'C'.  In an Apple IIe there is apparently some kind of
conflict between the Ramfast and any DMA accessing card, such as the
ramfast.  I owned a Rare Transwarp II, which is a great card, except that
it locks up the machine with any Transwarp installed--The computer will
not function in any manner.  I contacted Jawaid (Sorry I can never spell
his name correctly) at Sequential and explained the situation.  He told me
that there was no way to keep the transwarp card and a Ramfast.  But that
Sequential had altered several to work with a Zip 8 Mhz.  I sent two of
the cards to be altered and after a couple of tries they both worked.  

Sequential never shared the information with me, I honestly do not know
what they did, the two cards I have are not identical, but both work with
a ZIP @ 8 Mhz.  They were identical when shipped to sequential.

I should note that you cannot use DMA with a IIe without risking damaged
data.  I was copying files from one HD to another with DMA on, and it was
fast, but the copies were flawed in minor ways that made me copy them
again without DMA.  My Apple IIe is very fast with the zip 8 Mhz and the
Ramfast (behaves as if I still had the Transwarp II installed, amazingly
fast).

It would appear that Jawaid, who I believe is consutling as an ISP
consultant knows the secrets, as he had to advise the tech support people
how to alter the cards @ Sequential.  Now that he has moved on it may well
be that they have lost the secret.

Chet