Re: ZipGS vs TransWarp? (REQ: techie help)

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

In article RKFAIRCLOTH@unca.edu (Rhonda K. Faircloth) writes...

>My friend has a ZipGS but no software/manuals, so it's still running
>at 2.8 mhz. Can anybody E-mail/post the dip switch settings, soft switch
>accesses, and/or the software that comes with the ZipGS?

    Check that switch 1-6 (first bank of DIPs, sixth switch) is set
to 'on'. This controls whether the board is active or disabled, you
of course will want it active. All switches can be toggled by software
(expect the cache size switches; 1-7 and 1-8) using utilities like the
SuperZip CDA or Zippy for example. The only thing is those changes will
be lost when you power-down, which is the reason the DIP switches are
there (to set defaults at power-up).

>I have a Transwarp, with 8K cache. Anybody figure out how to "homebrew"
>an update to 32K? I suspect that I'll need to obtain a different version
>of the firmware as well as the usual (de)soldering.

    It is possible to upgrade the 8K cache daughterboard, though you'll
need a burned copy of the newer ROM (version 1.7 or higher) among other
things. Harold H (I don't want to mispell his last name :) once mailed
me detailed step by step instructions, as he's done it himself before.
You can ask him about it, or with his permission, I could post dig up
the instructions and post them here.

    Another option is SHH Systems in Germany, they construct and sell
new 32K daughterboards, but you may be on your own as far as finding 
the ROM firmware chip (they may have a limited supplies of originals,
you'll have to check with them). For a closer solution, check with 
ABC Direct in the United States, they were selling 32K cache options
for the TransWarp GS at one time.

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca