Re: System 6.0.1 (was GS/OS 6.0.1)

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

In article sbehrens@contech.demon.co.uk writes...
>
>David, Peter,
>> >     Also I want to upgrade my RAM from 512k to 2-4 megs.  Where can I buy a
>> > new card and how much will it run me?
>> Yes to both.  The best option is probably Sequential Systems' "RAM-GS"
>> card, which is only available with 4MB, and is probably only directly
>> available from Sequential Systems.  At last count, it cost something
>> in the range US$120 to US$130.
> 
>Well, I may disagree, and I may not, because I forgot what all these
>cards were called now anyway :) If the RAM-GS is the 4MB-only job,
>I slightly disagree. There is a 4MB soldered in, can take 8MB card from
>the same company, and it's definitely worth the extra money. I am

	Just to clear things up. The card David was talking about is
called the RAM-GS from Sequential Systems. Originally it came in two
configurations: 2MB expandable to 4MB, or 4MB pre-installed but not
expandable beyond. Both versions use ZIP DRAMs (soldered on sideways)
although the 2MB RAM-GS had two empty banks for the user to add his/her
own memory chips in future -- up to a total of 4MB RAM total. Since there
was little difference in price, I believe the RAM-GS 2MB card discontinued
in favor of the non-expandable 4MB RAM-GS. The later had all four banks
filled with soldered-in ZIP DRAMs (mine are all 100ns chips). The card
is still available today from Sequential Systems, I've seen the price
range anywhere from $99 to $149, depending on specials available. Quality
Quality seems to carry the RAM-GS as well (under the name "Q-RAM GS2")
although oddly enough their asking $200. The photo in their latest 
catalog shows a Sequential card, not their own brand.

	As for the other card in question, it originally started off
as the CV-RAM 8MB card by CV-Technologies. IMHO, the best memory card 
ever produced for the IIgs. It was about the size of a 3.5" floppy 
diskette (yes, that small!) and came with 4MB RAM pre-soldered on just 
like the RAM-GS. Though rather than use ZIP DRAMs that stick out, it
used 1X4Mb DRAMs soldered-in. The card also had 4 banks of empty sockets 
to add an additional 4MB for a total of 8MB RAM. All fully DMA compatible 
so I've heard (using additional 1X4mb DRAMs, same chips used on RamFAST 
SCSI and the soon-to-be Second Sight SVGA card). Luckly this card is still 
available! Sequential Systems now carries it under the name "RAM-GS Plus".

>still using it with the original 4MB, but what with a load of inits
>hogging my system and all, I am now glad that I have the option to
>go to 5, 6, 7 or even 8MB. 4MB starts to look puny when only 1.5MB of
>that are free after booting and loading GNO :)

	That's why I plugged my RAM-GS into a ROM 3! Gives me over 5MB
RAM to play with! ;-) I may eventually get a RAM-GS Plus to replace it
and either stick the old card in my ROM 01 or sale/trade it...

>Yours
>Soenke
>
>Standard disclaimer: My opinions are my own, not those of my employer

Mitchell Spector
m_spect@pavo.concordia.ca / spector@vax2.concordia.ca