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mini-FAQ: upgrading TransWarp GS/Zip GS
- Subject: mini-FAQ: upgrading TransWarp GS/Zip GS
- From: fmlin@netcom.com (Frank M. Lin)
- Date: Wed, 14 Jul 1993 23:27:33 GMT
- Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
- Organization: EMG - Epoch Micro Group, Richmond, California, U.S.A
I'm still adding stuff. But this is what I have so far.
Mini-FAQ ( frequently asked questions ) for upgrading TransWarp GS/Zip.
Last updated: 7-14-93
:::::::::: disclaimer
Feel free to distribute this anywhere you think it might be of help. If
you have something to add, please mail me first.
I make no gurantee about any of the information provided below. If you
choose to do any part of the upgrade, you are taking the rist. I will
not responsible for anything.
If any information are incorrect and/or misleading, please inform me.
I have tried to make this as accurate as I can.
Information comes from many sources... I merely put them together.
If you would like to be credited in any part, let me know.
you can reach me at:
Compuserve,
GEnie,
America Online,
ProLine with Internet feed,
METAL/FV with Internet feed,
Internet: fmlin@netcom.com
OggNet: Capsule, user #6 @ House of Games
Various BBSes: Capsule
:::::::::: common questions & answers
- Where can I get the 32k cache for Transwarp GS from?
LRO Computer Sales (800) ASK-4LRO ( they should have it )
TMS Peripherals does not carry any AE stuff.
It costs about $80. You can also buy it from AE, but prepare
to pay retail.
It requires you to cut two little traces at the back of TWGS.
Cut it _lightly_, it's fairly easy to cut too deep. So just
take it easy.
- Should I buy the Sanyo chips? Or WDC ones?
Sanyo re-engineered the 816, but WDC sells them.
- Where can I purchase the high-speed 65816 from?
The Western Design Center, Inc.
2166 East Brown Road
Mesa, Arizona 85213
(602) 962-4545 voice
(602) 835-6442 fax
Note: someone confirm if 50 cent is enough.
Send a 50 cent SASE ( self addressed, self enveloped ) to WDC
with a little note like "please send me the articles about
upgrading the Transwarp GS".
They _require_ you to have a copy of this article before they
will sell you a high-speed 816. Whether you want to upgrade
a TWGS or Zip. Most of the information applies to the TWGS,
specifically, about GALs, ROM version... etc., but information
about voltage, and the "shmoo plot" sheet is useful for Zip
owners as well.
shmoo plot - the data sheet for each hi-speed 816 you buy.
Each hi-speed 816 is individually tested. All hi-speed 816 are
designed to do 12mhz @ stock 5v. By supplying higher voltage,
your chance of going 12+mhz is increased.
price: should be $95 each. NAUG ( National AppleWorks Users
Group ) members should be able to buy at $71.25 each.
If you're a NAUG member, be sure to ask if they still
honor it.
- what GALs version do I need for my TWGS?
GALs are explained in WDC's required articles.
Basically, you have to have the following GALs to go over
10mhz:
1A, 2B, 3E, 4B, 5A, 6A, 7A, 8B
All TWGS should have the A GALs. So you need:
2B - DMA fix
3E - for above 10mhz operation
4B - dunno ( tell me if you know )
8B - dunno ( tell me if you know )
2B DMA fix was available for free. You need to call AE's
900 number and ask for it. You might need to pay shipping.
Couple of people say it's no longer free. But it's worth
asking though. Hint: be persistent!
- where can I get the GALs?
You can order the GALs only though AE's technical support line.
AE Technical Support
(900) 884-0123
$1.50 per minute
9 AM to 5 PM (CST) Monday through Friday
It's $20 for _each_ GAL you order. Remember, 2B should be
free.
AE Technical Support BBS (214) 241-6677
24 hours, 7 days a week
I would guess the BBS functions the same. But I never called
it before. Anyone tried it before?
- where can I get crystal oscillators?
Digi-Key Corporation
(800) 344-4539 voice
(218) 681-3380 fax
From May-June 1993 catalog:
Epson America, Inc.: 1/2 TTL for TWGS
Part No. Frequency Price ($) TWGS speed
SE1101 32mhz 3.60 8mhz
SE1102 33.3333 3.60 8.3333
SE1103 36 3.60 9
SE1104 40 3.60 10
SE1105 42 3.60 10.5
SE1106 46 3.60 11.5
SE1107 48 3.60 12
SE1108 50 3.60 12.5
SE1109 55 3.60 13.75
SE1110 60 4.35 15
They have new half size oscillators from CTS. Looks like it's
compatible with the above ones. But if you order, you're
responsible to confirm compatability. The only reason I'm
mentioning these new CTS ones is because they have over 60mhz
frequency. Just in case you want to try beyond 15mhz.
CTS Clock Oscillators: 1/2 TTL for TWGS
Part No. Frequency Price ($) TWGS speed
CTX174 32mhz 3.44 8mhz
CTX175 40 3.44 10
CTX176 50 3.44 12.5
CTX177 64 4.70 16
CTX178 66.6666 4.70 16.6667
CTX179 80 10.59 20
Orders under $25 costs $5 to ship. Over $25 is free..
My understanding is that, if you over clock a CPU. It just won't
function. You can't damage it. Is that right? As the disclaimer
said, do it at your own risk.
Zip GS requires... 1/2 TTL or full TTL?
- what speed of static cache RAMs do I need?
I think I've read 35ns is enough for 12.5mhz. Not sure about
the requirement of 13.75mhz or 15mhz. 15ns costs only slightly
more than 20ns, so I recommand getting 15ns.
for TWGS with the 32k cache:
3 - 32k x 8 SRAM .3 mils ( or called half size ) try to get
low-power models if possible.
for Zip you need:
somebody tell me...
- where can I get SRAMs from?
this is where I got mine:
CMC - California Memory & Components, Inc.
356 S. Abbott Ave.
Milpitas, CA 95035
(408) 956-8291 voice
(408) 956-8584 fax
Monday through Friday 9 AM to 6 PM (PST), Sat. 11 AM to 3 PM
32 x 8 SRAM @ 20ns $6.95 each
32 x 8 SRAM @ 15ns $7.95 each
In case you want 2 - 1mb x 4 DRAM to upgrade your RamFAST rev. D
to 1mb cache.
1mb x 4 DRAM @ 80ns $17.00 each
hmm, another place with lower price:
AMT International
2393 Qume Drive
San Jose, CA 95131
(408) 942-9695 voice
(408) 942-5509 fax
Monday through Friday 8 AM to 6 PM (PST), Sat. 9 AM - 3 PM
32k x 8 SRAM @ 20ns $4.95 each
32k x 8 SRAM @ 15ns $5.00 each
1mb x 4 DRAM @ 80ns $17.00 each
- do I really need to increase the voltage?
You can learn to read your shmoo plot by reading the article
sent by WDC. In my case, I was suppose to supply 4.75v - 5.25v
to run at 12.82mhz, 5.5v - 5.75v for 13.51mhz, and 6v for
14.71mhz.
But I'm suppling 5v @ 13.75mhz, and about 5.2v @ 15mhz. Your
requirement might be different. It's easy to tell if you need
more voltage. If your TWGS doesn't boot, you need a little
voltage. If continuous test fails, you need more voltage, or
possibly faster SRAMs.
- is it true that Zip can only go about 12.5mhz?
- where can I get replacement 7400 for my Zip?
- what kind of performance increase can one expect?
][gs ROM 1, with 4mb RAM
Transwarp GS ROM v1.8s with 32k 15ns cache
GALs - 1A 2B 3E 4B 5A 6A 7A 8B
Dhrystone v1.3 & Benchmark v5.0 under shift-booted System 6 in GNO v1.1b
clock spd 2.8 15 13.75
======= ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ======
Sieve 410.00 99.90 108.00
String 1151.20 270.40 292.00
Float 1 472.00 92.70 87.00
Float 2 1535.00 317.00 394.00
Fibinacci 2006.00 605.20 634.00
Integer 1553.40 307.40 330.00
Actual mhz 2.8 11.56 10.81
Dhrystone 236 1136 1063
--
frank m. lin
fmlin@netcom.com