Re: ZIP GSX 1.0.1 vs 1.0.2

[Drew <GoggleDrew@gmail.com>]

On 29 Aug, 15:22, "Henry S. Courbis" <apl2research(a.t.)comcast.net>
wrote:
> Hello Steve.
>
> >> I have a couple of ZIP GSX boards that are version 1.0.1. Since i have
> >> had them i had always wondered what the difference was between this
> >> version and the 1.0.2 versions that came out later.
> >> My question is what did the logic chips do?
> > Interesting.  I just came into possession of Zip GSX 1.01 and noticed the
> > lack of those chips.  Wasn't sure if it was practical to upgrade it or
> > not.  Can anyone else provide some data points on this?  Henry Courbis?
> > What's your experience with v1.01 vs. 1.0.2 Zips?
>
> Well, I did notice a few differences between the 1.01 and 1.02.  Thought I
> had some pics of the 1.01 but it seems I don't. :-/
>
> ZIP Technologies seemed to be one of those companies what never wasted
> anything, including PCBs.  Take the ZIP DRIVE for instance:http://www.downloads.reactivemicro.com/Public/Apple%20II%20Items/Hard...
>
> Why they wouldn't just redesign the PCB is beyond me.  There has been some
> speculation that they purposefully designed the PCB that way though.  The
> idea being that if the PLCC (square) chip becomes hard to find that they
> could then build the board using standard logic ICs.  Seems like an odd
> strategy though to me.
>
> So what the difference is between the two ZIP GSX boards, or should I say
> the ASICs (large square IC), really isn't know (at least to me).  Maybe they
> weren't sure about the ASICs ability to work and only has a small batch
> produced.  Being this was 1989 (?) it was in the middle of the 'custom
> logic'
> reevaluation where it was really starting to become 'cheap' to produce these
> large ASICs.  So if the 1.01 boards kind of worked, and worked good enough,
> why not sell them?  It's just a business decision at that point.  Then maybe
> they fixed a few minor reliability issues and produced a second batch,
> v1.02.  Of course I have no idea what the real story is and I'm just
> speculating.  In 1989-90 we all kind of knew that Apple II was on its way
> out.  So that's where I start to consider the 'small batch' theory.
>
> There's my two cents.
>
> --
> Henry S. Courbiswww.ReactiveMicro.com
> Legacy Hardware and Support - Come take a look at what we have to offer!

Thanks Henry for that, didn't really cross my mind that the ASICs
might be different between the two boards. Looking at the picture on
your site of the ZIP GSX 1.0.2 the ASICs do indeed look different
types to the one on my card. I did speak to you about this before, but
was bugging me that my card had the sockets :-).
My cards run fine, they never hang, get the odd crash but never sure
if thats the card or not to be honest. I was happily playing OOTW for
over an hour at full screen and full 12.5Mhz speed the other night....

Thanks
Drew