Re: More on RocketChipII

[Stephen Shaw <stephen@junkbuster.zzn.com>]

On Sat, 22 Jun 2002 06:57:13 GMT, tturner@ecn.ab.ca wrote:

> Frank Townsend (ftownsen@iamdigex.net) wrote:
>: I installed the chip into a memory-expansion-ready (? PEEK(64447)=3) IIc and
>: was NOT awestruck with the increase in speed.
>
>: I also ran Michael J. Mahon's Sound Editor (highly recommended!) and noted
>: normal sounding playback of a digital clip, which I thought strange since
>: Sound Editor requires that speaker accesses be slowed down in accelerated
>: Apples.
>
>: Does the RocketChip need to be switched-on somehow, or are there performance
>: bottle-necks somewhere else that prevent me from seeing much obvious speed
>: increase?  Other things I might be doing wrong?

Didn't Rocket get into a copyright fracas with Zip? The specs seem very
similar.

>
>--> From my RocketChip Installation Manual & User's guide:
>     (Preliminary, November, 1988) Bits & Pieces Technology, Inc.
>
>     2.0 RocketChip Features:
>         * Operates 5MHz to 50KHz - 5 times faster to 20 times slower
>           than the normal Apple speed of 1MHz.
>         * Requires very little power - Less than 100mA.
>         * Easy to install and does not require a slot.
>         * Standard power-up configuration or can be
>           programmed by the user.
>         * Keyboard selectable special features.
>         * Emulation of AE Transwarp speed setting protocol.
>         * Accelerates all memory locations:
>           - System memory (64K or 128K).
>           - Auxiliary memory up to 1.6 Megabytes.
>           - Expansion ROMs.
>           - Peripheral card ROMs.
>         * Accelerates all 80 column operations.
>         * Non-standard configurations of the RocketChip are
>           retained until the power is turned off.
>
>     4.0 System Recommendations & Cautions:
>         * If your floppy disk drive controller is not in either
>           slot #5 or #6, you must use the Configuration program
>           to set your floppy disk controller card slot to 1MHz
>           by using APPLE.SLOT7-1. If you need to boot from the
>           floppy disk that is not in slot #5 or #6, hold down
>           the ESCape key during power up.
>         * Do not use CACHE.SLOT7-1 or CACHE.EXP.ROM7-1 to
>           accelerate an Apple SCSI, AE Ramfactor or any card
>           that has bank-switched ROMs.
>         * AUDIO.MUSIC and AUDIO.HIFI will slow down game play
>           for any game that produces a lot of sound effects.
>         * Any Apple II or II+ without a paddle/joystick attached
>           will cold boot every time that CTL-RESET is hit. To
>           delete this function, use IIPLUS.NOBOOT or install a
>           paddle/joystick and then CTL-Z will provide a cold
>           boot function.
>         * RocketChip must run at 1MHz when using some CP/M cards
>           and cards that employ DMA. Use the Configuration program,
>           boot with ESCape, or CTL-RESET ESCape to set 1MHz.
>         * Several configuration programs can be combined to make
>           a pre-boot HELLO or STARTUP file for your unique system
>           configuration.
>
>     4.1 Holding down the ESCape key during power up forces the
>         RocketChip to run at the normal Apple speed of 1MHz.
>
>     4.2 Keyboard Selectable Options:
>         The following modes of operation are activated following
>         the CTL-RESET key press at the same time and this key
>         sequence is followed by:
>           ESCape     RocketChip runs at 1MHz.
>           Return     RocketChip returns to 5MHz. or previously
>                      set RocketSpeed.
>           Space Bar  RocketChip runs immediately without
>                      changing speed.
>           CONTROL-Z  Cold Boot for Apple II or II+.
>           CONTROL-D  Deletes 2 second pause after CTL-RESET.
>           CONTROL-F  Restores 2 second pause after CTL-RESET.
>
>     4.3 Software Speed Selection:
>         The RocketChip speed can also be changed by using commands
>         in Applesoft BASIC using Applied Engineering's Transwarp
>         protocol.
>
>           To get RocketSpeed(5MHz)  Type:  POKE 49268,0 <Return>
>           To get Apple speed(1MHz)  Type:  POKE 49268,1 <Return>
>
>
>     These seem to be the relevant parts of the RocketChip manual and
>     my fingers are too tired to add any more.  I've been building
>     one of those Sauder Computer desk/hutch combo's and my hands ACHE.
>     'Night all...

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