CompuServe Messages

AAAAARRRRGGGHHHH!!! Yes, yet another NEWTEK flame! Last November (3 MONTHS ago) I bought a GVP 040 "Impact Series II" accellerator card for my A2000 HD. I installed it per spec and SUPRISE! The toaster (3.0 software/1.0 board) wouldn't come up. Well, actually, the switcher screen appeared, but moments later, the dreaded red "software error" box appeared, with the message: Software Error 8000 000B Task 01035E00 And the system would reboot on pressing the left mouse button as instructed on the screen. Hmmm, I thought, better call NewTek Tech Support… SO, I did. I was told by the tech that they had "had some troubles" with the GVP 040 and that an update was being released Real Soon Now to fix a bug when used with the GVP 040 board. The tech further informed me that my 1MB of chip RAM "isn't enough". And that "The spec requirements for 1MB chip are marginal at best. You need 2MB chip RAM". After thinking "guess it couldn't hurt", I dutifully ordered the DKB 2MB chip RAM. I soon found that the tech's CHIP RAM statements were BULLSHIT! The 2MB chip RAM made NO DIFFERENCE WHATSOEVER WITH THE TOASTER CRASHING. I subsequently started doing my own Systems Analysis on the damn thing, and found that the problem was when the GVP was instructed to relocate system ROM into FAST RAM (a real performance boost), the Toaster crashed on startup. After removing the FASTROM instruction in my user-startup (leaving the MoveSSP in place), I was able to get the toaster up and running, albeit without the humongous speed increases I had been led by a NewTek tech to expect from the 040. After waiting patiently for THREE MONTHS for this mythical update, I finally received my 3.1 Update. Anticipating a fix for the GVP 040 problem, I immediately started loading it. WRONG! Disk 4 of the update was a BAD disk! After arranging to get a replacement, and yet ANOTHER period of NON-PRODUCTION, I received a replacement. I FINALLY loaded the 3.1 update. Excited with anticipation, I restored the user-startup entries for the 040, and rebooted. Then, I started the 3.1 Toaster and *** SUPRISE *** it wouldn't come up for more that a couple of seconds as long as the GVP FASTROM command was in place. So much for the freakin' "bug fix" for which I had been waiting THREE MONTHS. I DID see SOME lightwave performance increases with the update… but STILL… Here's the current situation: 01/27/94 20:29:25 Version 3.0 of S/W. FASTROM disabled on GVP. SpaceFighters: Frame 195. Camera: Trace EVERYTHING. Low Anitaliasing. Adaptive Samp. (8) Particle Blur. Medium Resolution. Overscan. Lights: 1 Light. Distant/RayTrace. Objects: All shadows on on all objects. Record: No record/No saves. Rendering time: 15m 26s (26 seconds) 01/28/94 23:16:29 Version 3.1 of S/W. FASTROM disabled on GVP. (Toaster wouldn't run w/FASTROM) SpaceFighters: Frame 195. Camera: Trace EVERYTHING. Low Anitaliasing. Adaptive Samp. (8) Particle Blur. Medium Resolution. Overscan. Lights: 1 Light. Distant/RayTrace. Objects: All shadows on on all objects. Record: No record/No saves. Render to DV1 Rendering time: 9m 26s (566 seconds) Yeah, it WAS better with 3.1, but I can't help but think that it could be even MUCH better if the GVP 040 was operating to its full potential. Now, as with every situation where there is 3rd party hardware involved, it is VERY difficult to place a blame on the 040 board. All I know is that this whole experience has confirmed the opinions that I've heard that the Toaster isn't REALLY a stable, professional product. <sigh, too bad>. Although I realize, I'm not one of Speilberg's staff, and as much as I LOVE Lightwave, something's GOT to give. I have GOT to have RELIABLE, professional tools to run my business… I'm NOT a garage hobbyist. (10yrs TV + 10yrs micros) Reply comments would be GREATLY appreciated. Luke (Pat) Montgomery "REAL" E-mail: compvid@tyrell.net CompVid Computer Video Graphics Services CompuServe: 70274,2177 Greater Kansas City Voice: (913) 780-0222 —————————————————————————– There's no place like home… There's no place like home… There's no…