CompuServe Thread

#Combo 68EC030 + FASTROM

6 messages in this thread
#66866From: ShraddhanOct 24, 1993 4:45 AM
FASTROM vs NOFASTROM – no different? I've just obtained extra memory for my GVP Combo accelerator card (68EC030 at 25 MHz with 1M + 4M of 32 bit RAM). I did this so that I could use GVPCpuCtrl FASTROM to copy the ROM into 32-bit RAM and have an increase in processing speed. It didn't work. After very careful checking, neither "GVPCpuCtrl FASTROM" nor "CPU FASTROM" have any effect on speed. They both cause ROM to be copied to RAM, but they don't access the image in RAM. I've proved this by completely overwriting the image with zeros without crashing the machine. Also, ROM routines (e.g. FindTask) are no faster. Just to check, I tried "GVPCpuCtrl NOFASTROM" and "CPU NOFASTROM". The machine didn't slow down afterwards. Can anybody suggest what the problem might be? Do I have a hardware malfunction? I'm using an Amiga 1500 (= A2000) with 1Mb chip, 4Mb of 16-bit RAM, total 5Mb of 32-bit RAM. Jumper J12 on the board is disconnected. I found I had software problems with it shorted – but the speed was no different. BTW the CACHE options do have a marked effect on speed. Any help would be appreciated. Regards, Shraddhan from the UK
#66911From: Gary NushOct 24, 1993 8:47 PM
With a GVP 68EC030 accelerator, only GvpCpuCtrl will actually remap Kickstart. CPU will not remap it, although it may tell you that it did. What version of GvpCpuCtrl are youu using? I'll try to talk to the Technical Support department on Monday and see what may be causing your problem… Gary Nush
#66955From: ShraddhanOct 25, 1993 2:41 PM
Gary, I'm using GVPCpuCtrl version 1.14 (30 May 1992) I don't recall whether CPU copied Kickstart, I believe it did, but like GVPCpuCtrl, it certainly doesn't transfer control to the copy in RAM. Regards, Shraddhan from the UK
#67116From: Gary NushOct 27, 1993 9:07 AM
I spoke to our Technical Support group, and your system should be functioning correctly, with the items you described in your message. I'm going to CompuServe Mail the latest version of GvpCpuCtrl to you. Give that a try, and if that still fails, call GVP Technical Support for more info, and/or an RMA… Gary Nush
#67343From: ShraddhanOct 30, 1993 3:58 PM
After thorough testing with the version of GVPCpuCtrl you sent me, I can find no difference in speed. The little test program I wrote to exercise 'ROM'-based code shows no significant difference. The only difference is that the old software told me that it had re-mapped the ROM, but the new software remains silent on this point. I noticed that the new software still contains the text message about re-mapping the ROM. Is the software trying to tell me it failed? >call GVP Technical Support for more info, and/or an RMA… I'm in Britain. Is there somewhere local I can contact, or do I have to send a fax to the States? Can you give me some idea of the kind of speed-up to expect in practice? Someone told me that the effect was almost negligible. (I'd like to have serial.device work faster if possible.)
#67440From: Gary NushNov 1, 1993 12:58 PM
I believe you would need to talk to Silica Systems in the U.K. for help with our products.