ST802148@BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU (Evan) (12/07/89)
OK. I did some benchmark tests on my 10Mhz, v1.0 Rocketchip, set at full speed. The tests I did required no disk access, but I do have a 512K Ramworks that is accessible by my appleworks. The tests I have done can be repeat by yourselves and compared. First test: In applesoft basic (direct from boot) I did a simple program: 10 for a=1 to 50000:next I got an average time of 9.43 seconds. test 2: In Prodos Basic.System, I perfromed same program as above. Time was 10.21 seconds. Difference can be explained by the usage of prodos. Test 3. I created an appleworks data base file with one category and inputted to numbers 1 to 3000. To do this quickly, I made a macro set on ultramacros version 2.0, with my appleworks 2.0. The macro set was: start <A>:<adb>< R = 1 >! <B>:<adb>< R = R + 1 : print R : rtn : rpt >! I executed this macro (A and then B) in zoom mode of the database file. By the way, it took exactly 3 minutes to input the 3000 numbers. That's 17 entries per second. OK. The time it took to re-arrange the numbers in decending order was estimated at 62 seconds, but only took an average of 4.25 seconds (The 62 is just the time complexity of the algorithm, without knowing the preparedness of the data). Anyway, let me know how these results compare. For softwares with no testing ability: Proterm: No speed increase noticeable except quicker drawn mneu screens and getting the directory of a disk is much faster. The scrollback is AMAZINGLY fast. PublishIT2!: You will swear you are on a mac. The menus pop up immediately and the resizing, re-drawing, re-editing is VERY fast. The text editing is fast enough to allow the average typer to use it as a word processor, compared to 1Mhz where you have to wait till it draws the letter and use the keyboard buffer. GBBS: For you bbs users out there, the system is sped up, but modem users really wont notice the difference. What the chip can do: The ROCKET CHIP can be set at any speed by a prodos system file that can be run after prodos and then will search the next system file (like squirt.system). This file will allow you to as well set: sound speed (slow down program for undestorted sound, or let it sound accelerated), drive caching (speeds up the loading of your floppies a lot... no benchmarks, though), and speeds up the 80 column drivers for faster scrolling. Mods needed: So far, there has only been one problem that I don't understand. In copy ][+ v8.4, if you select 80 column catalogs, it crashes. BUT THAT HAS BEEN THE ONLY PROBLEM IN THE HUNDREDS OF PROGRAMS I HAVE TRIED!!! EVERYTHING ELSE HAS PERFORMED FLAWLESSLY!! I cannot stress this enough. games fly, graphic software is turbocharged, etc. You get the point. If you have a RAMFACTOR, there is a patch provided for your appleworks so that it may access it correctly. Ramworks users don't need it. If you have a no-slot-clock, there is a modified version of Prodos 1.7 you must use for your software to recognize it properly. THAT"S IT! No wiring, on changing of other chips. If the previous 2 hardwares do not apply to you, then you are fine!!! Otherwise, the patches work!!! (At least I know the clock one does, since I use it everytime I boot). Well, by now you will probably have questions of your own. Feel free to e-mail.