wilson3@husc9.harvard.edu (Frederick Wilson) (05/07/91)
Hello all, A few days ago I posted the following information about "dirty" ROMs and a Connectix solution. I am not endorsing Connectix (although I like their stuff). I'm just reposting a Press Release which was posted elsewhere. -Todd (All opinions presented here are my own, and, for better or for worse, nobody elses.) ------------- CONNECTIX ANNOUNCES MODE32 and MC73 Menlo Park, California, April 30, 1991 -- Connectix Corporation today announced two new products that offer Mac-II class systems complete compatibility with the powerful memory features of System 7.0. MODE32 is a software utility that enables Mac II, IIx, IIcx, and SE/30 systems to run in standard System 7 32-bit mode in the same manner as the more recent Mac II-family systems. MC73 is the PMMU memory coprocessor needed to run Apple VM or Connectix Virtual on the original Mac II. MODE32 is a unique utility for Mac II, IIx, IIcx, and SE/30 users who want to use System 7 32-bit mode. It allows these systems to access 32-bit mode through the standard System 7Jmemory control panel in the same fashion as later ROM systems (IIci, IIsi, IIfx and IILC). Without MODE32, the controls for 32-bit mode do not appear on the panel and it is not possible to use 32-bit mode. MODE32 is an INIT and cdev which is transparent in normal operation. Using 32-bit mode, the Mac II, IIx, IIcx, and SE/30 can access up to 128 megabytes of contiguous physical application memory and up to 1 gigabyte (1000 megabytes) of contiguous virtual memory. This mode overcomes the traditional 8 megabyte limit of previous Macintosh Operating Systems. MODE32 works by enabling the use of the System 7 32-bit addressing mode which would normally not be accessible on the SE/30, II, IIx, and IIcx systems. This problem occurs because the software built into the ROMs of these systems was designed only to be compatible with the less powerful 24-bit addressing mode (which was standard in System 6.0). By extending the compatibility of those ROMs to the new 32-bit mode, MODE32 provides full System 7.0 32-bit functionality to these earlier systems. MODE32 will be of interest both to users with large amounts of physical RAM (> 8MB) and those with less RAM who would like to use more than 14MB of virtual memory (System 7 VM or Connectix Virtual). MODE32 has a suggested retail price of $169 and is expected to be released concurrently with System 7.0 in mid-May. MC73 is the Motorola 68851 Paged Memory Management Unit, commonly known as a PMMU. The PMMU is required in order to run System 7.0 VM on a standard Mac II. With a PMMU, the Mac II is fully compatible with standard VM virtual memory, but still needs MODE32 to operate physical or virtual memory in 32-bit mode. The original 68020-based Mac II incorporated a motherboard socket specifically designed for this memory coprocessor. Ironically, the more recent 68020-based Mac LC is not able to take advantage of this upgrade as it lacks the necessary motherboard socket. The name MC73 refers to the fact that the PMMU is the current MC68851RC16A Mask 73 version, the only version known to be fully compatible with all of the Macintosh Operating System. MC73 also includes a 3M disposable grounding strap and a detailed installation manual. The product has a list price of $179, carries a 90-day warranty, and is shipping now. Connectix designs, manufacturers, distributes, and publishes innovative products for the Macintosh family of computers. For more information call Connectix Corporation in Menlo Park, California, at (800) 950-5880, fax (415) 324-2958, or AppleLink CONNECTIX.
philip@pescadero.stanford.edu (Philip Machanick) (05/08/91)
In article <1991May7.083850.893@husc3.harvard.edu> wilson3@husc9.harvard.edu (Frederick Wilson) writes: > A few days ago I posted the following information about "dirty" ROMs and >a Connectix solution. I am not endorsing Connectix (although I like their >stuff). I'm just reposting a Press Release which was posted elsewhere. [...] >CONNECTIX ANNOUNCES MODE32 and MC73 [...] >MODE32 is a software utility that >enables Mac II, IIx, IIcx, and SE/30 systems to run in standard System 7 32-bit >mode in the same manner as the more recent Mac II-family systems. MC73 is the >PMMU memory coprocessor needed to run Apple VM or Connectix Virtual on the >original Mac II. [...] >MODE32 has a suggested retail price >of $169 and is expected to be released concurrently with System 7.0 in mid-May. [...] >MC73 ... has a list price of $179 ... and is shipping now. If this all works as advertized, who needs Apple's ROM upgrade? Assuming the usual mail order discounts, I doubt any solution from Apple would be competitive on price (though a ROM replacement may have performance advantages over an INIT/CDEV-based patch). Anyone with a Mac II keen to buy an MC73 and report back? Philip Machanick
russotto@eng.umd.edu (Matthew T. Russotto) (05/08/91)
In article <1991May7.173459.6781@neon.Stanford.EDU> philip@pescadero.stanford.edu (Philip Machanick) writes: >In article <1991May7.083850.893@husc3.harvard.edu> wilson3@husc9.harvard.edu >(Frederick Wilson) writes: >> A few days ago I posted the following information about "dirty" ROMs and >>a Connectix solution. I am not endorsing Connectix (although I like their >>stuff). I'm just reposting a Press Release which was posted elsewhere. >[...] >>CONNECTIX ANNOUNCES MODE32 and MC73 >[...] >>MODE32 is a software utility that >>enables Mac II, IIx, IIcx, and SE/30 systems to run in standard System 7 >32-bit >>mode in the same manner as the more recent Mac II-family systems. MC73 is the >>PMMU memory coprocessor needed to run Apple VM or Connectix Virtual on the >>original Mac II. >[...] >>MODE32 has a suggested retail price >>of $169 and is expected to be released concurrently with System 7.0 in >mid-May. >[...] >>MC73 ... has a list price of $179 ... and is shipping now. >If this all works as advertized, who needs Apple's ROM upgrade? Assuming the >usual mail order discounts, I doubt any solution from Apple would be >competitive on price (though a ROM replacement may have performance advantages >over an INIT/CDEV-based patch). Anyone with a Mac II keen to buy an MC73 and >report back? An MC73 is just a PMMU-- I HOPE that other MC68851RC16s work also-- MODE32 is the 32-bit memory manager. -- Matthew T. Russotto russotto@eng.umd.edu russotto@wam.umd.edu .sig under construction, like the rest of this campus.