clye@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Christopher Lye) (05/09/90)
I just got my Mercury card today so I installed it and set it on running. The card comes with configuration software called GEMstart (probably because the software was originally written for their Gemini series of cards). You can toggle various '030 functions like the instruction set and data caching from the Control Panel Device. GOOD: The card was a snap to install on the SE and the documentation for the card is pretty well-written. It took me 10 minutes and was easier than installing memory since it fits on the expansion slot. There is a DEFINITE speed increase using all the '030 features. You can notice it in the scrolling and the speed with which ATM draws fonts for example. I'm willing to admit that it is two to three times faster. From the design of the card it is obviously a madular configuration and it looks like it would be pretty easy to add-on the 68882 math co-processor and the other cards. BAD: There is sound distortion as a result of the card. I'm using the Sonic Finder and I can definitely hear the distortion. I haven't even been using a sound intensive application and I can hear the difference. VIRTUAL '030 DOESN'T WORK WITH THE CARD!!! I was really counting on this and am INCREDIBLY disappointed. One of my dorm-mates has a SE/30 and has been using it fine so we thought we'd try it with the Mercury. No go. The guy at Connectix says thay no longer support this kind of configuration (he called it an Orion). He says they support Dove and Gemini but not the Mercury. Man I'm pissed. This alone may prompt me to send the card back. You can't mount your memory directly on the board and this requires the addition of another $300 32-bit add-on. I'm still testing it and will post any new findings to the net. BTW does anyone out there know the street price of the SE-->SE/30 upgrade? I'm not kidding, I may just have to resort to this. Chris ******************************************************************** * Christopher Lye '90 * USENET: clye@phoenix.princeton.edu * * A17 Little Hall * CIS: 73407, 3140 * * Princeton University * TEL: (609) 734-6038 * * Princeton ,NJ 08544 * * ******************************************************************** * "I wish every virus writer in the world had one pair of balls * * ... and that I had my hands around them." * ********************************************************************