[comp.sys.mac.hardware] New RISC Graphics for Macs

blob@apple.com (Brian Bechtel) (03/21/90)

In article <22297@watdragon.waterloo.edu> nrjwong@lion.waterloo.edu writes:
> So are there any wait states in the IIfx?

The IIfx has 32K of high speed static RAM and 2K of tag RAM (for storing 
the addresses of cached data) so it runs "most of the time" with zero wait 
states.

> When will the logic board upgrade be available?

Both the American and European press releases state a June 1990 time frame 
for release of the logic board upgrade.

> From the Mac IIfx press release:
> What are Mac IIfx-specific DRAMs? Are they just faster? What speed
> SIMMs(I assume SIMMs are still being used) should one stick into a IIfx?

The new SIMM  design has separate RAM data input and output lines; this 
allows the memory to run much faster, but makes it incompatible with 
current SIMMs.  The IIfx only works with 1Mb (or higher) SIMMs.

> The new keyboard:
> Is it available separately? Will it replace the current extended 
> keyboard?

The new keyboard replaces the Apple Extended Keyboard (M0115).  The part
number is M0312.  The ISO keyboard ships in Europe and Canada; it has
one extra key and a new ID number (#5).  I don't know more than that.

> What's the SCSI transfer rate now?

The maximum data transfer rate possible is now 3 megabytes/second, up from 
the previous 1.5 megabytes/second.

> Does the IIfx have the IIci's built-in video (from the press
> release, it looks like a no)?

no.

> Video cards press release:
> Re: Apple Convolution: Is this NTSC output direct from the video card?

From Gregg Williams' article in Appledirect magazine:
"The display card boards provide ... analog RGB and monochrome signals as 
well as RS-343 and RS-170 timing signals (for interlaced displays).  It 
uses three sense lines to determine the type of monitor connected."

The 8.24 can also display up to an 8-bit convoluted NTSC-compatbile image 
on interlaced monitors.

> The press release talks about the  VRAM kit giving
> the 4.8 video card true color and true gray scale of the 8.24.
> Does this mean 24-bit colour?
The 4.8 card is 8 bit on the smaller Apple monitors, but can be upgraded 
to the 8.24 card (via the VRAM kit).  The 8.24 card is 24 bit on smaller 
monitors, 8 bit on the large monitors (portrait and two-page display).  It 
can also display up to an 8-bit convoluted NTSC-compatbile image on 
interlaced monitors.

> How about responses from people who actually have IIfx's?

It's so fast, it can do an infinite loop in 30 seconds.


--Brian Bechtel     blob@apple.com     "My opinion, not Apple's"