I figure if you're going to collect something, it needs to be upgraded to the point I would have pushed it back in the day.
Back then, I never bought a Mac for production use if it didn't have available accelerators with the processor being upgraded to the next level. I couldn't afford cutting edge Macs or upgrading to the next generation each time. The accelerators let me upgrade half as often. The SE came with the Radius16/CoPro, I bought the used IIx/PanaPro_19 with the intention of Rocketizing it ASAP and the refurb 6360 for eventual Sonnetization.
Back on topic:
I'm thrilled with the batch of these Cards, strange mix of functionality to report:
(1) 220MHz/512k - Video PassThru Functional
(3) 238.3MHz/1MB - Video PassThru Functional
(1) 238.3MHz/512k - Accelerator only works great - Video PassThru implemented causes click-clunk in PSU/No Powerup
(1) 238.3MHz/1MBk - Accelerator only works great - Video PassThru implemented causes click-clunk in PSU/No Powerup
(1) DOA - the 81/110 Tries to boot w/no startup chimes - hits HDD and eventually stops -
- - - gives shutdown alert on hitting Power on KBD button, but hangs when enter/return is pressed
I tested one of the good boards with the Sonnet Adapter Cable and it still worked fine over the extended length. It's a much better design w/components on a PCB 1/3 of the way to the Female connector, which is mounted on a PCB/Flex Cable Adapter. The male connector has strain relieving "mounting ears" on the PCB. I'll bet the integrated design of the Newertech cabling with the Female Connector soldered directly onto the Flex Cable is the Achille's Heel of these cards. When I press the Female Socket onto the HPV Card's edge connector it gives me the heebie-jeebies I get from handling KlugeWare.
When the Sonnet PassThru Adapter might fail, the cable is swapped out.
When the integrated NewerTech Cable fails, looks like it can take the whole card down.
Very bad design, IMHO.