IIcx or IIci - Restoration Targets

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Definitely go with the IIcx.

1 - innate advantages of the IIci (most notable Cache) make it a better standalone system in-wait  .  .  .  ci-centric processor upgrade acquisition mode.

2 - that said, those advantages when running under RocketShare make it far better multiprocessor platform

3 - the advantages of the IIci would be entirely wasted running in Accelerator Mode under RocketShare

4 - interleaved memory banks on the Rocket's 33MHz 040 system bus far outstrip 25MHz IIci's memory bus performance

edit: I'm looking at it from an overall Mac/Radius collection perspective here.  [}] ]'>

 

[IIfx]

It's alive! The IIcx is restored.

The worst part were the axial caps, total nightmare. A small fragment of C14's positive pin broke off in the through hole. I couldn't get it hot enough to remove even with my Hakko set to 850 degrees Celsius. I had to bodge the new cap to that small fragment and it seems to work. Long term I will need to bypass that through hole with a wire to the component C14 feeds on the positive end.

Yes I know my through hole soldering is bad. Is it weird that I find surface mount to be easier?

I threw my spare 1gb Samsung HDD into the IIcx and it boots. I get a bus error when trying to use Ethernet but I think that's due to a corrupt system folder per Techtool.

 

[MJ313]

Nice save!  [8D]

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

WHOOSSHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[IIfx]

WHOOSSHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seeing System 6 run on a 68040 is a bit of an experience. It's too fast. When the Rocket takes over and reboots the system the stock startup chime plays faster and at a higher pitch because it's just that fast.

I've run into two problems with System 6:

It can't address more than 8mb of RAM

• Connectix Optima fixes this, but only for the host 68030 without MultiFinder.
• Lack of software. This is more me than the OS. Most of my software is for System 7.x and up.

Nubus loadout of the IIcx:

• Radius Rocket 33mhz with 64mb RAM
• Radius DirectColor GX unaccelerated graphics (accelerated when the Rocket is run as the accelerator)
• Asante MACCON3 Nubus Ethernet with NatSemi chipset

 

[PB145B]

Sweeeeet!!! I guess I’m not the only one that finds surface mount soldering to be easier than through hole!

 

[IIfx]

The IIcx Introduction keynote

I moved my IIcx to System 7.1.1 Pro today, seems to be running well under the newer OS. The upgrade process was pretty smooth, even the Rocket drivers still work.

 

[IIfx]

So I have run into some interesting quirks of the Radius Rocket and it's relationship with the System Software & associated extensions.

RocketWare 1.3.2 on System 6.0.8 = Rock solid stable, everything works including sound, but only 8mb of RAM addressable out of the 64mb on card, OS limitation

RocketWare 1.3.2 on System 7.1.1 Pro & Mode32 = Crashes left and right, unusable

RocketWare 1.5 on System 7.1.1 Pro & Mode32 = Usable but unstable. System completely locks up at random during network transfers initiated from another host. Networking stack v58.

My current experimental project is to see if the Rocket gives the old IIcx enough oomph to handle video capture using a VideoVision Studio. Benchmarking revealed that the Rocket accelerates the IIcx to around Quadra 605 performance levels, slightly exceeding the Q605 as the 16mhz 68030 becomes an I/O slave. Realtime video viewing from the VideoVision works great, although there is no sound at all when using the Rocket. Downgrading the Sound Manager to the version included with the VideoVision causes a system bomb crash every time the Finder plays a sound, totally incompatible. The system crashes with an empty bomb box shortly after starting a recording to the disk.

Does anyone happen to know a stable version of Sound Manager that works with a Rocket? There is an article on LEM claiming you can play MP3's on a Rocket with MPEGDEC. I can't see how that is possible if the system crashes or refuses to play sounds.

Second problem I am having has to do more with hard disk voodoo and FWB Disk Tools. Whenever I open Chooser it asks me to enter the login credentials for "FWB 2gb" as if I am connecting to a host with a 2GB FWB formatted hard drive. That drive is inside the IIcx. The system software will randomly ask me for non-existant FWB 2gb credentials if I open up a file. I tried formatting the drive with Apple HD SC setup & updating the drivers to the ones included with HD SC but I am still getting these odd requests for credentials that you cannot bypass without resetting the system. Anyone know how to deal with this?

 

[CC_333]

@IIfx Have you tried System 7.0.1? From what I've read, Rockets (and indeed, many Radius products) have spotty compatibility with SSWs much higher than that (I think 7.1.1 Pro is the absolute maximum OS supported by the Rocket).

7.0.x isn't too much different than 7.1, other than a few bugfixes and a Fonts folder in the latter, so it should be more or less the same experience.

c

 

[IIfx]

I haven't tried 7.0.1. Given how 7.0.1 and 7.1 are similar I would be surprised if it was the system software itself causing these crashes, but who knows with the Rocket. I will give 7.0.1 a try when I have free time.

7.1.1 Pro with RocketShare is pretty stable, at least in my experience. It only becomes unstable if you try to do anything sound or network related within the virtualized Mac. I find it interesting that LEM claims that you can play MP3's with MPEGDEC under RocketShare. I just get a bunch of nasty static noises out of my IIfx if I try.

 

[VMSZealot]

Apologies for bumping an old thread - but does anyone know what (modern) monitor I can use with a Radius DirectColor card? I have a Fujitsu panel which displays enough to be readable (but grumbles that the frequency is wrong) - but only does so briefly before shutting down.

 

[Phipli]

Apologies for bumping an old thread - but does anyone know what (modern) monitor I can use with a Radius DirectColor card? I have a Fujitsu panel which displays enough to be readable (but grumbles that the frequency is wrong) - but only does so briefly before shutting down.

Probably better to start a new thread to ask questions like this, there isn't really any reason to carry on the old one. Remember asking a question on an existing thread causes confusion over details from the original and new, plus triggers alerts to people that followed the original thread an have nothing to do with your question.