"ultimate" 68k machine

[andre]

Hi everyone

I was "obsessed" some years ago by making the ultimate 68k machine and i think that i have got the ultimate one :

- Quad 840av (i choosed this one because it's the only model having 60ns ram )

- reaching 50 Mhz using this

http://www.micromac.com/products/mach10_jet.html'>http://www.micromac.com/products/mach10_jet.html

or this

http://cgi.ebay.com/Newer-Tech-Quadra-Overdrive-Plus-for-Centris-650-NEW_W0QQitemZ150206630340QQihZ005QQcategoryZ51046QQcmdZViewItem

- trying to overclock a little more Laugh using this

http://www.micromac.com/products/mach10_jet.html

- adding a 128k cache card

http://www.micromac.com/products/quadra_cache_cards.html

- using the Radius Thunder Iv as a graphic card

with such a configuration i'm sure it's possible to reach the early PPCs performance Big Smile

What do you think ??

 

[Microns]

The MicroMac slotless Quadra Cache Card is an interesting idea but it is not officially compatible with the 840av.

Have you tested and found that it works (i.e. speed increase and no compatibility issues)?

 

[andre]

Nope

 

[igor_av]

It would be easier (!) to find a way the disable the clock-doubler of a Quadra Overdrive Plus, so it would run at the same speed as your bus (50 mhz) with 128k of cache...

There was a thread on http://www.nextcomputers.org/forums/ about a guy who made some radical changes to his Quaddoubler board. You could start there...

 

[andre]

I didn't found any topic about that :-/

 

[bigD]

You people and your friggin' Quadras. No Quadra is the ultimate 68k machine because no Quadra can run System 6.

quod erat f'in demonstrandum

 

[Unknown_K]

Oh yea?

The best 68K for most tasks in a Q950 256MB RAM with a 68040/50+cache, a PDS dual wide SCSI card, 5 drive bay, powershop Photoshop accelerator, DSP card, Audiomedia II or Digidesign 442 audio setup, and 10/100 Ethernet!

 

[bigD]

Who made a 10/100 Ethernet card for nubus machines? That's pretty cool.

 

[equill]

You people and your friggin' Quadras. No Quadra is the ultimate 68k machine because no Quadra can run System 6.
quod erat f'in demonstrandum

If a IIci sees only inchoate fragments when it comes across 6.0.8, no Quadra is going to be able to discern anything at all ...

Sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper.

de

 

[equill]

Who made a 10/100 Ethernet card for nubus machines? That's pretty cool.

There is an AsantéFAST 10/100 NuBus card, three of which I use in IIcis. Because of an oddity in the short keyslot at the bottom of the card's fascia plate, it cannot fit into a Q900 without removal of some plastic from the Quadra. I've never found an answer, or a reason, for this oddity. It did cause me to muse that the fabled NuBus 90 might have some bearing.

de

 

[Unknown_K]

I have a couple 10/100 Asantes, maybe farallon made one too (I know it was more then one company).

 

[bigD]

Sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper.
de

...et in saecula saeculorum. Amen!

 

[equill]

Aha! The bigDevil quotes Scripture, I see ...

de

 

[Quadraman]

Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati

 

[equill]

I have a couple 10/100 Asantes, maybe farallon made one too (I know it was more then one company).

Farallon (bless their dear departed Proximate little hearts) certainly made 10/100 CS II NICs, one of which I have in a 5500/G3/400, and I have been on the lookout for years for another couple.

de

 

[Microns]

Anyone have a slotless MicroMac Quadra Cache Card that they could test Andre's idea with?

Alternatively, can anyone explain why the cache (that interacts with the CPU, a standard 40mhz 68040) would not work with an 840av? Voltage/amperage mismatch? Timing issues?

Just wondering; 128k of SRAM cache would be a nice addition...

Illegitimi Non Carborundum

http://www.santacruzpl.org/readyref/files/a-b/bastard.shtml

 

[kreats]

AFAIK these work by doubling the onboard oscillator. So assuming the 840av runs at 40mhz bus speed, you'll get 80mhz - which will be too hot. If you want to mod the oscillator you might have luck - but that might bugger up other things in the 840av.

The 800 it would prob. work in however.

 

[Bunsen]

the Photoengine cards appear to scale very nicely. / the Photoshop speedup seems roughly proportional to the number of Photoengines. One thunder IV plus two Photoengine cards makes 12 DSP coprocessors and the speedup is quite noticeable.

Gosh darn it, now I really wish there was a realtime audio app for those.

- reaching 50 Mhz using /or this

http://cgi.ebay.com/Newer-Tech-Quadra-Overdrive-Plus-for-Centris-650-NEW_W0QQitemZ150206630340QQihZ005QQcategoryZ51046QQcmdZViewItem

I've recently ordered two different Quadra Overdrives from him, one being the Plus (with cache). I'll try them in various machines and report back.

You can still get overclocking kits from Output Enablers. I've used one of theirs on a 6100 with much happiness and joy.

 

[Microns]

Hi Kreats, Don't think that this is the issue. The MicroMac website describes the Quadra Cache Card as a simple cache rather than a clock doubler.

 

[Bunsen]

I agree. AFAIK there's no voltage difference between any of the '040 series, and the extra current consumed by a cache card should be pretty trivial. If there is an issue it would be to do with either speed or physical room (ie collision with the case or other components)