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NeXTStation Clock Doubler!
- Thread starter zigzagjoe
- Start date
No real updates on these two. I've been taking a break from the project after VCF Southwest.... Here's the last status. There is some additional information here but I won't be updating that forum further. I expect I'd either post here or at nextcommunity.org with any updates.
OverDrive (50mhz doubler): Tested in turbo machines and works fine but has some quirks in non-turbo hardware. The non-turbo hardware has bad behavior that somehow doesn't break things on a stock 040 but at higher speeds it becomes a problem. So it's slightly unstable and occasionally fails to boot.
HyperDrive (50mhz doubler + 128K cache): Basic viability of cache invalidation and functionality proven, I had this working at VCF. Seemed to add around another 30% performance increase over the OverDrive, even faster than the 50mhz overclock*. Much of the logic to support was done in a prototype fashion and needs to be rewritten and tested properly before real evaluation can be done. Problems with the Atmel fitter software being absolute garbage caused my burnout so that's a large part of why I've taken a break from the project.
No promises on availability.... I intend to get back to this project but I'm going to stop making things for sale or at least take a long break so I can get back to what I enjoy. Ultimately, I started these for myself so that's the initial goal and then we'll see what comes from there.
*50mhz overclock: There is a guy at the next forums who has come up with an overclock module you can solder into turbo hardware in order to run it at 40mhz or 50mhz. You must replace the CPU, replace the PLL on the logic board, and install his module to use. Personally, I'm not in favor of extensively modifying scarce hardware and as the turbo ASICs already apparently have a propensity to die.... I'll pass on that.
OverDrive (50mhz doubler): Tested in turbo machines and works fine but has some quirks in non-turbo hardware. The non-turbo hardware has bad behavior that somehow doesn't break things on a stock 040 but at higher speeds it becomes a problem. So it's slightly unstable and occasionally fails to boot.
HyperDrive (50mhz doubler + 128K cache): Basic viability of cache invalidation and functionality proven, I had this working at VCF. Seemed to add around another 30% performance increase over the OverDrive, even faster than the 50mhz overclock*. Much of the logic to support was done in a prototype fashion and needs to be rewritten and tested properly before real evaluation can be done. Problems with the Atmel fitter software being absolute garbage caused my burnout so that's a large part of why I've taken a break from the project.
No promises on availability.... I intend to get back to this project but I'm going to stop making things for sale or at least take a long break so I can get back to what I enjoy. Ultimately, I started these for myself so that's the initial goal and then we'll see what comes from there.
*50mhz overclock: There is a guy at the next forums who has come up with an overclock module you can solder into turbo hardware in order to run it at 40mhz or 50mhz. You must replace the CPU, replace the PLL on the logic board, and install his module to use. Personally, I'm not in favor of extensively modifying scarce hardware and as the turbo ASICs already apparently have a propensity to die.... I'll pass on that.
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