SE/30 with "32bit clean ROM" => pointless?

[sbreit]

Hi there!

In the progress of restoring my SE/30 I got my hands on a IIfx ROMSIMM that I've been playing around a bit with over the last few days. Apart from any considerations about the significance of such undertakings it quite well satisfied my needs as an explorer (or tinkerer, however you'd like to call it).

Well, what can I say? This is what I've found out:

• System 7.5.5 runs just as expected, but this most likely would do as well with MODE32 (the machine has 32 Megs of RAM installed)
  
• Mac OS 8.1 walks (because "runs" is a somewhat inappropriate attribute describing it) while the Asante NIC doesn't (but works in 7.5.5!)
  
• A/UX 3.0 ceased working

So, what's the point in having a IIfx ROM installed? 8.1, beside from the not-working NIC, doesn't work in a way that one would really want to use it apart from a "proof of concept", A/UX doesn't work either, so what's the point of having the IIfx ROM anyway? Are there any chances that I might get A/UX working, maybe even the Asante NIC in 8.1? If not, I think I'll go back to the original ROM again.

Regards

Steffen

 

[uniserver]

i heard the rom you want is from the IIsi

 

[uniserver]

also how did you get mac os 8.1 to install on that?

 

[sbreit]

i heard the rom you want is from the IIsi

Why is that and how is it different from the IIfx ROM?

also how did you get mac os 8.1 to install on that?

That was, apart from being a bit fiddly, quite easy. I've used this instructions: http://home.earthlink.net/~gamba2/os8_se30.html

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

The IIsi ROM is a newer Rev for a mainstream Mac II series machine. The IIsi a hybrid version of the IIci and SE/30 feature sets, while IIfx was a dead-end offshoot of the Mac II family tree, released well after the IIci, and posessed of a, shall we say, unique I/O architecture.

Never been an SE/30 enthusiast, but my guess is that the IIsi ROM actually cleans up a lot more than just the Mode32/32 bit ROM cleanliness issue when it comes to expansion options for the SE/30.

trag & company, could any of you clarify this? Could the IIsi ROM make for less compatibility issues for all the crud that's been successfully packed into all those IIcx/SE hybrids over the years?

 

[sbreit]

So, to narrow it down a bit:

32bit clean ROM might not be pointless, but in form of a IIfx ROM it still is?

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

32 bit cleanliness is always a good thing, less extensions running is always a good thing and, possibly, more may be fixed than that single issue by the IIsi ROM.

That would be my limited understanding (WAG) on the subject, that's why I called for competent technical support on the issue. [] ]'>

I find it very interesting, as I'm a bit of a 68030 PDS Architecture hacking enthusiast.

 

[uniserver]

yeah i pretty much was wondering the same thing about in regards to your original question. what is the actual point, other then knowing that you now have a clean 32 bit rom… kinda makes ya feel all warm and fuzzy inside if its something that now entitles you, to things, previously not able to do, great! but it seems with the IIfx rom, kills the PDS slot, and its keeping you from running A/UX...

 

[tt]

There can be other subtle differences such as enabling boot from CD or using a CD drive without the system extension as I detail here: viewtopic.php?f=29&t=17992

Also to add, I tried a Quadra 700/900 ROM in my SE/30, and it also worked! I noticed the memory control panel had an additional option for a RAM disk after installing that ROM.

However, the initial video initiation issue during RAM test is the biggest annoyance for me. If someone can hack the ROM, we can probably add the proper video initiation and disable the RAM test with a PRAM setting like the DayStar Turbo allows and add a boot disk like the Classic for emergency situations.

 

[sbreit]

32 bit cleanliness is always a good thing, less extensions running is always a good thing

Seconded. However, if that's all that is being fixed, I'll stay with the stock ROM for now.

There can be other subtle differences such as enabling boot from CD or using a CD drive without the system extension as I detail here: viewtopic.php?f=29&t=17992

Nice

Also to add, I tried a Quadra 700/900 ROM in my SE/30, and it also worked!

That looks promising. I'll try that if I ever get my hands on one of those :approve:

the initial video initiation issue during RAM test is the biggest annoyance for me.

Altough I have to admit that it isn't "nice", it really doesn't bother me. )

 

[Charlieman]

For people with an accelerator -- 68030 50MHz or 68040 -- Mac OS 8.1 is a realistic option, so 32 bit clean ROM is also useful. Combine that with a colour graphics card and ethernet and fast disk, which is where Gamba was heading, you have a nifty compact Mac.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

Also, it enables 7.6.1. I haven't tested 7.6.1 on an otherwise-stock SE/30, but it is faster than 8.1 and yet compatible with newer software than 7.5.5.

 

[uniserver]

i have a IIsi, Unless I upgrade the CPU to a speedy 040, or something, i would stay with 7.5.5 but to be honest, even 7.5.5 is sluggish with a stock system, i might try and put 7.1 back on there and try to get the NIC driver for it…

so yeah my rom is 32bit clean… but i'm not utilizing any of the benefits it looks like…

from what i hear, if i get a newbus video card for it, the whole GUI experience will be better

i've already tried the trick increasing the disk cache to over 1mb so the Video uses the faster simm ram,

but the difference is almost not noticeable..

 

[sbreit]

Well, whatever the cure is, romwise speaking, the IIfx is not.

I switched back to the stock rom for now. Maybe I'll change that if I ever can get my hands on a Quadra- or IIci-ROM or so. Until then I'll stay with System 7.5.5 and A/UX 3

 

[uniserver]

i have a IIsi computer i can sell you, this one has the kinda rare removable rom you are after, i'd like to sell you the the whole computer because its worthless to me with out the rom...

you can pm me if interested

 

[Gorgonops]

I'm sure you know this already, but when you're running Mac software under A/UX the "MacBox" essentially already utilizes its own 32 bit clean ROM image so getting a replacement ROM is by definition pointless for that even if the replacement ROM *does* allow A/UX to boot.

 

[uniserver]

that is a nifty tidbit of info!