Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!sdd.hp.com!usc!julius.cs.uiuc.edu!apple!radius!lemke From: lemke@radius.com (Steve Lemke) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware Subject: Re: Is the 8.24GC improvement dramatic? Message-ID: <1396@radius.com> Date: 23 Jan 91 16:59:20 GMT References: <11425@lanl.gov> <3586@ssc-bee.ssc-vax.UUCP> Lines: 52 housen@ssc-vax (Kevin Housen) writes: }Regarding the 8*24 GC, I would strongly suggest trying out one }of these boards on the machine you intend to use and with the }software you intend to use. We bought one and ended up returning }it because there was no noticeable speed improvement. }...for programs we normally run in 1 bit mode (e.g. Word, MacDraw), }there is no significant acceleration. In fact, WriteNow actually scrolls }scrolls slower when you turn the GC board on. Apparently, CopyBits }calls are slower with the GC if the software doesn't use Apples GWorld }routines. This may be why the board slows down WriteNow. Anyway, }my intent is not to dump on the 8*24GC but rather to caution you }to try one out extensively before buying one. If you tend to run }in 24 bit mode a lot, it would probably be useful. If you tend to }use 1 bit mode, save your money. Speaking about saving money, if the 8*24GC is just too much money for you and/or you don't perceive a worthwhile performance increase in what- ever you're using it for, you owe it to yourself to check out the Radius DirectColor/GX board (hereafter referred to as the "DC/GX"). <> Please do not flame this as an "advertisement"!! I'm merely responding to what has been a thread of articles from people not happy with the 8*24 GC price/performance ratio!! This posting is for infor- mational purposes, as a service to those still looking for an accelerated video board for their 13" display... Anyway, the DC/GX board drives an Apple 13" display in 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 24-bit modes, includes on-board acceleration, and will also output NTSC timing or PAL timing RGB video signals. Granted, the on-board acceleration of the DC/GX does _not_ accelerate other video boards in your system (as the 8*24 GC does), and in some areas it is slower than the 8*24 GC, but I'm sure you'll love the performance you get for the price you pay. I believe you could probably buy three DC/GX boards for the price of a single 8*24 GC. In addition, if you find an area where the DC/GX is slower with the acceleration on than without it, I'd like to hear about it! As Kevin mentions above, you should try out any board before buying it, to see if you're going to be happy with it. I guess I'll stop here, lest anyone think I'm trying to use the net for "free advertising". If you still feel the need to flame me for this, please do so over email, to "lemke@radius.com". On the other hand, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask, and I'll do my best to answer them. I'm not a marketing or sales type, just an engineer who worked on the DC/GX project... Steve -- ----- Steve Lemke, (now in) Software Engineering, Radius Inc., San Jose ----- ----- "I'm not a UNIX wizard, but I play the Postmaster at radius.com." ----- ----- Reply to: lemke@radius.com (radius!lemke@apple.com works too!) -----