Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!helios!summa.tamu.edu!mkh6317
From: mkh6317@summa.tamu.edu (HOWARD, MATTHEW KENDALL)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: The Emperor's 8*24GC card.
Message-ID: <16639@helios.TAMU.EDU>
Date: 29 May 91 19:00:11 GMT
Sender: usenet@helios.TAMU.EDU
Reply-To: mkh6317@summa.tamu.edu
Organization: Academic Computing Services, Texas A&M University
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News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4


Bueno dias y-awl,

At the 8*24GC roll-out in Houston, Apple demonstrated *dramatic* speed
increases in quickdraw display with a color version of the diatom line
drawing program and in region dragging with a 24-bit paint program. We
were impressed and were happy to pay and wait for the release of the GC.

We have installed a fully populated 8*24GC card in both a Mac II and a
IIfx.  We use Word, Kaliedagraph, Excel, VersaTerm PRO, MacDraw II, NCSA
Image, and QUED on a regular basis.  We usually run in 8-bit mode.

The problem is that we have not seen ANY evidence of display speed-up.

(We are running 6.0.5 and the init *is* installed; the rocketship does
 its launching animation at boot time and is not crossed out anywhere.
 Noted: The GC init is currently not compatible with system 7.0)

We removed non-Apple inits and cdevs and used a stop watch to time the
scrolling of text, graphics, text and graphics, and dragged large grouped
objects around in MacDraw.  We found no significant, or consistant difference
with aceleration on or off.  I cannot reproduce the MacWeek tests reported
a while back. (I don't believe them either.)

I bought this matter to the attention of the net months ago and was left with
the impression that in order for the GC to produce dramatic results, the various
applications must be re-written to use GWORLD calls.  Recently, in private email
conversations I'm told that in certain situations, GWORLD calls are useful,
especially in bitmap applications, (uncovering windows, dragging bitmap regions)
but that in general the board is zippy and doesn't rely on GWORLD calls to 
give benefit.  I am seeking demonstrable examples.

I'd like to ask users of the 8*24GC (only) about their experiences with
this product under 8-bit or lower pixel depths (only).  Please name a
commonly available program which you feel clearly demonstrates the GC's
advantage.

Thanks

Matt