Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!ogicse!dali.cs.montana.edu!Eagle.oscs.montana.edu!ieeug330 From: ieeug330@Eagle.oscs.montana.edu (Mark Wistey) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2 Subject: Re:RamKeeper Message-ID: <00949FB0.6633AC20@Eagle.oscs.montana.edu> Date: 12 Jun 91 00:07:33 GMT References: Sender: usenet@dali.cs.montana.edu Reply-To: ieeug330@Eagle.oscs.montana.edu (Mark Wistey) Organization: MSU Lines: 44 In article , slhood@bluemoon.uucp (Stephen L. Hood) writes: > I recently purchased a RamKeeper for my Apple IIgs. Here is the (stuff deleted) >RamKeeper. When using the Apple IIgs Memory Expansion card, the system >functioned normally. However, when using the GSJuice+ card, ProDOS 8 >would >function normally but the system would crash mysteriously while loading >GS/OS. The error could not be traced, as the system would either lockup, >drop to the monitor, or report a fatal system error (which incidently >changed several times throughout my tests). ... >though the GSJuce+ is mentioned in the RamKeeper manual, that I got one of the first RamKeepers (i.e. only 4 months after they were advertised, and 1 week after they started shipping), and I suspect you're facing the same problems I had. First, the RamKeeper is terribly timing- sensitive. The Apple card was the only card I could get to run with 150ns ("slow") memory. When AE was notified of my problem, they had me ship in the *GS-RAM* and not the RamKeeper for replacement--apparently GS-RAMs with revisions A-C wouldn't work, at least on the front of the RamKeeper. So... with faster memory and a revision D GS-RAM, things were fine. Might try getting a replacement GS-RAM - if it's still under warranty, the swap is free. I think the GSJuice+ came out after the RamKeeper... nothing significant about its absence from the RamKeeper manual. You might also try pushing each chip on each card into place firmly. The memory cards get hot, and that seems to inspire the chips to move. > Obviously, this is the product of some strange incompatibilty or >some similar problem, as the hardware itself is not flawed. However, even Don't be so sure... AE already cut corners with the GS-RAM, and Applied Ingenuity probably did the same. Efficiency sometimes gets in the way. > On the other hand, the GSJuice+ is supposed to be 100% compatible >with all other DMA memory cards. I don't think the RamKeeper is DMA. I think it just refreshes the memory on the attached cards when the computer's off. Too bad we don't have engineers from AE bold enough to contribute to this group. (Thanks Matt! Dave! & others from Apple!) Hope this helps. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mark Wistey... gmw1142%msu3.dnet@mtsunix1 (BITNet) | Bicycling, Apple II's, gmw1142%msu3.dnet@terra.oscs.montana.edu (InterNet) | Christ-like living, Quad D, #308, Bozeman, MT 59715, USA (BikeNet) | Music, and Physics :-)