Xref: utzoo comp.sys.att:6311 unix-pc.general:2823
Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!sharkey!itivax!lokkur!scs
From: scs@lokkur.UUCP (Steve Simmons)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.att,unix-pc.general
Subject: Re: That Mondo Combo card I told you about
Summary: I . . . am . . . croggled . . .
Keywords: hardware upgrade SCSI RAM serial
Message-ID: <1380@lokkur.UUCP>
Date: 2 May 89 01:07:43 GMT
References: <524@uncle.UUCP>
Reply-To: scs@lokkur.dexter.mi.us (Steve Simmons)
Organization: Inland Sea Software, Ltd.
Lines: 57

I am croggled.  That's not a card, that a f*cking universe.  But
since you folks are laying the universe at our feet...

Primary question is $$$$$.

Several points on the RAM:

First, must the card "subdivide" two and two for main memory
and ram disk?  I have a 1.5MB oldie, and would appreciate
a 2.5/1.5 split, or even 3.0/1.0.  From my point of view it's
better to have 4.0 main ram + 1.0 ram disk than 3.0 with a 2.0
ram disk.

Will the memory interfaces (ZigZag? never heard of it.  Is it
a SIMM?) for the ram disk support the 4MB inlines?  Be nice to
convert that 2MB ram to 8MB.  Friends who follow the industry
closely claim ram prices will nosedive in Sept/Oct, when
(literally) everyone's 4Mb chip plants go on line simultaneously.

Device driver for the RAM disk?

Interfaces: 

>   8 serial ports        2 asynch with full modem pinouts
>                         2 ports synchronous [BOP/COP] capable with DMA
This looks contradictory.  Do you mean 2 full modem asynch,
2 partial, and 2 synch?  Can't tell from the details.

Will the serial ports use std 3b1 serial drivers?  Or can I
run my TB at 19.2?  Yes, I see the serial chips support 19.2
and higher (higher! on a 3b1.  jeez.)

>   SCSI                  with DMA

Device driver?  Will it support synchronous SCSI?

> I/O     Obviously all of this I/O presents a connector problem . . .

No kidding!  It sounds like you've been seriously thinking about it,
but from the description it's not coming clear.  Can someone do up
a drawing?  Sticking out 3-5 inches from the back sounds decidedly
risky -- but it sounds like this can be snapped off, ribbon
cabled, and mounted elsewhere.  Right?

>               Still trying to decide the number of pins for SCSI
>               which is normally 50 (2x25), but will fit on 25
>               (2x13) if you don't mind a funny cable.

Hmm.  If by funny cable you mean something like the Macintosh standard
I'd vote for that.  Otherwise I vote 2x25.  Any savings that require
custom cables aren't really worth it.

Mondo combo, indeed!
-- 
Steve Simmons		...sharkey!lokkur!scs      scs@lokkur.dexter.mi.us
  "Gordon Way's astonishment at suddenly being shot dead was nothing to
       his astonishment at what happened next."  -- Douglas Adams