Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!agate!gershwin.berkeley.edu!cswarren
From: cswarren@gershwin.berkeley.edu (Warren Gish;269A LSA;x3-9219)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: MacSprint II
Message-ID: <24207@agate.BERKELEY.EDU>
Date: 9 May 89 19:17:24 GMT
References: <997@marvin.Solbourne.COM> <18111@cup.portal.com>
Sender: usenet@agate.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: cswarren@violet.berkeley.edu.UUCP (Warren Gish)
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Lines: 51

In article <18111@cup.portal.com> bcase@cup.portal.com (Brian bcase Case) writes:
>>Does anyone out there have one of these [MacSpring II]?
>>If so, I have some questions:
>>1. Can you feel an improvement?
>For most things, not really.  I do notice the improvement when running my
>typesetter:  about 30%.  Since my typesetter runs for minutes, this is good.

I used to notice an improvement, but not any more.  One gets used to it.
My impression (and a few crude benchmarks) suggest Orchid is being realistic
with their advertised 22% average improvement.  The ~$225 cost was worth it.

>>2. Does this cache react favorably to the cach control FKEY and/or the
>>   toggle cache cdev?
>It comes with its own cdev; I haven't tested all the interactions.

me neither

>>3. Does this board increase the number of software failures for programs
>>   running on the Mac II?
>Well, the MPW C compiler won't run right with it on....  I think that's
>the only thing I've seen go wrong.

Which version of MPW C?  I've been using Version 3.0 and SADE, no problem.
LightSpeed C 3.0 on the other hand fails horribly during/after a Make
of an application.  A sampling of other programs I've used without problem:
Excel 1.5, FullWrite 1.0, Prototyper, TML PascalII 3.0, Mathematica,
SoftPC.  LightSpeed C was the first program I tested with the MacSprintII
and it is the _only_ program I've had a problem with (and known it, anyway ;-).

>>4. How well does MacSprint II coexist with a PMMU?
>Don't know about this, but I think someone else said it doesn't work.
Was it MacWeek or MacWorld that recently published an article about
the MacSprintII vs. the PMMU?  The author said Orchid had acknowledged
a compatibility problem and that Orchid would fix it for *free*.
The updated card will not be A/UX compatible, though.

Basically, I installed the MacSprintII, tested it, and quickly forgot about it.
Sometimes I check the control panel to see that the cache really is "on".
Yes, MacSprintII really is that good of a product and, yes, MPW really
is that slow. :-(

To minimize the risk, find a vendor that will let you try the MacSprintII
with a money-back guarantee if you are dissatisfied.

Warren Gish
U C Berkeley
cswarren@violet.berkeley.edu

Non-standard Disclaimer:
I have a MacII with MacSprintII card that I want to sell,
but not because I'm unhappy with the either product.