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From: kdq@demott.COM (Kevin D. Quitt)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Free Utilities
Message-ID: <72@demott.COM>
Date: 15 Mar 90 02:29:52 GMT
Reply-To: kdq@demott.COM (Kevin D. Quitt)
Organization: DeMott Electronics Co., Van Nuys CA
Lines: 30


    Just ran across some interesting utilities, and I felt obliged to
report.  The first one is called REFTEST and the second is called
SMOOTH.  Both are available from the Signetics BBS at (800) 451-6644. 
The former is in REFTEST.ZIP, the latter as SMSCROLL.LZH.  Both zip and
lzh decompressors are also available.(Standard disclaimer applies). 

    REFTEST allows you to adjust the DRAM refresh rate on your machine
to optimize performance.  Based on its numbers, Norton's si, and my own
benchmark suite, my machine now exhibits a 4.1% speed increase.  BTW,
the docs say that control-c will terminate the testing, but didn't on my
system; on the other hand, control-alt-del worked just fine. 

    SMOOTH is not nearly so usefull, but is interesting.  It is a file
browser that uses the EGA/VGA video controls to generate a smoothly
scrolled output.  The best part is that the assmebly source is provided. 

    I would be interested to hear about speed differences and/or other
experiences involving REFTEST. 

kdq
-- 

Kevin D. Quitt                          Manager, Software Development
DeMott Electronics Co.                  VOICE (818) 988-4975
14707 Keswick St.                       FAX   (818) 997-1190
Van Nuys, CA  91405-1266                MODEM (818) 997-4496 Telebit PEP last
34 12 N  118 27 W                       srhqla!demott!kdq   kdq@demott.com

  "Next time, Jack, write a God-damned memo!" - Jack Ryan - Hunt for Red Oct.