From: rasp@xlnt.com (Ron Perloff)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: RailGun '030 accelerator SE/Plus - opinions?
Date: 9 Oct 92 20:48:08 GMT
Organization: xdi

In article <1aus94INNrmk@agate.berkeley.edu> gingold@garnet.berkeley.edu (Eric
Gingold) writes:
>I was wondering if anyone has had experience with the RailGun '030
>Accelerator cards and monochrome monitors.  A company called 
>MacProducts USA has an advertisement in MacWorld and MacUser for 
>a '030 accelerator with video output, 68882 Math Co-Processor,
>PMMU & a Panasonic 2 page monitor.  The 25Mz version costs $999 and
>the 33 MHz version costs $1199.

>We are considering purchasing one for a Mac Plus and another for a
>Mac SE with an internal hard drive.  Does anyone have any
>experience with this product?

Yes. First of all, as of last month they were not yet shipping the
Mac Plus version. We have the SE version. We also have the Mobius
version.

>Specifically:
>(1)  Are there any software compatibility problems?

We have not seen any yet in either the RailGun or the Mobius.
Both units allow you to move ROM into RAM and execute from
RAM for greater speed because of RAM's lower access times. Some
applications have problems with that, but the problem is with the
applications rather than the accellerators. In any case, if this
feature causes problems, you can turn it off.

>(2)  Is the accelerator System 7 compatible?

Yes.

>(3)  Is it difficult to install, especially in an SE with an
>     internal hard drive?

It should take less than an hour or two depending on your
skill level.

>(4)  Does the vendor (MacProducts USA) offer reasonable technical
>     support?

We have not exercised MacProducts yet. Support from Mobius is great!

>(5)  Is anyone aware of alternative vendors where I can purchase
>     this or similar products?

See Mobius.

>I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who knows or whose had
>experience with this product. 

Both products turn your SE into a completely different machine.
They are very fast and the large screen saves a lot of scrolling.
Both products were designed by Novy, with the RailGun apparently
the newer version. It has wider data paths which may make it a
bit faster, but its hard to tell.

Both products support up to 16 MByte of RAM, turning the last
12 MByte into a RAM disk. If you then buy Virtual 3.0 (which
come free with the 33 MHz RailGun or $99 for the others) it
uses the PMMU to make it look like a real 16 MByte machine.
Take advantage of this. It works and it is worth it.

If you get the 25 MHz version of these accellerators, then make
sure you get 70 ns RAM. If you do, you can save a wait state
and get, in my estimate, about the same performance as the 33 MHz
version. Do not bother with 70 ns memory if you buy the 33 MHz
version, because you cannot save the wait state.

The software for the Mobius allows you to use the SE screen. The
RailGun keeps the SE screen blank, but they promise an upgrade
some time soon that will let you use it.

Both systems let you leave memory on the original motherboard
that you can use as a RAM disk. This memory cannot become part
of the overall addressing space. I find it VERY handy. It survives
crashes and restarts, but not power cycles. You do not need
70 ns memory for this RAM.

Ron

Ronald S. Perloff     rasp@xlnt.com
XLNT Designs, Inc.  (XDI)
15050 Avenue of Science
Suite 106
San Diego, CA  92128
619 487 9320   -   FAX: 619 487 9768