![]() (not speed, but memory): having more than 4MB would be nice.You'll notice a big usability difference. Try using miniVmac at like 4x speed, then a mac 128/512/plus/classic for general tasks. And really, once you start getting into an FPGA with expanded RAM, video, Ethernet, etc built-in that basically just uses the Mac as a host for power and peripherals, it kind of ceases to be an "accelerator" and more a "new computer wearing a retro skin suit" and the modding community already has this covered with their various iPad or Mac mini-based hacks. Plus I'd be more inclined to buy several different 68k accelerators for several different machines rather than just one bonkers FPGA accelerator as a gee-whiz sort of thing (if there were multiple versions available I assume it would be the same FPGA base on a different machine-specific form factor so there would be little point in buying more than one).įor why more speed on B/W Macs, I would say: I'd definitely like a QuadDoubler with a L2 cache built-in. If I was going to buy an accelerator all I would want is a choice of proper 68k-based cards for various Macs: clone some Daystar or MicroMac or Interware cards and re-release them, possibly with enhancements (maybe an '060 version? Some Interware cards have pads suggesting this was in consideration but may have been scrapped due to incompatibilities between the '040 and '060's respective ISAs). make Asteroids run so quickly that I basically die as soon as the screen loads? To be able to scroll through a Lotus 123 spreadsheet so fast the screen is just a blur? To (attempt to) render FaceBook or other modern website on a 512x384 b&w screen (or external high-res screen, for some reason)? I mean, what's the utility here? Why would I need a quantum leap in performance and tons of new features for my SE when I can just use a faster Mac that already does that stuff? I will admit though that the "concept" of having a 68 080 chip in a compact Mac is drool-worthy to be sure.įor me it's a question of value, mostly: do I need to spend $500 on top of whatever else has been sunk into the device (assuming prior max RAM upgrades and SCSI2SD or whatever) just to. And all that goodness fits inside the stock case, which I think is important. This is why I've been most impressed by the work of He has created a TS Adapter with built-in MacCon Ethernet and he has cloned the socketed PowerCache! Sure, those two upgrades are specific to the SE/30, and current pricing of the socketed PowerCache clone is high, but the point here is that we retain software compatibility while gaining the ability to free up the PDS card slot for other upgrades. If compatibility with legacy software was worse than an 040 card, it wouldn't be worth $500 in my eyes. So if there was a new-fangled and modern accelerator for an SE/30, I would ask about the software compatibility. The 030 boards are just like the stock SE/30 only faster. As a result, I tend to use my 030 accelerators more than the 040. And its that upgradability that makes the SE/30 king of the compacts! My Daystar Turbo 040 40MHz PDS accelerator makes it faster still, but there are software compatibility issues even with the cache disabled. The SE/30 runs reasonable well at its stock speed, but I must say I enjoy it more with a 50MHz 68030 accelerator installed. My primary love is for older 68k Macs, especially the 9" CRT Macs like the SE/30. The only PPC machines I currently own are my G4 Cubes and PowerBook Wallstreets, mainly because if I want a fast Mac that runs modern software, I will use a modern Intel Mac.
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