Conference bulova::decw_jan-89_to_nov-90

2718.0. "4 plane graphics on a VS3100" by SMAUG::GARROD (An Englishman's mind works best when it is almost too late) Fri May 04 1990 14:24

    
    I thought I'd include this string of notes here for future reference
    for anyone doing a DIR/TITLE.
    
    Dave
    
           <<< TURRIS::TURRIS$DUA18:[NOTES$LIBRARY]MICROVAX.NOTE;2 >>>
                          -< MicroVAX's Kinky Hints >-
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Note 2271.0      Will 4/8 plane VS2000 options work in a VS3100?       9 replies
SMAUG::GARROD "An Englishman's mind works best when " 5 lines  20-APR-1990 22:09
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    Can one take a 4 plane or 8 plane option card from a VS2000 and use it
    with a VS3100 model 38 or does one have to buy the specific 8 plane
    option for the 3100?
    
    Dave
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Note 2271.1      Will 4/8 plane VS2000 options work in a VS3100?          1 of 9
STAR::MCLEMAN "Jeff McLeman, Just thinking..."        2 lines  23-APR-1990 08:46
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You can use the 8plane module from a VS2000 and use it in a VS3100 model
30,38,40,48. However, you cannot use the 4 plane. It is not supported.
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Note 2271.2      Will 4/8 plane VS2000 options work in a VS3100?          2 of 9
SMAUG::GARROD "An Englishman's mind works best when" 25 lines  23-APR-1990 13:17
                        -< Please could you clarify .1 >-
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    Re:
    
>You can use the 8plane module from a VS2000 and use it in a VS3100 model
>30,38,40,48. However, you cannot use the 4 plane. It is not supported.
    
    Thanks for the answer. One further question though. Does:
    
    	"It is not supported"
    
    mean
    
    	"There are technical reasons why it plain will not work"
    
    or does it mean:
    
    	"It should work but we haven't done a lot of testing on it and thus
    	 we're not willing to commit to customers that it will work."
    
    Any further information would be gratefully appreciated.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Dave
    
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Note 2271.3      Will 4/8 plane VS2000 options work in a VS3100?          3 of 9
STAR::MCLEMAN "Jeff McLeman, Just thinking..."         1 line  24-APR-1990 10:20
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There were some problems with it.
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Note 2271.4      Will 4/8 plane VS2000 options work in a VS3100?          4 of 9
SMAUG::GARROD "An Englishman's mind works best when " 4 lines  24-APR-1990 12:06
                            -< I'll give it a try >-
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    Well I guess we'll give it a whirl and see how it works. Any details on
    the known problems would be appreciated.
    
    Dave
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Note 2271.5      Will 4/8 plane VS2000 options work in a VS3100?          5 of 9
STAR::MCLEMAN "Jeff McLeman, Just thinking..."        2 lines  24-APR-1990 13:22
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Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. And I don't know if the console
will recognize it. But try it. But again, it is unsupported.
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Note 2271.6      Will 4/8 plane VS2000 options work in a VS3100?          6 of 9
SMAUG::GARROD "An Englishman's mind works best when " 6 lines   3-MAY-1990 12:02
                                -< Works great >-
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    Here I am reporting back. We (actually Field Service) put the 4 plane
    board in the VS3100. Works great with a VR290 colour monitor.
    I'd love to know what the problems actually are and hence why it isn't
    supported.
    
    Dave
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Note 2271.7      Will 4/8 plane VS2000 options work in a VS3100?          7 of 9
STAR::MCLEMAN "Jeff McLeman, VMS development"         2 lines   3-MAY-1990 13:02
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They were timing releated in the hardware. Your on your own if you
use it.
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Note 2271.8      Will 4/8 plane VS2000 options work in a VS3100?          8 of 9
WRKSYS::BCLARK "it's a game of chess and I'm a pawn" 10 lines   4-MAY-1990 11:20
                  -< Diagnostics were the ONLY problem...but >-
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    	Jeff is right in that the 4pln option is NOT supported. We
    qualified the 4pln during the PVAX qual effort (due to lack of
    sufficient quantity of 8plns). The only problems we experienced were
    with diagnostics ONLY. These diagnostic "errors" or bugs WERE fixed in
    rom v1.6, however, this rom was NEVER released.
    
    	There was NOT a technical reason for not offering 4pln support. In
    my opinion, it was a BIG mistake.
    
    Bob
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Note 2271.9      Will 4/8 plane VS2000 options work in a VS3100?          9 of 9
SMAUG::GARROD "An Englishman's mind works best when " 6 lines   4-MAY-1990 13:20
                         -< Thanks for the full story >-
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    Re .8
    
    Many thanks Bob. We'll just ignore any diagnostic errors. It's working
    like a champ and the engineer in my group is more than happy with it.
    
    Dave