WomBOOST - Very Small Performance Boost for your Wombat

[phipli]

This is a test release of a slightly underwhelming System Extension that tweaks the memory timings of a Wombat family mac to speed them up.

This extension should work on.... the 475, 476, 575, 577, 605, 610, 650 and 800.

Just to warn you, I only saw about 3% performance lift overall, although in some pure memory tests I saw about 14%. The CopyBits video tests also see reasonable gains.

This will not be any use if you are software overclocking your computer already and shouldn't be used at the same time as the 475 Overclock extension (fine with the control strip though). This should be most useful on 610s, 650s and 800s, although I have to admit I hoped for a bit more uplift.

Slightly unimpressive results from my LC 475 running at 25 MHz :

Usual caveats - what you do with your computer is your responsibility and not mine. While there is no reason why this should cause any harm to your computer (at all), if your computer stops working, please don't blame me! If you can't boot with the extension installed, hold shift to stop it loading and remove it from your Extensions folder.

 

[JDW]

Hi, @phipli !

A "memory timing" tweaker — very interesting!

I also see we defining the 475, 476, 575, 577, 605, 610, 650 and 800 as being the "Wombat family" of vintage Macs.

The file you graciously attached for us appears to be an alternative to using your excellent 475 Overclock software, and of course you say not to use them both at the same time. Pardon me for asking, but would you be able to explain why a Wombat Mac owner would choose WomBOOST over 475 Overclock? I'm just curious if there's a special use case for WomBOOST because you clearly spent time making it for a particular reason.

Thanks.

 

[phipli]

The file you graciously attached for us appears to be an alternative to using your excellent 475 Overclock software, and of course you say not to use them both at the same time. Pardon me for asking, but would you be able to explain why a Wombat Mac owner would choose WomBOOST over 475 Overclock? I'm just curious if there's a special use case for WomBOOST because you clearly spent time making it for a particular reason.

It isn't an alternative - it doesn't touch the clock speed.

Only the mini wombats, the 475 / 575s have the programmable bus clock.

why a Wombat Mac owner would choose WomBOOST over 475 Overclock?

If you have a 475 or 575, you wouldn't. If you have any other kind of Wombat, the 475 Overclock stuff doesn't work on them.

 

[phipli]

Folks, feedback from someone with a 40MHz 650 is that the extension actually slightly slows down CPU execution, so I suspect the apple RAM timings specifically are already quite tight. It did slightly speed up video though.

At some point I'll drag my 650 out and set it up, until then this is really just a very underwhelming proof of concept.

As above, it does create a small speed bump on a 475, but nothing compared to actually increasing your bus / CPU clock.