I now have 2 StarMax computers: a 5500/200 and a recent acquisition: a
3000/180. So I guess I'm a real StarMax junkie now :-). Anyway, I've
noticed several (unexpected) differences between the two.
1. The 3000 has a max refresh rate of 75Hz, where as the 5500 is 85Hz.
(this is using the same monitor of course). I noticed that they use
different video chips - the 5500 says "3D Rage" and the 3000 just says
plain "ATI". I tried pulling the VRAM module out of the 5500 and
installing it in the 3000 to see what would happen and I got more
colors and higher resolutions but still only 75Hz refresh. Why is this?
2. I *think* the VRAM in the 5500 is a 4MB and the one in the 3000 is a
1MB. Is there any way to identify these modules for sure - either with
software or with visual identification? (I'm running 8.6 on both and
the System Profiler in 8.6 doesn't list VRAM info.)
3. What is the max VRAM for each of these machines? (I think it's 4MB
for the 3000 but I don't know whether it is 4MB or 8MB for the 5500) If
I want to buy a VRAM module, what specs do I need to get the right one?
4. If I want 85Hz refresh on the 3000, do I have to install a PCI video
card?
5. The 3000 has a 256K L2 cache installed, and the 5500 L2 slot is
empty - (it has been like that since I got it). I'm wondering if I
could (and should) put some L2 cache into the 5500. (I have no
intention of using the L2 slot for a processor upgrade.) Will it take
up to a 1MB cache? What specs do I need to get the right one?
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