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5.583 bytes |
Service Hints & Tips |
Document ID: GSMH-39ZDXL |
IBM PC730/PC750 - Performance optimization
Applicable to: World-Wide
Symptom:
Need to maximize system performance.
Problem Isolation Aids:
None.
Fix:
Work through the following steps to maximise the performance of your PC 700 system:-
IBM SurePath Setup:-
Ensure that the machine has the latest BIOS level installed. If in doubt, the latest level can be verified by Double Clicking here :- 
If you have changed any of the SurePath Setup values and are unsure of what to choose for optimal performance, select the <F10> Default Setting option within SurePath Setup to load the default system values for specific parameter values about which you are unsure.
Check that the system CPU is running at the proper speed. This is listed under the first menu item within SurePath Setup.
Check that the L2 cache is enabled and that the cache size selected matches the quantity that is installed on the planar. To check that the cache is enabled, proceed through the following menus - SurePath Setup, Advanced Setup, Cache Control. The operational status of the of the cache may be toggled between Disabled and Enabled states by using the left and right arrow keys.
Choose the monitor description that matches the display you have attached to the system unit. This will ensure that your monitor will operate at its highest supported refresh frequency for any given display mode that you subsequently select; thereby maximising the quality of the display image. To do this, proceed through the following menus - SurePath Setup, Video Setup, Video Display Type. If you are configuring for an add-in video card, use the installation/setup software supplied with the adapter card to configure for your monitor.
Make sure that IDE hard disk drives supplied with the system are configured for Hig Performance. To check this, proceed through the following menus - SurePath Setup, Device and I/O Ports, Disk. IDE CD-ROM drives should be configured as Compatible. Note that some old hard disk drives may not work if configured using the High Performance setting. If an old drive causes errors, configure for Compatible mode, save the new SurePath Setupconfiguration, and reboot the system.
L2 Cache:
PC 700 systems can be upgraded from the standard 256KB L2 cache configuration by specifying the 1MB L2 cache upgrade option (available through Building Blocks within UK). Not only is the 1MB cache upgrade option much larger, it also is one wait-state faster than the standard 256KB design. Customers requiring maximum performance from OS/2 or NT should consider the 1MB L2 cache upgrade option.
Memory:
PC 700 can perform interleaved memory accesses, slightly improving the memory performance, by around by 1%. Interleaving requires the installation of 4 matched SIMMs so that the middle two innermost SIMM slots on the PC 700 planar are left empty. Only Customers with ultra-critical memory performance requirements should specifically consider an interleaved memory configuration.
Video RAM:
Adding an additional 1MB of video memory to the planar enables the S3 864 video controller to access its VRAM in 64 bit mode which simply means that more video data can be accessed more quickly by the video controller. This significantly increases the video performance of PC 700 systems, almost doubling the Graphic Winmark rating. With 1MB of VRAM installed, the video controller operates in 32 bit mode only.
IDE Devices:
When installing a second IDE device (hard disk drive or CD-ROM) into a PC family system, connect it to the secondary IDE connector. As only one device can be active on an IDE port at one time, multitasking operating systems will perform better if the second IDE device is connected to a different IDE port to the primary hard disk drive.
Note:
To install more than two IDE drives, an additional IDE cable (Option P/N 06H3610) is required.
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Hint Category |
General Information | |
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Date Created |
29-09-95 | |
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Last Updated |
27-04-98 | |
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Revision Date |
23-04-99 | |
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Brand |
IBM PC | |
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Product Family |
PC 730, PC 750 | |
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Machine Type |
6875, 6876, 6885, 6886 | |
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Model |
various | |
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Retain Tip (if applicable) |
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Reverse Doclinks |