Precision Software Appli…tions Silver Collection 1/Precision Software Applications Silver Collection Volume One (PSM) (1993).iso/demos/q387v30g.exe/Q387.DOC

Text File | 1992-10-11 | 21KB | 431 lines

                  Documentation for Q387, Version 3.0g
                    Copyright, 1991, 1992, QuickWare
                            P.O. Box 684652
                          Austin, Texas 78768
                              512-280-1452
                            October 11, 1992

     Q387  Version  3.0  is  a math  accelerator  and  math  coprocessor
emulator.   It  will both increase the performance of your  computer  in
math  intensive  applications and allow you to  run  applications  which
require a math coprocessor,  and this is all done without any additional
hardware.  The benefits of Q387 are -

Benefits -

     o Reduces computation times by up to 80% for graphics, analysis,
       CAD, font generation for desktop publishing, games, etc.

     o Allows the running of programs which require a math chip, such as
       AutoCAD, Mathematica, COSMOS/M, AutoDesk 3D Studio, Renderize,
       etc.

     o Fully compatible with DOS, most Expanded Memory Managers (EMMs),
       Windows 3.1 Standard and 386 Enhanced Modes, and most DOS Extender
       applications (such as AutoCAD 11, 12, and 386, Quattro Pro, etc.).

     o Accurate math coprocessor emulation.

     o Uses NO DOS memory (loads into extended memory completely).

     o Important for portables - uses NO extra power. Q387 actually
       will let you run your laptop or notebook through more work,
       while using no additional power.  A coprocessor chip will
       significantly shorten the time you can use your portable.

     o Low cost, only $25.

     o Free upgrades to enhanced releases.


Requirements -

     o 386SX, 386DX, or 486SX based computer, IBM PC or compatible,
       with at least 1.5 Megabytes total memory.

     o Q387 uses about 330k bytes of extended memory.

     o A 386 compatible Expanded Memory Manager (EMM), such as
       EMM386.EXE (comes with DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.1), QEMM386,
       386MAX, or the EMM386.SYS that comes with Dr. DOS 6.0.


How Q387 works -

     Run Q387 from your Autoexec.bat file or from DOS.  You must have an
Expanded  Memory  Manager (EMM) loaded first.   Q387  requests  Extended
Memory  from the EMM for its exclusive use, and then loads  itself  into
that  extended memory.  It leaves absolutely no trace of itself  in  DOS
memory, or in any memory directly accessible by DOS, thereby using  none
of this valuable resource.  Q387 instructs your computer to use Q387  to
perform  math  operations instead of your application's  math  routines.
Intel  has built this capability into the design of the 386  and  higher
chip.  Since Q387 runs completely in extended memory, it can utilize the
full power of the 386 chip, such as 32 bit operations and fast access to
large  amounts of inexpensive memory.  This has allowed us  to  optimize
Q387  for  speed.  We have also used advanced  numerical  techniques  to
increase  speed.   The net result is that all math functions  with  Q387
operate  many  times faster than the built-in math functions  that  come
with your applications.

Example  benchmarks - on a DELL System 310, 4Mb ram, 32k cache,  20  Mhz
386, with EMM386.exe loaded, all times in seconds.

   Run      Run Without           With          Percent Speed
   Number      Q387               Q387            Increase

     1         14.0               3.8               368
     2        142.0              64.0               220
     3         22.4               6.2               361
     4         17.7               3.9               453
     5         49.0               9.5               505
     6        342.1              80.2               426

Run Descriptions -

     Run 1 - Zoom out on a drawing, Generic CADD, by Generic Software.
     Run 2 - Render "Bicycle" on Alias Upfont, running in Windows 3.1
             Standard Mode, by Alias Research and SketchTech Inc.
     Run 3 - AMD math coprocessor demo, Tree fractal.
     Run 4 - AMD math coprocessor demo, Compound interest calculation.
     Run 5 - Plot a graph on screen, GRAPHER, by Golden Software.
     Run 6 - Prepare data file for 3-d viewing, SURFER, by Golden
             Software.

Standard Benchmark - same machine as above, QAPlus V4.21, Whetstones.

            Run Without           With          Percent Speed
               Q387               Q387            Increase

               62.3K              316.1K             507


Windows 3.1 -

     If  you use Windows 3.1, your Windows applications with  Q387  will
run  somewhat  faster in Standard Mode (WIN /s).  This is  due  to  some
overhead  operations  required to handle the multi-tasking  of  Enhanced
Mode.   Enhanced Mode does offer virtual memory, however, so which  mode
is  best to use depends on the math content of your  application  versus
its  need  for  more memory.  Graphics mode DOS  applications  run  much
faster in DOS than in a Windows 3.1 DOS box (this has nothing to do with
Q387).   Dos  Protected Mode Interface (DPMI)  compatible  DOS  extender
applications  (e.g.  AutoCAD 12) will run in a DOS  box.   Like  Windows
applications,  these  will  run slower as compared to  running  them  in
regular DOS, but you can multi-task multiple DOS boxes.


The Cyrix 486SLC -

     We  anticipate that Q387, with the new Cyrix 486SLC chip,  will  be
faster than an equivalent speed 386SX/387SX combination, making it  more
cost-effective  to buy a computer with the 486SLC chip and  Q387  rather
than a computer with a 386SX/387SX combination.


Our method of distributing Q387 -

     We  distribute Q387 as what might be called "protected  shareware".
The distributed program is the full working version, except that it runs
for  15  minutes  at a time before it does a safe DOS  terminate  of  an
application. (DOS shells may not be visible after the Demo.  Also, a few
programs will lock up or cause the machine to reboot when the demo times
out.   You  should  run  "CHKDSK /f" if this happens.   It  is  best  to
terminate your application yourself before 15 minutes is up, and  reboot
your  computer.)  This way, at little or no cost to you, you  may  fully
evaluate the performance of Q387 for yourself.  You may run the demo  as
much  as  you please, and it will satisfy the needs of many  people  who
only  need it for short periods of time.  If you are satisfied with  the
performance  of Q387 and need it to run for longer than 15 minutes,   we
will,  for a fee of $25 (see below for additional options), provide  you
with  a "Run Code" which is a license to run Q387 unimpeded.  It is  not
copy  protected,  but the Run Code will only work on one  computer.   We
feel that this arrangement is a reasonable compromise between your  need
to  verify  the integrity of Q387 and the need to support this  kind  of
work.


Getting a Run Code -

     Fill  out the order form which appears on your computer  screen  at
the start of the demo.  If you don't have a printer for printing out the
order  form, please include all of the required information which is  on
the  order  form.  We will, within two working days, mail to you  a  Run
Code  which  will  allow Q387 to run indefinitely.   You  will  need  to
include your Machine Code, a number which Q387 determines and prints  on
the order form at the start of a demo run.  The Run Code is specific  to
the  machine  on which you run the demo, so be sure to get  the  Machine
Code  of  the  computer you intend to use Q387 on.  The  Run  Code  also
represents  a  license to run Q387 on one machine only  (see  below  for
volume  discounts).  If you change your motherboard or your BIOS  chips,
your  old Run Code will no longer work.  You may get one new  Run  Code,
for  a service charge of $7.  This may also be necessary if  you  change
your hard disk drive controller.

     When you get your Run Code, you will run Q387 as follows -

Q387 xxx-xxx-xxx

where xxx-xxx-xxx is your Run Code.  You may have this anywhere in  your
Autoexec.bat  file so that Q387 loads automatically each time you  start
your  computer.   Q387 is not a DOS TSR (Terminate  and  Stay  Resident)
program,  so  the order in which you load it  is  inconsequential.   You
would  not  use any LOADHI with it.  Q387 uses no DOS  memory,  nor  any
Upper  Memory Block, nor any of the Upper Memory area (the area  between
1024k and 1088k).


Expanded Memory Managers (EMMs) tested with -

     1.  DOS 5.0's EMM386.exe and Window's 3.1 EMM386.exe, by Microsoft.
     2.  QEMM386.exe version 5.1 and 6.0, by QuarterDeck Office Systems.
     3.  386MAX version 6, by Qualitas. Does not currently work with
         386MAX version 5.
     4.  Dr. Dos's EMM386.sys, version 6.0, by Digital Research.

DOS Extenders tested with -

     1.  386|DOS Extender, by Phar Lapp.
     2.  Intel 386/486 C Code Builder, by Intel.
     2.  DOS 16/M, by Rational Systems.
     3.  The 16 bit DOS extender that Borland uses with Borland C++
         and Quattro Pro (probably DOS 16/M).
     4.  Window's 3.1 Standard Mode, by Microsoft.
     5.  Window's 3.1 386 Enhanced Mode (also functions as an EMM and
         multitasker), by Microsoft.  Runs and multi-tasks DOS boxes
         and 16 and 32 bit Windows applications.
     6.  Q387 will not currently work with the ERGO 32 bit DOS
         extender.  This was used by the Lahey FORTRAN compiler, but
         Lahey has switched to the Phar Lapp 386|DOS Extender, which
         Q387 does work with.

Applications Q387 has been tested with -

     1.  AutoCAD 10, 11 and 12, by AutoDesk, Inc.
     2.  COSMOS/M, by Structural Research Inc.
     3.  Surfer and Grapher, by Golden Software.
     4.  Generic CADD, by Generic Software.
     5.  DesignCAD, by American Small Business Computers, Inc.
     5.  Borland C++, by Borland International, Inc.
     6.  Intel 386/486 C Code Builder.
     7.  Quattro Pro, by Borland.
     8.  Various engineering analysis C programs compiled with Borland
         C++.
     9.  Lahey FORTRAN, F77L-EM/32, Version 5.00
    10.  AutoDesk 3D Studio Version 2.0, by AutoDesk, Inc.
    11.  Animator Pro, by AutoDesk.
    12.  PSPICE Student Version 3.06, by MicroSim Corporation.
    13.  Renderize, Windows Pro v1.3 demo, by Visual Software, Inc.
         (a 32 bit Windows program that requires a coprocessor to run).

Diagnostic utilities tested with -

     1.  Advanced Micro Devices' math coprocessor demo.
     2.  CheckIt, Version 3.0, by TouchStone Software Corporation.
     3.  QAPlus, by DiagSoft, Inc.
     4.  PC Labs Benchmark Series 5.0, by PC Magazine.
     5.  CHKCOP V2.00, by Intel Corp (a 387 checker).

Accuracy -

     Q387  performs all math operations to the same precision as  a  387
coprocessor.  This is 64 bits of precision.  Worst case Q387 accuracy is
to  60 bits.  This is within 1 part in 1 billion billion (1.E+18, or  18
decimal  digits).  If you had this kind of accuracy when  measuring  the
distance to the moon, for example, you would be accurate to within 1/100
of  a  millionth  of an inch.  Most Q387 calculations  are  accurate  to
within  64  bits  (1 part in 1.E+19).  You will  likely  never  see  any
difference between the results of Q387 and a math coprocessor.


EMM configuration options -

     Q387  requires that an EMM be active, but expanded memory does  not
have  to  be  available  (new with  release  3.0d).   Many  regular  DOS
applications  use expanded memory if it is available to  increase  their
performance  (using  fast  expanded memory instead of  the  slow  disk).
Before  Q387 V3.0, however, the use of an EMM significantly slowed  down
math  intensive  applications  (when run without a  coprocessor  on  the
computer).  With Q387, your DOS applications can now have the benefit of
both  Expanded  Memory  and very fast math  operations.

     One  penalty  associated with the use of expanded  memory  is  that
available high memory will be reduced by 64k (required for the  expanded
memory  "page frame"), leaving less room for device drivers  and  TSR's.
Also,  Windows  cannot use any of your expanded memory in  386  Enhanced
Mode.  If you don't want to use expanded memory, you can specify to  the
EMM  that it not use a page frame, thus reclaiming the lost 64k of  high
memory.  This is accomplished as follows -

device = <path to QEMM>\QEMM386.SYS FRAME=0            (for QEMM386)
device = <path to 386MAX>\386MAX.SYS NOFRAME           (for 386MAX)
device = <path to DR DOS>\EMM386.SYS /F=none           (for DR DOS 6)
device = <path to DOS>\EMM386.EXE NOEMS                (for DOS 5)


If you are using EMM386 and older DOS Extender programs (e.g. ACAD 11)-

     Older DOS Extender programs such as AutoCAD 11 can only make use of
Expanded Memory when an EMM is present, so it's best to allocate  almost
all of your available memory to Expanded Memory in this case.  You  must
reserve  enough  Extended  Memory  for  Q387  to  load,  however.   With
EMM386.exe, a straightforward way to do this is as follows (this example
is for a computer with 4 Meg of RAM) -

device = <path to DOS>\EMM386.EXE L=340 2912

where  the  "L=340" parameter tells EMM386 to reserve 340k  of  extended
memory.   The  "2912"  parameter tells it to allocate  2912k  bytes  for
expanded memory (if that much is available).  If you don't tell the  EMM
to  reserve a sufficient amount of Expanded Memory, older  DOS  Extender
applications  will give you some confusing message such as  "Conflicting
protected mode environment", or "The 386 chip is currently executing  in
virtual  8086 mode...", etc.  QEMM and 386MAX make both types of  memory
available  from  the  overall supply of memory, so  you  don't  have  to
reserve any memory explicitly for extended or for expanded memory.


If you use 386MAX on a Dell System 310 -

     Q387 does not function correctly on Dell System 310 computers  when
running 386MAX.  We have not been able to determine the cause of this as
yet, however, 386MAX appears to have problems with the 310 even  without
Q387 installed.


If you are using QEMM386 -

     You need to include the "ON" parameter on the "device=QEMM386" line
in  your config.sys file.  Also, on some computers, Q387 appears  to  be
sensitive  to the environment size and how full the environment is  when
running  QEMM386.   The  solution to this problem  is  to  increase  the
environment size.  Consult your DOS manual for details.


Bug reports -

     If you notice anything that appears incorrect while operating Q387,
try  to  determine  if Q387 is involved by rebooting  and  running  your
application again without Q387 loaded.  If the problem remains the same,
of  then Q387 could not be causing it.  If the problem disappears,  then
Q387  may  be involved.  If this occurs, and you have access to  a  BBS,
download  the latest version of Q387 and try it again.  If  the  problem
persists,  please  write  to us (or call) and describe  the  problem  in
sufficient  detail  for us to reproduce it.  We may need a copy  of  the
file(s) which you are using.  If we don't have your application to test,
we will attempt to secure a copy of it.



Updates -

     Due to our distribution method, we are able to provide free updates
to  all registered users.  All you have to do is to  periodically  check
your favorite BBS for a more recent release of Q387.  The Run Code which
you  purchase  will  work  for  these  later  releases.

Backups -

     You really only need to keep your Run Code safe, as Q387 itself  is
available from many BBS's.  Make a backup of Q387 if you don't have easy
access  to a BBS.  If you lose your Run Code, we will look up  your  Run
Code  for a processing fee of $5.  Just send us your Machine Code  (it's
on the order form) and tell us you need a replacement Run Code.

Viruses -

     Q387  was scanned for viruses with the Norton AntiVirus  before  it
was Zipped.  All major BBS's (and most local BBS's) do this as well.  We
have never gotten a virus from a major BBS.

Money-back guarantee -

     If,  within  a  year of your purchase,  Q387 has  any  error  which
prevents it from successfully emulating a 387 math coprocessor with  any
of  your applications, we will refund to you the purchase price of  your
Run Code.


If you have a 286 machine -

     If  you don't have a 386 machine but do have a 286, then 386SX  and
486SLC conversion kits are available from other vendors which will allow
many  286's to have 386 style memory management and to run  applications
such as AutoCAD 11, when you have Q387 installed. Three of these vendors
are  - All Computers Inc. 1-800-627-4835, Sigma Data at  1-800-446-4525,
and  Gordan and Associates, 1-301-977-1329. 486SX motherboards are  also
getting to be VERY inexpensive, and with Q387, they are no longer "brain
dead".


If you have a 386SX machine -

     A  relatively  inexpensive upgrade which takes  full  advantage  of
Q387's emulation capabilities is to replace your 386SX chip with a Cyrix
486  SLC  chip.  While the Cyrix 486 SLC is more of a  hybrid  386/486SX
rather  than  a true 486SX, it is nevertheless a step above  the  386SX,
and,  with  Q387,  will  actually execute  most  of  the  transcendental
functions  (Sin, Cosine, Tangent, logs and exponentials)  faster than  a
387SX, due to its single clock register-to-register instructions and its
fast  multiply (4 times faster than a 486SX).  If you have  a  portable,
you  will possibly even get longer battery usage from  this  conversion,
and you will certainly be able to get more down on a single charge.   We
know  of at least one shop which will replace your 386SX with a  486SLC.
You can contact the RSE Company at 512-282-2510 (Voice) and 512-282-2482
(FAX/BBS).

Distribution of Q387 -

     Free  distribution of Q387 without Run Codes is both permitted  and
encouraged.  Distribution  of Q387 with Run Code(s)  is  not  permitted.
Both  software  and  hardware vendors are  welcome  to  distribute  Q387
without Run Codes.

     Q387  can  be found on several bulletin board  services.   Some  of
these  are  Compuserve (IBM Hardware Forum), GENIE (IBM  PC  libraries),
America On-Line, Delphi, and the Connect America (512-459-3351, 3351, or
3358). The Connect America BBS lets you get Q387 from the free downloads
section in Area 2.  You might also ask the sysop of your favorite  local
BBS to get Q387 for you.  Search files for Q387.  The full file name  is
Q387.zip, or Q387V3XX.zip, where XX indicates the current version.

Payment options - (valid through December, 1994)

     o  $25 US currency with either a check from a US bank, or  a  money
       order (US currency money orders are available worldwide). We will
       pay sales tax for Texas residents.  If your state  requires
       you to pay sales tax on out-of-state mail order purchases, please
       add the required amount.  No sales tax is needed if you are not
       in the US.

     o Add  $5 (US and Canada only) if you want your Run Code faxed or
       called back (1 call only, include fax or phone #). Add $10 for
       fax  or call back to other countries. If call back,  the  number
       being called should be equipped with an answering machine, as we
       can only afford to call once, and we may call at any time of the
       day.  We will also mail the Run Code to you for your records.

     o $35 US currency if written on a check from a non-US bank.  The
       higher amount is required to cover the bank's fees.

     As  of this release, we do not accept credit cards as payment.   As
soon  as  our sales volume can support it, we will provide  for  payment
with Visa or MasterCard.  If this release is more than 3 months old, try
to  get a more recent release which will tell you whether or not we  are
accepting credit cards at this time.


Volume discounts -

     If  your  organization would like multiple licenses  for  Q387,  we
offer the following discounts for volume purchases -

     1st license - $25.
     2nd through 10th licenses - $20 each.
     Each license over 10 licenses - $15 each.

     OEM's please call or write for special arrangements.


     Thank you for trying Q387.