CD Actual 1

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ CD Actual 1 / PC Actual CD 01.iso / share / dos / utilidad / q387.arj / Q387.DOC next >

Wrap

Text File | 1992-10-11 | 20.2 KB | 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.