Hi there!

This is APAMDK86.DMD version 1 readme.

AMD CPUs have a nice feature:  write combining.  This small utility is just
switching it on.

What is write combining good for?  It helps my S3 Virge based graphic card
driven by IBM GENGRADD to speed up by 250% at some operations :).  Of
course it works with many other chipsets and display drivers too!

To enable write combining for your graphic card there is one thing you need
to know:  The starting address of your video memory in your PC
configuration.  This address is typically called (video) memory aperture.

A nice util to find out where your memory aperture currently is, is
divetest from Markus Montkowski.  You can get it via
ftp.netlabs.org/pub/odin/divetest.zip.  Start it and look at the number
DIVE->Framebuffer->"starts at".

And you must have an AMD K6-II (K86 Modell 8) Stepping C or greater.  To
find this out you can use blank.exe coming with this package.


output of blank:

hello world       <- this is version 0.0.0 too ! ;)
AuthenticAMD      <- your CPU id string
0000058C          <- model 8, stepping c, instruction set 5
00000000          <- other information
00000000                      "
008021BF                      "
AMD-K6(tm) 3D pocessor   <- Prozessors name, this string is stored in your CPU!



This driver does not work with old prehistoric graphic cards having
problems with out of order write cycles.


======================
  How to get it run?
======================

first:  When installed you will get a message that it is not installed,
this is ok.

1.
Run APAMDCFG.CMD to set your video memory aperture address in APAMDK86.DMD.
(read introduction for closer information)

2.
Then copy the just modified APAMDK86.DMD to to \OS2\BOOT and append the
line

BASEDEV=APAMDK86.DMD

to your config.sys. That's it.


===============
  known bugs:
===============

1.
bldlevel of APAMDK86.DMD says model 9 this is an error..  model 9 is AMD
K7.

2.  
(not realy a bug, but confusing) When installed you will get a message that
it is not installed, this is ok.


==================
    other tips
==================

1.
It is allways a good idea to take a look at www.netlabs.org and www.os2.org
for news, information and more.

2.
Try QuickMotion at www.quickmotion.com.  A very nice QuickTime player for
OS/2 suppoerting QuickTime VR (Virtual Reality) and more!


===============
  legal stuff
===============

This is highly experimental code, no error checking or CPU detection nor
nothing.  Use at your own risc!  There is a chance that you can destroy
data with this small util!


=======================
  distribution  files
=======================

package name: APK86_1.ZIP

apamdcfg.cmd     2228 09.07.99  5:01p
apamdk86.dmd     1174 09.07.99  4:14p
blank.exe        2560 24.05.99 12:14p
readme.txt       this file


===============
   contact
===============

please report me your experience to A.Portele@teamos2.de

Homepage:
http://a.portele.home.pages.de                    
http://www.student.informatik.tu-darmstadt.de/~portele 

keep on warping
Andreas Portele  (9.7.1999)


