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HP Forum Archive 18

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IR module slows down 41CX
Message #1 Posted by Egan Ford on 24 June 2008, 2:43 p.m.

I ran a benchmark on two different 41CXs (one full, one half). The benchmark completes in 1076 seconds on each machine. But if I insert the IR module in the halfnut the benchmark takes 1269 seconds. I did not test the fullnut yet. TESTP passed with OK, and the IR module functions as expected (e.g. PRP works just fine).

Is this a known issue? I only found one reference to this (user said that keyboard was slow with IR installed).

Thanks.

      
Re: IR module slows down 41CX
Message #2 Posted by Eric Smith on 24 June 2008, 2:51 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Egan Ford

Perhaps you have the flags set for TRACE or NORM mode, so it's trying to print stuff, which naturally slows it down since the printer is no speed demon. Execute "MAN" (or clear flags 15 and 16) to set MAN mode.

I'd expect having the module installed, even in MAN mode, to slow it down a little bit, but not 25%. However, I've never actually tried to benchmark it.

            
Re: IR module slows down 41CX
Message #3 Posted by Egan Ford on 24 June 2008, 6:46 p.m.,
in response to message #2 by Eric Smith

I ran XEQ MAN, then reran on both full and half nuts, I also tried different slots (1 and 4) with nothing else installed. Same reduced performance.

                  
Re: IR module slows down 41CX
Message #4 Posted by Eric Smith on 24 June 2008, 7:27 p.m.,
in response to message #3 by Egan Ford

Hmmm... maybe the code in the module that responds to polls from the mainframe is extremely inefficient. Maybe you should try the test again after executing PRTOFF.

It would be interesting to see the same benchmark run with the 82143A printer, and with the 82162A printer w/ HP-IL module, with both set to MAN mode.

                        
Re: IR module slows down 41CX
Message #5 Posted by Egan Ford on 24 June 2008, 10:27 p.m.,
in response to message #4 by Eric Smith

Problem solved. New timing with PRTOFF: 1094. 18 seconds slower.

Earlier you stated:

Quote:
I'd expect having the module installed, even in MAN mode, to slow it down a little bit, but not 25%.
Well it is a bit slow. Just curious, why?

Thanks.

                        
Re: IR module slows down 41CX
Message #6 Posted by Egan Ford on 25 June 2008, 11:41 a.m.,
in response to message #4 by Eric Smith

Quote:
82162A printer w/ HP-IL module
MAN and NORM take 1390 seconds.
                              
Re: IR module slows down 41CX
Message #7 Posted by Eric Smith on 25 June 2008, 2:52 p.m.,
in response to message #6 by Egan Ford

Care to try using the PPC ROM, synthetics, or the like to turn off flag 55 (printer existence) while the 82162A is present? It would be interesting to see whether that gets it close to the IR w/ PRTOFF timing.

                                    
Re: IR module slows down 41CX
Message #8 Posted by Egan Ford on 25 June 2008, 3:30 p.m.,
in response to message #7 by Eric Smith

Quote:
Care to try using the PPC ROM
Do not have one.
Quote:
synthetics
You'll have to walk me through this one.
                                          
Re: IR module slows down 41CX
Message #9 Posted by PeterP on 25 June 2008, 3:57 p.m.,
in response to message #8 by Egan Ford

which modules do you have Egan? Do you have any of the CCD, Clonix/NoVram,MLDL2000?

All of them would allow a relatively quick SF/CF55. If not you would need a little program (which would use synthetic instructions for which you would need things like ByteGraber or LoadByte etc. A bit of a longish exercise from scratch)

But there might be bar-codes of the relevant programs but I don't know off hand where and which ones would make it most easy for you to do a SF/CF 55.

If I get a chance later on today/night I'll see what I can dig up with regards to bar-codes.

hth

Peter

                                                
Re: IR module slows down 41CX
Message #10 Posted by Egan Ford on 25 June 2008, 4:08 p.m.,
in response to message #9 by PeterP

Shoot me a bar code if you don't mind. I do not have any of the aforementioned modules.

                                    
Re: IR module slows down 41CX
Message #11 Posted by Egan Ford on 25 June 2008, 11:10 p.m.,
in response to message #7 by Eric Smith

I just tried CF 21 (printer functions) with no luck (1390 seconds). But flipping the disable switch on the HP-IL module fixed it (1093 seconds).

                                          
Re: IR module slows down 41CX
Message #12 Posted by PeterP on 27 June 2008, 11:27 a.m.,
in response to message #11 by Egan Ford

Egan, the program 'IF' - Invert Flag from the PPC Rom lets you set/clear any flag including flag 55. The PPC Rom Manual (on the DVD here I think and definitely on the DVD from TOS) has Barcodes at the end of the manual. I've done a scan and will try to email but the quality might not be good enough.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,

Peter

                                                
Re: IR module slows down 41CX
Message #13 Posted by Garth Wilson on 27 June 2008, 1:37 p.m.,
in response to message #12 by PeterP

Quote:
the program 'IF' - Invert Flag from the PPC Rom lets you set/clear any flag including flag 55.
Or, if you have the ZENROM, it's TOGF (TOGle Flag) for the same thing, good for all 56 flags.
                                    
Re: IR module slows down 41CX
Message #14 Posted by Egan Ford on 28 June 2008, 11:09 a.m.,
in response to message #7 by Eric Smith

With Peter's help I was able to get "IF" (invert flag) loaded into my 41.

Summary of results (time in seconds, benchmark code below):

Base (no modules):                                  1076
IR Module:                                          1269 (+193)
IR Module + MAN:                                    1269 (+193)
IR Module + MAN + MANIO:                            1269 (+193)
IR Module + PRTOFF:                                 1094 ( +18)
Base + HP-IL (not connected):                       1117 ( +41)
HP-IL (connected to printer):                       1390 (+314)
HP-IL (connected to printer) + MAN:                 1390 (+314)
HP-IL (connected to printer) + MAN + CF 21:         1390 (+314)
HP-IL (connected to printer) + (disable switch):    1093 ( +17)
HP-IL (connected to printer) + 55 IF:               1390 (+314)
IF does clear 55, but a second later it gets set. Clearing 15, 16, and 21 before IF does not help.
HP-IL (connected to printer) + 55 IF (in program):  1118 ( +42)
The AVIEW at the end turns on 55 and output is printed as well. The timing is a second more (due to 55 IF at start of program) than HP-IL installed but not connected to anything.

Others that are PPC ROM-less like myself can obtain high resolution scans of the PPC ROM bar codes suitable for wand input at: http://www.pahhc.org/ppccdrom.htm (PPC CD 2 V 3.01).

      
Re: IR module slows down 41CX
Message #15 Posted by Egan Ford on 24 June 2008, 3:23 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Egan Ford

Here is the code if any want to test:

01 LBL "NQ41"      16 STO IND 00      31 X=0?            46 ARCL 10         
02 FIX 00          17 LBL 01          32 GTO 03          47 >" IN "         
03 CLRG            18 ISG 10          33 ABS             48 TIME            
04 TIME            19 DEG             34 RCL 00          49 HR              
05 HR              20 RCL 00          35 RCL 09          50 RCL 12          
06 STO 12          21 STO 09          36 -               51 -               
07 8               22 LBL 02          37 X#Y?            52 3600            
08 STO 11          23 DSE 09          38 GTO 02          53 *               
09 LBL 00          24 DEG             39 LBL 03          54 FIX 02          
10 RCL 00          25 RCL 09          40 DSE IND 00      55 ARCL X          
11 RCL 11          26 X=0?            41 GTO 01          56 >" SEC"         
12 X=Y?            27 GTO 00          42 DSE 00          57 AVIEW           
13 GTO 04          28 RCL IND 00      43 GTO 03          58 RTN             
14 ISG 00          29 RCL IND 09      44 LBL 04          59 END             
15 DEG             30 -               45 "S="            

Raw: http://www.hpmuseum.org/guest/eganford/nqueens.zip

Barcode: http://www.hpmuseum.org/guest/eganford/nqueens.pdf

Edited: 24 June 2008, 3:49 p.m.


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