Some SD2IEC and uIEC observations

[RobertB]

     Rather than writing separate reports at the SD2IEC and uIEC links in the News and Events section of the forum, I've decided to combine any further reports here, because of the cross-testing that others and I have been doing on both devices.
     At yesterday's FCUG meeting, Andrew and I put both devices through their paces again.  Just as an informal test of the uIEC's speed with a 45-block PRG file, Andrew loaded up Galaga in C64 mode of the club's flat C128 with JiffyDOS.  Though no stopwatch was used, he noted that the uIEC using JD was significantly faster than using a 1541 with JD.
     But back to the cross-testing...   Andrew's sharp eyes caught that there was a difference in blocks reported free from both devices.  No matter whether the Microcenter 2 gb SD or the Microcenter 4 gb Microcenter SDHC card was used, the SD2IEC always reported 65535 blocks free, and the uIEC reported 59989 blocks free (and both cards only had 3 or 4 .d64's on them plus the Galaga PRG file).  uIEC had been updated with the latest v0.8.0 firmware.
     Another minor observation... there was sometimes brief pause in the directory listing of the devices.  Though not every combination was tried out, here is what was discovered:

              uIEC with Microcenter 4 gig SDHC -- no directory pause in either C64 mode or C128 40/80 mode
              uIEC with Microcenter 2 gig SD -- pause after a few files listed and in both C64 and C128 modes, but
                                                            only after the first directory listing.  Subsequent directory listings
                                                            had no pauses.
              SD2IEC with Microcenter 4 gig SDHC -- brief directory pause in either C64 or C128 40/80 mode
              SD2IEC with Microcenter 2 gig SD -- brief directory pause in C128 mode (40 or 80-column mode?)
                                                                Directory listing not tested in C64 mode.

Very minor notes.  Both devices worked flawlessly in loading and running the PRGs and .D64s.

                            More observations later,
                            Robert Bernardo
                            Fresno Commodore User Group
                            http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                            Notacon 6 / Blockparty 3 on April 16-19
                            http://www.notacon.org , http://www.demoparty.us

[brain]

Typically, pauses on directory reads are due to sd2iec having to scan past a bunch of deleted directory entries.  I'd suggest copying all the files off the SD card, reformatting it, putting the files back on the card, and trying the test again.  You should only see a pause at the end of the directory (as the system scans the drive for free space)

If you continue to see a pause in the middle of the listing, that might be a bug.

The 59989 blocks free seems strange to me.  I'd appreciate more tests, and also the output of the "X?" command.  There is a setting to modify free space calculations, and that might be different between the two.  For best comparisons, the X? settings should be the same for both units.

Jim

[RobertB]

Typically, pauses on directory reads are due to sd2iec having to scan past a bunch of deleted directory entries.

These were brand-new SD cards from Microcenter; there were no bunches of deleted directory entries.  Just 3 .d64s and 1 .prg on both cards.

You should only see a pause at the end of the directory (as the system scans the drive for free space)

If you continue to see a pause in the middle of the listing, that might be a bug.

I will check again.

The 59989 blocks free seems strange to me.  I'd appreciate more tests, and also the output of the "X?" command.  There is a setting to modify free space calculations, and that might be different between the two.  For best comparisons, the X? settings should be the same for both units.

Will do.  I will report back after more testing is done.

                    Truly,
                    Robert Bernardo
                    Fresno Commodore User Group
                    http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                    Notacon 6 / Blockparty 3 on April 16-19
                    http://www.notacon.org , http://www.demoparty.us

[RobertB]

     xc8 at the Commodore Computer Club UK forum reports that the uIEC works with CP/M.  To read the thread, go to

                     http://www.commodorecomputerclub.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=175

                                 Truly,
                                 Robert Bernardo
                                 Fresno Commodore User Group
                                 http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                                 July 25-26 Commodore Vegas Expo - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex