            Use of a RAM Drive With the GB1024 (1MB)
                            (1-19-91)

It is possible to greatly enhance the performance of a GB1024 card
(1MB only) in Windows 3.0 while switching betweem a full DOS screen
and a window. When certain TIGA files are placed on a RAM drive,
the switching time reduces from about 30 seconds to 1 second.  The
following portion of an example AUTOEXEC.BAT file uses a RAM drive
on "K". This drive has been previously established by RAMDRIVE.SYS,
or an equivalent device driver, in CONFIG.SYS. The TIGA files in
this example are located in directory F:\TIGA.


SET TIGA=-mk: -lk: 
copy f:\tiga\extprims.rlm k: 
copy f:\tiga\win30.rlm k: 
copy f:\tiga\tiga.cfg k: 
copy f:\tiga\tigagm.out k: 
F:\TIGA\TIGACD
              
            
There are a few simple cautions with this approach. First, if
STATION is used to change the display resolution, TIGA.CFG is
updated in Drive K. My experience shows that this occurs even
though STATION requests a path specification for the TIGA default
directory. Consequently, it becomes necessary to overwrite the copy
of TIGA.CFG in F:\TIGA after the change. This way the new mode will
be remembered. Second, the space in the RAM drive must be about
133K for the copied files and 256K for an image swapped out from
the TIGA board. I use a total of 512K for this purpose itself. 

I cannot definitely say that this RAM method changes the stability
of Windows 3.00 or the versions of TIGA through 1.12. My results
have been favorable, at least. However, if the RAM drive serves
other functions, it would be possible to run out of RAM drive space
at a critical time, to erase the space. or to otherwise corrupt the
space. Therefore, please exercise caution. Be nice to the guys at
Hercules. If you have a problem, you probably should test it again
without the RAM drive method suggested here before you report it.

Good luck and enjoy your fast GB1024!

Gene Grunby                                                           