Long:
MSBpatch 1.3beta © 1997 Jess Sosnoski
DESCRIPTION:
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This is a program that patches some functions of the mathieeesingbas.library
to use 68881/2 instructions, thus squeezing out a tad more speed.
(at worst...it should run at the same speed as before)
It also fixes that nasty bug with 040/060 cpu's on certain kickstart versions.
(I think...someone with an 040/060 please test this!)
This is also the second speedup patch I ever attempted to write! :)
DISCLAIMER:
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Use this program at your own risk!
I assume no responsibility or liability for problem(s) and/or damage(s)
that occur by the use, modification, and/or existence of this product,
and/or its parts in any form.
But if it don't work right, or slows things down, don't be afraid
to send me email...or even send some email if it makes your system
outprocess a cray (yeah, right)
INSTALLATION:
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Copy it to your c: directory or wherever you like.
You can add the line run <>NIL: msbpatch to your startup-sequence, or
user-startup. You can give it an icon and put it in WBstartup.
You can basically put it anywhere :)
(I have mine a little after setpatch in my startup-sequence)
USAGE:
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run <>NIL: msbpatch
OUTPUT:
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None...as I didn't feel like figuring out how to to text output
in assembly.
Although, if you don't have the right versions of the required libraries,
it will exit with a returncode of 20.
REMOVAL:
-------
sorry....once it's in...it stays in!
(didn't I hear Al Bundy say that to Peg once...hmmm....)
CAVEATS:
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This patch is experimental/beta, so, don't expect any miracles.
Opens mathieeesingbas.library, and never closes it.
NO SPEEDTEST PROGRAM (yet)
VERY VERY FEW programs use mathieeesingbas.library.
I have one program that will use it, and it's THOR software's
DMandel program. It showed *slight* speed increases.
There exists a 68881 card for 68000 owners, but, as I found out via
email, does not access the FPU in the same way that an 020+ would.
I did not include any special code to support this, so it is likely that
this patch may not do anything at all on that type of setup.
(Although, if someone would like to let me know if it does...email me!)
NOTES:
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mathieeesingbas.library is in your Kickstart ROM...you won't find it in libs.
HISTORY:
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1.0 First Release
1.1 Replaced spneg and spabs functions with faster ones.
(shaved off a few clock cycles)
1.2 Added checks for 040+ processors...disables SPFloor and SPCeil
patches, which use instructions not available on 040+'s,
Optimized Ceil.
1.3 Will not patch if my v43 mathieeesingbas.library is installed.
Speeded up IEEEFix, and also made it compatible with 040+'s! :)
(thanks to Gerd Wieczorek)
FUTURE:
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Make this doc file a bit more presentable, and maybe leave it as plain
text without Amigaguide OR HTML just for kicks.
Write a more accurate test program, and maybe include it in the archive.
Make a msbtest speedtest program. (in assembly)
Make the patch exit, instead of hanging around.
One word: APATCH (if this patch turns out to work as I'd like it to)
Andreas Kleinert for help with 040 checking code!
THANKS TO:
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Adam "DC1" Polkosnik for ideas, help with sourcecode, and APATCH!
Dave "Termy" Jones, for help, ideas and StreamLineOS 2!
Iain "ook" Barclay, for optimizations, bugfixes, and opatch!
Gerd Wieczorek for ideas, optimizations, and the future ffp/msbtest!
Everyone who sent me emails, praise, and complaints....your input
was greatly appreciated!!!!
BUGS:
----
Hmmm...what would Tom say, ohyeah, um....possibly.
AUTHOR:
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Jess Sosnoski
651 Hillside Drive
Mount Carmel, PA 17851-2463
USA
Updates will appear on my webpage before they appear in Aminet's RECENT file.
starblaz@ptdprolog.net
http://home.ptd.net/~starblaz
IRC nick: starblazr
On: galaxynet (amiga channels), dalnet (#nin ,#miggy1)
pulsarnet (#elitecafe)
Emails, gifts, money, food, cigarettes, Amiga4060T's will all be
gladly accepted.
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