best way to softkick using a T536

[Pat the Cat]

I don't know about "best" but the one I'd try first is the one built in to the os.

https://wiki.amigaos.net/wiki/AmigaOS_Manual:_AmigaDOS_Command_Reference#CPU

"FastROM" switch. Plus other switches in case you need to turn Burst or a cache off.

There are 2 rough categories of softkicker, ones that just map the current ROM, and ones which load ROM files from disk.

I think it's more a case of some work and others don't.

[Pat the Cat]

According to this thread, it can actually slow things down anyway...

https://www.exxoshost.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=76&t=3091

What you really want is scsi.device running in fast RAM and IDE buffers in the same area. How you do that on 3.1.4 I have no idea... possibly a setpatch option?

EDIT: I did also find this, handy illustrated guide to finishing up a 3.1.4 so that Direct scsi and right filesystem are used. Do this on ANY install of 3.1.4.

https://lyonsden.net/installing-amiga-os-3-1-4-part-5-finishing-touches/#Update

[Pat the Cat]

I think I found how you are supposed to do it on 3.1.4, it seems to eat gobs of RAM in total? I get no clear picture of how you do this;-

4.4 * OS 3.1.4 is terribly slow!

You are using a disk-based installation, right? Well, LoadModule needs
to load the updated ROM modules into some reset-resident memory. In a
worst-case scenario, this is done via Chip RAM, and yes, access to
Chip RAM is slow.

However, you can do the following:

1. Buy a physical ROM and install it, thus eliminating the need for
   replacing ROM modules by RAM modules.

Or, in case your system is equipped with an MMU:

2. Install the MMUlib archive from Aminet and add the following
   command below SetPatch in the S:Startup-Sequence:

MuProtectModules ON REMAP

This will remap the ROM modules from their current location to the
fastest available RAM and give you some extra speed. Bear in mind
though, that using this option will use RAM which you won't be able to
free.

From;-

aminet.net/aminet/docs/help/AmigaOS_3.1.4-FAQ.txt

[Pat the Cat]

That sounds better than many A1200s manage. One way to shave a few seconds off the boot time is to have 2 hard drives on the cable,

ATA standard demands both master and slave are checked on startup.

When setpatch does this, it adds an extra few seconds for the channel that isn't occupied - about 3.

This is not so easy to do with compact flash though, and the card itself has an effect on data read speed.

The scsi.deice in 3.1.4 isn't perfect by any means, but it was designed to be as compatible as possible rather than fastest possible.