Upgrade to IC-305 for C5501

[WoodyC]

Hi all,

we currently have a konica C5501 with ic-408 Fiery which is, for the most part, capable of producing the jobs we have. There is one complex job though that takes a long time to RIP and my bosses want to try and decrease the time it takes to produce this. This job is duplex full colour with variable data and variable background images. Would upgrading to the IC-305 be worthwhile?

Thanks

Michael

[Mick01]

Re: Upgrade to IC-305 for C5501

Hi
An IC-305 will ripp VDP jobs a bit faster but is an expensive upgrade.

[WoodyC]

Re: Upgrade to IC-305 for C5501

Thanks for the reply Mick. Ignoring cost do you think the speed increase is significant enough to warrant an upgrade?

[jotunn]

Re: Upgrade to IC-305 for C5501

Check how much memory do you have in the controller at this moment - you can try to upgrade up to 2x1GB with some cheap 2nd hand non-ECC DDR-333 sticks - should help the same way as IC-305, but much cheaper.

[Mick01]

Re: Upgrade to IC-305 for C5501

Hi,
Personally if this was the only job that is causing issues then i would live with it. It is hard to give exact details of productivity increase without testing the job itself.
Is there a way to get an IC-305 on temp loan whilst you test this job? That is what i would do before outlaying the dollars.
In regards to spec differences the IC-305 has a faster processor, larger HDD, it also transmits data to the engine at 32 bit (IC-408 is 16bit)
Hope this helps

[WoodyC]

Re: Upgrade to IC-305 for C5501

Thanks for the replies.

Jotunn - we already have 1gb in there. Would 2gb really make that much of a difference?

Mick - I see if I can get a 305 on loan but failing that I'll try and find someone with one and see if I can't sweet talk them into doing a short test for me.

Thanks again

Michael

[jotunn]

Re: Upgrade to IC-305 for C5501

If you have 1GB already (this is the same amount as IC-305 have), so the only real difference is in processor - IC-408 Celeron 2,8GHz vs. IC-305 C2D 2,13GHz/C2D 3,0GHz - maybe this makes difference in job processing speed.
Larger HDD doesn't matter - even SSD during tests made no real difference in processing speed. Also an interface is the same in both controllers.

The best idea is as suggested - take controller for test.

@Mick01
How do you know that data trasmission is 16/32 bit in controllers?

[Mick01]

Re: Upgrade to IC-305 for C5501

Have a look at the slots on the mother board where the interface card goes into. You are correct the interface cards are the same.

[jotunn]

Re: Upgrade to IC-305 for C5501

Hmm, it doesn't matter I think - IC-408 has short PCI 32Bit, whilst IC-305 has long 64bit PCI, but interface output is still the same - according to my knowledge most of the machines could use just one controller, but there's a list of allowed controller types in machine firmware - it's just business, you have bought a new machine, buy a "new" controller.