" The 2.2 software overcomes the firmware issues and people do not have to mail the device in for an upgrade.
Thanks,
Chris. "

As noted earlier today, v2.2 of the OS X software is free to v2.1 owners. Earlier Interview owners must purchase a $25 Serial Number to use the v2.2 software.

(quote from http://www.apple.com/powermac/specs.html)

"Up to 167MHz system bus supporting over 1.3GBps data throughput

256MB or 512MB of PC2100 or
PC2700 DDR SDRAM main memory
supporting up to 2.7GBps throughput "

Note the DDR memory bandwidth is 2x the system bus bandwidth - because the latter is SDR vs DDR for the memory bus. (The system/cpu bus is not transferring data on the rising and falling edge of the clock pulse as the DDR memory bus does. The system bus and memory bus are separated by the system controller as shown in Apple's own docs.) I don't know why some people refuse to believe this... Ask Apple if you don't believe me or their own system specs. Do the math - bus width in bytes times clock speed and you'll see it's SDR on the system bus. Hopefully next year there will be DDR frontside bus G4 (or G5) CPUs, but they're not shipping yet. (Apple would have used them I'm sure if they were available.)

Although the CPU is the primary "data pump" for applications, etc., the extra memory bandwidth should benefit other I/O and devices that use DMA. The system improvements are welcome changes and I only wanted to clarify my comments earlier today that noted no DDR frontside/system bus to prevent any more emails about this but apparently some people still think that either apple's docs/specs are not accurate or just don't seem to understand the specs Apple lists.
Granted I also thought it was strange when the Xserve was first released that they'd have a DDR memory bus and SDR system bus (after building/working with DDR based PCs), but again they had no other choice as far as I know at the currrent time. Unless there's some new chip shipping in mass quantities that nobody else is aware of... (but Apple's product info would be trumpeting a higher bandwidth system bus if there was one I'm sure)
There's a lot better things to focus on than this single design detail however.

• Dual G4/867, 1MB L3 cache, 256MB PC2100, 133MHz bus, Geforce4MX 32MB, 60GB HD, Combo DVD/CDRW drive - $1699
  
  
• Dual 1GHz, 1MB L3 cache, 256MB PC2700, 167MHz bus, Radeon 9000 Pro 64MB, 80GB HD, Superdrive - $2499
  
  
• Dual 1.25GHz, 2MB L3 cache, 512MB PC2700, 167MHz bus, Radeon 9000 Pro 64MB, 120GB HD, Superdrive - $3299

I notice on the specs page that they note "up to 167MHz system bus speed" (up from 133MHz), but still Single Data Rate like the Xserve, based on Apple's Specs page figures for the system bus [1.3GB/sec]. (DDR memory bus, but not a DDR system/cpu bus.) The low end model uses PC2100 RAM (up to 2.1GB/sec bandwidth) and the higher end models use PC2700 RAM (up to 2.7GBps memory bandwidth). Yes, it's strange to see a system with a SDR system bus (spec'd at up to 1.3GB/sec) and DDR memory bus (up to 2.7GB/sec bandwidth), but the Xserve design is the same way and the new G4s borrow from that design.

And finally the new case design will allow having two 5.25" (CD/DVD/CDRW) size drives inside - on the wish list since the 1999 B&W G3 models. 4 hard drive capability is noted using dual IDE controllers - one ATA/100 and one ATA/66 (vs ATA/66 primary HD bus in the previous G4s). The previous Dual 1GHz had 2MB of DDR L3 cache per CPU, the new model has only 1MB of L3 per CPU. However at the low end the addition of dual CPUs and L3 cache is a big plus over the previous low end model.

There's also claims of improved performance for the PCI bus although the 266MB/sec max noted is based on a 64bit PCI card [33MHz @64Bits wide]. (With standard 32Bit PCI cards, the max interface rate is still 133MB/sec and like all interfaces, you rarely see the 'spec max' rates in actual use due to other factors.) The design borrows features of the Xserve.
For more details on the new G4 towers - see www.apple.com/powermac/. (The dual 867 and 1GHz models show shipping in 1-3 days, but the 1.25GHz high end models were shown as available in "6-8 weeks".)

The other change today at the Apple Store is the low end iMac model is now $1299 and the CDRW/700MHz model is now $1499 ($100 price cut on both). A week or so ago here I noted some reports of a $100 reduction in the MAP (min. advertised price allowed) on the low-end iMac, so it looks like that's now the new list price. The 15" superdrive model and 17" high end model remain at $1799 and $1999 resp. See this Apple press release for more info on the eMac and iMac changes.
As I commented here during MWNY last month - if I were going to spend $1799 on an iMac, I think the larger screen and faster graphics chip (GF4MX vs GF2MX) in the 17" model is worth the $200 more. (Since the screen size and graphics chip can't be upgraded later.) Plus the 17" has a 20GB larger hard drive.

"hi mike,
i have installed jaguar 6c115 in my beige g3 (with upgraded g4/400) today and i found it was quite slower [than it was with OSX 10.1.5]. Finally, i have found the reason that it can't launch the L2-cache on startup (xlr8 machspeed 2.6.1) However, there was a news from xlr8 that they had closed the door. [noted here last Friday-Mike] i'm wondering if the powerlogix cache enabler will work on 6c115. lol
regards
ronny"

Not sure if PL's enabler is 10.2 compatible (build 6C115 is the GM 10.2 build per yesterday's report from a new iBook owner that got 10.2 CDs with it). I had a reader report their L3 cache enabler had problems with 6C115, but not sure if that is typical. If there is an issue with PL's Cache enabler in 10.2, I suspect they will revise it .

" G'day Mike -
Just thought I'd let you know how I fixed a few problems that I had with my Cube, an iMic and a MyTV unit.
Now that Eskape Labs have posted OSX drivers on their website, I could finally watch TV on my OS X.1.5 desktop. However, I wanted to run the audio from the MyTV device through to my SoundSticks and iSub - and since the Cube has no "Audio In", I had to go out and buy an iMic.

Initially, I had to convert the iMic into a "Line Level" device, by following the instructions on the Griffin website - which included booting up into OS9. Whilst in OS9, I found the devices to work together flawlessly. OSX, on the other hand, was a different story, as the iMic device STILL behaved as if it was at "Mic Level" - giving distorted audio output through the speakers.

I finally emailed the Griffin Technologies support team, who came up with the solution of running either Sound Studio 2.0 (by Felt-Tip), or a program called Playthrough FX (by John Cramp). Voila! Altering the volume with these two programs gives you a drop of around 50dB - a sufficient amount to convert Mic level to Line level (and it's a one-off procedure, as the programs' preferences are kept in OSX's library, and therefore remain untouched, even after a restart.

Hopefully though, these problems will be fixed with X.2 - so a workaround will not be required in the future.
Cheers!
Aaron Scott. "

DVD+RW Drive Reports:
• IDE Ricoh MP5120A in Beige G3 (OS X)
  (not bootable, no iTunes support I doubt)
  
  Combo DVD-CDR Drive Reports:
• IDE MCE (8x8x24x-8x DVD ROM) in PowerBook G4 (OS 9.1)
  (actually Matshita CW8181 - same drive apple uses)
  
  IDE CDRW Drive Reports:
• Lite-On LTR40125x (40x12x48x) in G4/AGP (OS 9.2)
  (BusLink RW4048 retail box)
• SCSI Yamaha 20x10x40 using IDE to SCSI adapter w/B&W G3 (OS 9.2)
  (problems noted)
  (FYI - Illustrated CD drive install guide here covers G4 towers up to the Digital Audio Model, Beige G3 MT, B&W G3 and 8600/9600 Macs)
  
  IDE Hard Drive Reports:
• Maxtor 7200 rpm 80GB in iMac (OS 8.6)
• Maxtor D740X 80GB in Dual G4 (OS X)
  (FYI - Illustrated guide to adding a 2nd HD here)

You can find full owner reports (latest shown first) by searching the database by drive/brand/interface/mac models (the latest reports are shown first in searches). For guides to installing CD/CDRW/DVD drives or Hard drives in many mac models, see the IDE Articles page. The Firewire articles page also has guides on case kits, installing drives, etc.
If you've added a IDE, SCSI, Firewire or USB hard drive, CDRW, tape drive, etc. make sure you add a report to the database. [If you post an updated entry - make sure you use the same name, etc. as you did before so I can find your past entry. Thanks.]
(Entries today will be added the following newsday. Incomplete entries are deleted. Do not post questions in the database, it's for drive reports not questions on what drive to buy - for that try searching the database for reports from owners of your mac model on the drive type/brand/interface, etc. you're interested in.)

• Powerlogix Bluechip G4/500 in PowerBook G3 2000 (rated 9)
• Powerlogix G4/533 in Beige G3 (rated 10)
• PowerLogix BlueChip G3/450 [466 actually] in PowerBook G3 wallstreet2 (rated 1)
• PowerLogix BlueChip G3/466 in PowerBook G3 wallstreet1 (rated 1)
• Sonnet G3/500 in PowerBook G3 wallstreet1 (rated 8)
• Sonnet G4/400 in 7500 (rated 7)
• Sonnet Harmoni G3/500 in iMac (rated 9)
• XLR8 G4/450 in Beige G3 (rated 9)
• XLR8 CarrierZIF MPe w/G4 450 ZIF in 9500 (rated 7)

(Warning - Overclocking may not be reliable and could lead to hardware failure or corrupted data.) You can find the full reports by searching the database selecting the indicated Mac model and upgrade card brand/type. If you've upgraded the CPU on your Mac, please post an entry in the database. Search the database for entries from most every upgradable Mac model *before* you buy. (Searchable by mac model/upgrade brand). For detailed reviews with performance tests and install tips, see the CPU Upgrades page.)

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