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Top stories of 5/31/2001: |
| GeForce3 vs Radeon AGP Quake3 Tests in 2x AGP Mac: |
I've updated the table below to show the results of previous Radeon AGP card tests (using 1.1.1 Radeon drivers/OpenGL 1.2.1) ran in my G4/500 DP. For those that already have a Radeon AGP card, the GeForce3 only shows an advantage above 1024x768 modes in Quake3 in the G4/500. And if you use Lightwave 3D or games that have problems with the current Nvidia drivers, the expensive GeForce3 really doesn't look like an attractive option right now. (Note - keep in mind when evaluating the results below that the Radeon has a core/memory clock of 166/166Mhz, the GeForce3 is 200/230Mhz. Both use DDR video RAM for an effective doubling of the memory bus clock rate. The Radeon has 32MB of VRAM, the GeForce3 has 64MB.) |
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| GeForce 3 Quake3 Performance - G4/733 4xAGP vs G4/500 2x AGP |
As a quick update to today's earlier note on running a GeForce3 in my Gigabit G4/500 dual processor system (2x AGP/100Mhz bus) readers asked I test Quake3 results with it for comparison to the 4xAGP/133mhz bus G4/733 system results posted yesterday.
[Table below updated on 6/3/2001]
NOTE: All GeForce3 tests used OpenGL 1.2.2/Nvidia drivers 2.1. The G4/500 DP system used ATI Radeon 1.1.1 drivers, OpenGL 1.2.1 and OpenGL ATI Renderer 1.2.3. The Radeon tests in the G4/733 used the ATI extensions installed at the factory (later versions), OpenGL 1.2.2 and OpenGL ATI Renderer 1.2.4. (I re-ran the Radeon/DP 500 tests this weekend, as since my last run that system had a firmware update and many system/OS software updates. Tests this weekend showed much lower 640x480 scores than I had previously with the Radeon in that system.)
Quake3 v117 Performance
|
G4/733
GeForce3 AGP
(4xAGP/133mhz bus) |
G4/733
*Radeon AGP*
(4xAGP/133mhz bus) |
G4/500 DP
GeForce3 AGP
(2xAGP/100mhz bus) |
G4/500 DP
*Radeon AGP*
(2xAGP/100mhz bus) |
640x480
32 Bit |
73.5 FPS |
72.7 FPS |
55.0 FPS |
52.6 FPS |
1024x768
32 Bit |
73.5 FPS |
64.2 FPS |
55.0 FPS | 49.4 FPS |
1280x1024
32 Bit |
71.3 FPS |
45.3 FPS |
55.3 FPS | 45.1 FPS |
1600x1200
32 Bit |
63.5 FPS |
28.0 FPS |
53.7 FPS | 28.8 FPS |
1600x1200
16 Bit |
67.4 FPS |
33.0 FPS |
54.0 FPS | 36.2 FPS |
The fractionally higher score (0.3 FPS) at 1280x1024 that at 1024x768 with the GF3 is just due to normal run/run variations. It is odd the Radeon had a 0.8 FPS higher score at 1600x1200/32 in the DP 500 than the G4/733, but that's still less than 1 FPS variance and perhaps the driver/OpenGL differences were the reason. (The Radeon card at 1600x1200/32bit is fill rate limited as you can see from the drops in scores as resolutions rise.)
So far no functional problems have been seen in limited tests of the GF3 in the Gigabit G4, but remember this is not an system Apple recommends for the GeForce3. (Should any problems arise down the road...)
The G4/733 and GeForce3 page has been updated with the above and other test results.
So far no functional problems have been seen with the GF3 in limited tests in the Gigabit G4. |
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| GeForce3 Running in 2X AGP GigaBit G4: |
I've not run it through a full series of tests - but there's an OEM (Apple) Nvidia GeForce3 AGP card running now in my G4/500 DP (2x AGP) System. (No other cards installed right now in that system.) It's running the Unreal Tournament Wicked400 Demo as I'm typing this (to see if stressing the chip will result in a lockup due to power requirements). I can't say it's totally reliable yet, or guarantee your 1999 or 2000 G4 will work with it, but so far it is running in this Gigabit G4 ok. I'll have more info later....
(BTW: Apple notes on the accessories page where they sell the GeForce3 that it requires a 4xAGP slot Mac. Yesterday's news noted the specs of 8W max on the 2xAGP slots vs 20W on the 4xAGP slots which may be why Apple notes the 4x AGP requirement.)
If you missed yesterday's news - I posted a page with a photo of the Mac GeForce3 card and results of the first day's tests with it in a G4/733.
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| Reader Reports Issue with CD/DVD Extension version in Authoring Support Update 1.1 |
(Update - Two readers have written in reply to this post saying they have also seen this issue with their B&W G3s.)
"
Mike,
Having installed Authoring Support 1.1, my computer ran VERY slowly after waking up from sleep. Even during typing in SimpleText the computer would be about 30 characters behind. Basically a restart was the only option (making sleep-mode a little pointless)
I did some investigation, and tracked the problem down to the Apple CD/DVD driver. Authoring Support 1.1 included a new version, 1.4.5. If I manually replaced this with 1.4.4 (from Disc Burner) or 1.4.3 (from Mac OS 9.1), all the problems disappeared.
Why a CD driver can affect the sleep mode I don't know, unless it slows down
the IDE bus or something like that.
Roland"
I've asked Roland for his system details (Mac model, etc.) I've not had any other reports like this until after posting Roland's comments today.
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| Reader Tip: Disabling Discburner Fixes VPC and Discribe Problem w/Teac 512E CDRW: |
A reader that reported a problem with this drive in the database previously sent what he found as the solution:
"
Hi, John Hancock here. I'm not sure how to update an entry into the drive
compatibility database, but wanted to insert in my last entry that I found
out why Discribe and VPC wouldn't read the Teac 512e I'd installed. turns out
Diskburner from apple has a diskburner extension that prevents both of these
from working. If you remove the extension, Discribe 4 can burn again (in
fact faster than toast 5) and VPC again can read CDs inserted (though still
cant burn Cds)"
I've adding these comments to his original entry in the database.
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| Reader Comment/Tip on Plextor IDE CDRW Burn Problems in Beige G3: |
In reply to my post in yesterday's news about Toast freezes trying to burn a CDR with a Plextor 12/10/32 IDE drive in the Mobility T45 chassis (using its onboard IDE), a Beige G3 owner sent a note about a similar problem in his Beige G3 and a workaround he found. (I'm going to try this later today with the T45)
"
Mike,
I read your update Wed about the troubles with the Plextor drive and the
T45 chassis. The error you are getting is the same one I get on my beige
G3.
Configuration is 1 hard drive on ATA 0, 1 hard drive and Plextor
12/10/32 on ATA1. I have tried with the Plextor as master and slave with no
difference. If I try to burn a file from the drive on ATA 0 it will lock up
after 30 sec to 1 min. this happens with Toast 4.1.2 and 5.01 and also with
DiscBurn and iTunes. Only Toast 5.01 gives me the message about an unstable
interface. But if I burn a file from the hard drive on ATA 1 (the same
channel as the Plextor) it works perfectly. In order to use iTunes or
DiscBurn I have to boot off of the drive on ATA 1. You might try to put a
hard drive on the same ATA channel as the Plextor and try burning from it.
It doesn't matter on my setup where I have Toast installed. I am not sure
why I have this problem but that is my current workaround.
Good Luck,
Rick Davis"
I asked Rick if he had tried burning from the ATA0 HD if only the Plextor was on the CDROM channel (no HD on that cable). I can't remember other Plextor 12/10/32 IDE CDRW Beige system owner reports in the database noting this problem, but have not searched for them. (Late with the news this morning and rushed.) I'm going to connect a HD to the 2nd connector on the IDE cable in the T45 to see if this tip works for that setup.
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| CPU Upgrades Owner Ratings Database Updated: |
The Rate Your CPU Upgrade database has been updated with 5 new reports (total to date: 5,732). [Entries after midnight last night are added the following day.]
- NewerTech G4/400 in PowerTower Pro 225 (rated 8)
- NewerTech G4/400 in Beige G3 (rated 8)
- NewerTech G3/400 in 7600 (rated 8)
- Other World Computing G3/500 in Beige G3 (rated 10)
- XLR8 CarrierZIF w/G3/500 ZIF in 7500 (rated 10)
You can find these 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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| CDRW/CD/DVD/Hard Drive Compatibility Database Updates: |
The Drive Compatibility searchable database had 7 new entries added this morning. The database has reports on Combo DVD-CDRW, CDROMs, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, CDRW, Hard Drives and Removables (tape drive, ORB, ZIP, MO drives, etc.) in all interface types (IDE, IDE RAID cards, Firewire, SCSI, adapters). Current total 3,892 reports. [BTW - the drive database is not a place to post questions, it's for reports on drives you've used. For guides to drive installs, see the IDE, SCI or Firewire articles linked above and/or the FAQ. 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.]
You can find full owner reports by searching the database by drive/brand/interface/mac models (the latest reports are shown first in searches).
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.
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