|
Top stories of 10/15/2001: |
|
|
|
|
| XLR8 May Have Solved the G4 Upgrade/6 PCI Slot Mac Problem: |
|
Since I first reported the issue with G4 CPU card upgrades in 6 PCI slot macs (where apps would lockup, etc. if for instance a SCSI card was in the lower PCI slots/2nd PCI bus) in January 2000, there have other G4 upgrade owners noting the same thing in the database here. Only Newer Tech's modified G4 card seemed immune to the problem and I'm not certain most of their cards still in the channel have the fix. The problems were especially severe in my loaded Genesis system which has two SCSI cards (one in slot 1, another in slot 4) driving a 4 drive RAID array and 5th SCSI drive. On Friday a loaner of a CarrierZIF MPe card w/G4 400 CPU and a dual G4/450 CarrierZIF MPe card arrived for testing in the Genesis. XLR8 said they had solved the 6 slot problem based on their testing and wanted me to try them in my Genesis. I've been testing two OWC ZIF upgrades in my B&W G3 for a review (G3/500 vs G4/500 vs original G3/350 ZIF) which I'm in the process of writing up now, so I've only had time so far to do very limited tests with the new XLR8 cards. I booted the system with the Newer Tech card and installed the XLR8 2.6.1 software (required to install their "virtual firmware" patch for older Macs) and installed the single G4/400 CarrierZIF MPe card. For the first time with any G4 card other than the Newer Tech modified one, the Genesis booted repeatedly and seems to have no problems running the card. I can't say it's flawless yet - but in the past attempts to run any G4 card other than the Newer Tech modified one resulted in freezes at boot, lockups, etc. - usually so severe I had to shut down and remove the PRAM battery to get the system to boot again even with the Newer Tech card. I'm curious to know if this fix is via software only (XLR8's 2.6.1 software) or is the result of hardware changes to the CarrierZIF MPe card. (I can test with a G4 ZIF in an early CarrierZIF card to prove this.) XLR8's software costs $14.95 for non-XLR8 card owners, or XLR8 card owners that bought their cards before January 2000. (Cards after that date have a serial number that is used for registration.)
|
|
| Return to Accelerate Your Mac! | Top |
|
| More Feedback/Tips on OS X 10.1 DVD Player Mods for Unsupported Systems: |
Over the weekend I updated the OS X 10.1 DVD Player mods page for more info and tips on the mods noted in Friday's news. Still no reports of it working with PowerBook Wallstreets or Lombards as it seems to require a Rage128 or later graphics chip. (The PB G3 wallstreet, Lomboard and iMac 233-333mhz models have RageII/RagePro based graphics chips.) Onboard Beige G3 video is also either RageII or RagePro chip based, so Beige G3 owners have to be running a PCI Rage128 or Radeon graphics card as the primary display's graphics card. I did not receive a comment on what the Beige G3 system ID was however (I don't know if the PowerMac1,1 worked for the Beige G3 - I've asked some Beige G3 owners that noted the player working for this info.)
Note the Apple forum thread with the original tip linked in Friday's news had a URL posted to a page with a download of an already patched player, as of Friday night at least.
|
|
| Return to Accelerate Your Mac! | Top |
|
| OS X 10.1 Firewire Hard Drive Mounting Tip: |
|
All my Firewire hard drives mount in OS 10.1 (one had the wake from sleep error however). Jamie Dresser of OWC sent this note/tip over the weekend that might be of some help to those that can't mount drives in OS X 10.1. (For some, plugging the drive in after OS X 10.1 boots may also help.)
"
Hey-
Saw this tonight on the MRP - have not got a 911 based case at home to try
this with...
"
Apple is aware of the problems some users are having mounting FireWire
drives (specifically those using the Oxford 911 FireWire-to-IDE bridge)
under Mac OS X 10.1; reader Lindsay Adams was able to get her IDE drive,
housed in a FireWire Direct enclosure by
...firing up 10.1's Disk Utility; the drive and its two partitions showed up
in the list of drives. When selecting a partition, the Information tab
showed "Mount Point Not Found." Clicking on the First Aid tab, selecting the
partition and running verify on the partition, showed no problems with the
driveÛupon going back to the Information tab in Disk Utility, it now said
"Not Mounted." On reboot, my FireWire drive and its two partitions popped up
on Desktop."
If this solves a problem you've had, let me know.
|
|
| Return to Accelerate Your Mac! | Top |
|
| New PowerBook G4s and iBooks Tomorrow? |
[Note - there were new PB G4/550 and G4/667 models announced as well as some iBook minor changes (600MHz on two models, larger drivers and slower prices at the high end.) For details see the 10/16/2001 news page.]
Rumor posts I've seen mention a PB G4/550 and G4/667 model - what they don't mention is that if those were really the two CPU speeds, then the 550mhz model would be running a 100mhz bus and the 667 a 133mhz bus. I'd doubt they would offer two bus/memory speed models. (Going either with all PC133 SODIMM based systems (i.e. 533, 600, 667mhz speeds) or staying with the current 100Mhz bus (i.e. 550, 600, 650mhz speeds). Even Cnet has an article recently titled Apple to update iBook, PowerBook which notes an expected announcement on Tuesday.
|
|
| Return to Accelerate Your Mac! | Top |
|
| QUE DVD-R Firewire Recorders for $699: |
"
Mike:
Compusa is selling QPS DVD-R Firewire recorders for $699. No mac software is included, and I am not sure if any of the apple stuff, viz., i-DVD and the pro version will support it.
Gene Shekhtman"
iDVD only supports internal drives based on past reports. Toast5 and DVD Studio Pro I think will work with them however, but check the Drive compatibility database for a Firewire Que DVD-R + DVD-RAM owner report. (The drive entry there notes the Combo DVD-R/DVD-RAM model.)
|
|
| Return to Accelerate Your Mac! | Top |
|
|
|
| CDRW/CD/DVD/Hard Drive Compatibility Database Updates: |
| The Drive Compatibility searchable database had 22 new reports added this morning. The database includes reports on Combo DVD-CDRW, CDROMs, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, 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 5,065 reports. Here's a list of the reports added this morning. [Entries after midnight are added the following day.]
DVD-R DVD Recorder Reports:
- Pioneer A03 in ADS Pryo FW case used w/PB G3 2000
Combo DVD-CDRW Recorder Reports:
- Ricoh MP9120A (12x/10x/32x + 8x DVD) in G4/AGP
(problems noted in OS 9 and OS X)
- Toshiba SD-R1102 8x8 + 8x DVD in G4/AGP
IDE CDRW Reports:
- Lite-On LTR-16102B 16/10/40 in G4/AGP
- Plextor W2410A 24/10/40 in G4/AGP
(noted kernal panics trying to restart/install OS X)
- Plextor 8432T in Beige G3 w/IDE PCI Card
- Plextor PX-W1610TA 16/10/40 in Beige G3
- Sony 161188 in G4/AGP
- Sony CRX160E 12X8X32 in B&W G3
Firewire CDRW Drive Reports:
- Formac 24/10/40 used w/Dual G4
(comments on OS X and OS 9.x. Formac listed under "other brands")
- Que 24x10x40 used w/G4 AGP
(noted a problem with iTunes, even w/Authoring Support 1.1.3 upd.)
DVD-ROM Drive Reports:
- IDE Buslink DR16 (16x/48X) in B&W G3
(filed under Lite-On brand as that's the drive mechanism)
- IDE Toshiba SD-M1612 16x/40x in B&W G3
(bought in Hival retail box)
Firewire Hard Drive Reports:
- Firewire Depot 60GB used w/G4 AGP
(noted problems in OS X 10.1)
- IBM 60GXP in FW Case (OWC 911) used w/Beige G3
(posted entry for OS 9.2 and OS X 10.1)
- IBM Travelstar 20GB in Transintl FW case used w/iBook 2001
(OS X 10.1 drive mounting problems noted)
IDE Hard Drive Reports:
- Fujitsu 30B in PowerBook G3 wallstreet2
- IBM 75GXP 45GB (x2) in G4/AGP (OS X)
- Maxtor 60GB in B&W G3
Removable Media Drive Reports:
- Syquest SyJet 1.5 GB SCSI in Dual G4
(noted working in OS X 10.1)
You can find full owner reports 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.]
|
|
| Return to Accelerate Your Mac! | Top |
|
| CPU Upgrades Owner Reports Database Updated: |
| The Rate Your CPU Upgrade database has been updated with 8 new reports over the weekend. (total to date: 6,312). [Entires from the previous day are added each morning, except for Friday's.]
- Newer Tech G3/300 in 6400 (rated 9)
- Other World Computing G4/500 in B&W G3 (rated 10)
- Other World Computing G4/400 in Beige G3 (rated 10)
- Other World Computing G3/333 in Beige G3 (rated 10)
- PowerLogix ZForce w/OWC G3/500 ZIF in 7500 (rated 7)
- XLR8 CarrierZIF w/G3 400 ZIF (OWC bundle) in 8600/250 (rated 10)
- Beige G3/233 OC report
- Beige G3 w/G3 350 OC report
(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.)
|
|
| Return to Accelerate Your Mac! | Top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
OWC XLR8 SPECIALS!
(site sponsor)
= HARD DRIVES =
Up to 4 TB HDs!
Hitachi, WD, Seagate, Samsung HDs
= 2.5in HDs & SSDs =
Notebook Hard Drives and DIY drive/case kit bundles. SSDs starting under $65!
= MEMORY =
Lifetime warranty RAM Upgrades for Mac Pros, MacBooks/MacBook Pros/iMacs/Mac Minis! Also ram for G5, G4 and G3 Macs from under $20!
= OPTICAL DRIVES =
Internal and External Superdrives/Blu-Ray drives.
= VIDEO/LCDs/TV =
Graphics cards, TV tuners, Video Capture, adapters and more.
= SOFTWARE =
Apps, Utilities, OS, VM, Games and more.
= WIRELESS =
WiFi and Bluetooth Devices/Adapters/More
=UPGRADES by Model=
Upgrades for YOUR Mac!
XLR8YourMac T-Shirts
FasterMac.net
ISP/VOIP
Help Fight Hunger
|
