" Hi Mike, Here at the Univeristy of Georgia Department of Physics and Astronomy we have the privilege of working with one of the world's top Computational Stellar Astrophysicists, Dr Peter Hauschildt. He has written code called Phoenix that simulates conditions in stars and supernovae. You can see a slightly outdated description of his code at: http://phoenix.physast.uga.edu/
He has run extensive benchmarks on many different platforms, and has some interesting results. I've included some numbers from recent runs on a Dual Xeon 3.06 (in Hyperthreaded mode), an Itanium 2 1.3, a G5 1.6 and a few other older machines for comparison.

• Quad 1.3 Ghz Power4 IBM p690 (IBM xlf compiler) 77.1 seconds
• Itanium 2 1.3Ghz (Intel Fortran Compiler) 95.5 seconds
• Dual Xeon 3.06 (Intel Fortran Compiler, Hyperthreaded) 106.2 seconds
• Pentium 4 2.66Ghz (Intel Fortran Compiler) 119.8 seconds
• Athlon 3000XP (Intel Fortran Compiler) 121.1 seconds
• G5 1.6 Ghz (IBM xlf compiler) 183.2 seconds
• Dual G4 1Ghz (IBM xlf compiler) 255.5 seconds
• Dual G4 1Ghz (NAG Fortran Compiler) 400 seconds

We are really curious to see how the Dual (2GHz) G5 stacks up, as it potentially has better SMP performance than the Xeons, and may do pretty well. Ours is supposed to be here in mid-october, so I'll let you know then how it turns out. Also, it's really interesting to see how much difference IBM's PowerPC tuned compiler makes, the G4 looks pretty bad without it. One more thing to note, the Itanium seems very fast, but we have not verified that it gives correct answers yet, as he just got access to that machine last week.
If you are interested I can send more detailed results as well, showing what areas each CPU stands out in.
Mike C.
System Administrator
Dept of Physics and Astronomy
University of Georgia "

I'll add more info from Mike when he sends it. I also asked to clarify if the beta IBM Compiler for G5s was used and he said yes. (IBM Beta compiler w/G5 support noted in the Aug. 28th news page here and added to the G5 tech docs/updates/compat. page.) Granted most end users are concerned with performance in common apps they use.

" Hy Mike, I found a nice freeware app called Patchburn, which I think could be worth a post:
http://www.macwelt.de/magazin/0310/PatchBurn1.1.sit
Patchburn is made for adding DVD/CD-burner native support to iTunes/OSX. Just select the burner and a driver-support file of a similar drive, and then patch it. That's it!
Worked for me perfectly to add native support for the Plextor PW-1210S SCSI-Drive in OSX 10.2.6 by using the PW-1210A file! It's just great!
greets Dominique "

A week or two ago another reader noted using it with a Liteon DVD burner, saying iTunes allowed burning but noted a problem burning DVDs (but that may or may not have been due to patchburn.) The FAQ's CDROM/CDR and DVD sections have many modified device-plugin files for some specific unsupported drives, although I welcome other reports on Patchburn. (include drive model, os version, mac model etc. in reports. Thanks)

"No problems here running 10.3B59, booting to an OWC Mercury Elite FW400 120GB Drive.
Jamie"

Another G5 owner wrote:

" Hi Mike, FYI, I successfully booted from and imaged both a 1.6 and a 1.8 G5 with an external firewire drive using the front mounted firewire ports.
Zach
(I asked what OS version was on the FW drive and he wrote)
Yes, 10.2.7, not sure of the build number though."

There were two build versions of 10.2.7 noted so far - one from G5 single CPU owners and one from Dual G5 owners. (Can't remember the build numbers now, but bottom line with 10.2.7 or later the G5s should not have problems with booting from FW drives on any port.)

"Mike, Saw your news report re "Extensions Tip for Sonnet Tango 2.0 FW/USB PCI card in Older Macs w/OS 9.2".
I have (at home) a Beige G3/233 DT with Macally USB card -- the card ceased to function when I upgraded from OS9.1 to OS9.2. After a deal of searching and experimentation with Apple's USB support download and various OS9 updaters/installers, I discovered that my card was not compatible with the v1.5.9 USB Device Extension & USB Software Locator files (2 files) installed by the OS9.2.2 update (or perhaps by an OS9.2.2 install disk from my TiBook 667). It has worked fine since I replaced these two files with the v1.4.6 USB Device Extension, USB Software Locater & USB Support (3 files) installed by OS9.1. I don't recall having to downgrade any of the USB Mass Storage files, though.

The v1.4.6 files are the latest USB files I could get my card to work with (I haven't come across the v1.5.6 files mentioned in the e-mail from OWC, however). I wonder if this problem with the v1.5.9 files is common to all third party USB cards in the Beige G3 (and older Macs?).
Hope this may assist.
Mark M.
Brisbane Australia"

Another reader wrote:

"I wanted to add to your article on the USB issues in OS 9.2.2 on older Macs. I tracked this issue for a little while on my web site
http://www.zone6400.com/files/OS_92x.html#USB_in_OS922
We came to the conclusion that Apple must have removed support for PCI USB cards in the latest drivers in OS 9.2.2? If you install the 1.4.1 USB card support drivers then your card will work again even in OS 9.2.2.
Thomas K.
The 6400 Zone - http://www.zone6400.com"

"Just a little info for people looking for jumpers to adjust settings on Beige or B&W G3 systems http://drivejumper.com/ has them .....6 small drive jumpers - $1.99 shipping included
look for the jumpers under the heading "Int.DriveSCSI" scroll down this web page and look for "Small Drive Jumper - $1.99 includes shipping"
snip from web page...

"Package of 6 Small Drive Jumpers (Gold Plated) fits most SCSI drives and also works in other places jumpers (sometimes called shunts) are used. Over clocking Mac G3 computers is an example of another place these small size jumpers are used. Shipping included!"

I could not live without xlr8yourmac.com! Thanks Mike.
Regards,Christian "

Thanks. In the past radio shack sometimes sold these also but the P/N of the package changed several times (and later reports noted their package of jumpers were too large/too wide a pin spacing)

• Giga Designs G4 1GHz (at up to 1.3GHz) in G4/AGP (rated 10)
• Giga Designs G4 1.4GHz in G4/AGP (rated 9)
• PowerLogix BlueChip G3/900 in Powerbook G3 2000 (rated 8)
• PowerLogix G4 1.2GHz in G4/AGP (rated 9)
• Powerlogix G4 Dual 1.2GHz in G4/AGP (updated report noting CPU failure and overheating graphics cards)
• Powerlogix G3/800 in B&W G3 (rated 9)
• Powerlogix G3/800 in Beige G3 (rated 3)
• Sonnet G4/1GHz in G4/AGP (rated 1)
• Sonnet G4/800 in 8500 (rated 1)
  (My full reviews of G4 and G3 upgrades w/apps/game tests, install info, etc. are linked here.)
• Apple G4/AGP (Quicksilver G4/800) OC report
• Apple G4/AGP (G4/450) 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.)

PenDrives:
• USB Pretec i-Disk 512 MB used w/iBook 2002 (OS X)
  (listed under "other" brands)
  
  CDRW Drives:
• IDE Liteon LTR-52327S (52x32x52x) in G4/AGP (OS X)
  (no native itunes burn support as of 10.2.6, FAQ has modified Liteon burn support plugin for this drive and 10.2.6)
• USB Iomega 52x24x52x (unknown mechanism) used w/G4 AGP (OS 9.2)
  (no itunes burn support and no USB 2.0 drivers for OS 9, so speeds would be limited to USB 1.1. Most USB 1.1 drive burns limited to about 4x in actual use.)
  
  Combo DVD+CDR Drives:
• Exp. bay Toshiba SD-R 2102 (8x8x24x + 8x dvd rom) in Powerbook G3 2000 (OS X)
• IDE LG GCC-4240N (24x10x24x +8x DVD-ROM) in iMac (OS X)
  (using modified burn support plugin, not bootable from CD)
• IDE LG GCC-4520B (52x24x52x +16x DVD-ROM) in B&W G3 (OS X)
  (using modified LG device plugin for burn support)
• IDE LG GCC-4480B (48x24x48x + 16x DVD-ROM) in G4/AGP (OS X)
  
• IDE LG GCC-4480B (48x24x48x + 16x DVD-ROM) in G4/AGP (OS 9.1)
  (OS 9.x burn support burn support plugin in FAQ)
• IDE Panasonic CW-8571-B (8x8x32x + 8x DVD-ROM) in Beige G3 (OS X)
  
  DVD+R/RW + DVD-R/RW Drives:
• IDE NEC ND-1300A in B&W G3 (OS X)
  (no itunes/db burn support, listed under "other" brands)
• Firewire Pioneer DVR-106 used w/G4 AGP (OS X 10.3)
  (native support for the drive and DVD+R media)
• IDE Pioneer DVR-106 in eMac (OS X)
• IDE Pioneer DVR-106 in single G4 DDR (OS X)
• IDE Pioneer DVR-106 in G4/AGP (OS X)
  (no itunes/db burn support in 10.2.6, noted toast6 hangs also)
• IDE Pioneer DVR-106 in G4/AGP (OS X)
  (noted DVD+R burned discs won't mount. 10.3 may be the first Mac OS to support this media in drives that are DVD+R/+RW compatible.)
  (Illustrated CD drive install guide here covers G4 towers up to the Digital Audio Model, Beige G3 MT, and B&W G3 Macs)
  
  DVD-R Drives:
• IDE Pioneer DVR-105 in PowerMac G5 (OS X 10.3)
  (noted fit problems - I suspect having to remove the front drive tray edge as with the MDD G4s. Not sure if the 10.3 was a typo or if he's running a panther beta)
  
  Hard Drives:
• IDE Hitachi (Travelstar) 80GB in PowerBook G4 (OS X)
  (full review of this drive and 7200rpm/60GB model linked on the IDE topics page, HD section. PowerBook G4 15in. LCD illustrated Hard Drive install guide here
  Powerbook G4 12in LCD illustrated Hard Drive install guide here.
• IDE Maxtor DiamondMax9 80GB (x2) in G4/AGP using IDE PCI card RAID
  (Illustrated guide to adding a 2nd HD here in B&W G3 rev2 and G4 towers up to the QuickSilver models.
  IDE articles page RAID section has an illustrated guide for adding 2 more drives in the side bays.)
• IDE Western Digital Caviar WD800JB 80GB in G4/AGP (OS 9.1)
• IDE Western Digital Caviar WD1200JB 120GB in G4/AGP (OS 9.1)

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.)
(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.)

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