News Archive for: Friday Sept. 26, 2008
  Goto Current News Page

Macs | CPU Upgrades | Video | Storage | Audio | Apps/OS/Networking | FAQ | Contact

Reminder on ATI 3870 Mac/PC Edition Compatibility
(The latest in a continuing saga - ATI's product page needs a clear "Mac Pro with OS X 10.5.2 or later" requirement for Mac use.)
Last night I posted a request for sources of G5 Tower PCIe graphics cards (other than ebay) and a couple replies suggested the ATI 3870 Mac/PC edition, which isn't compatible with G5 towers. (Although it does work with PCIe 1.0 Mac Pros as well as PCIe 2.0 models, EFI cards don't work with G5 towers.) Just a reminder in case anyone else isn't clear on that (to avoid buying something that won't work since the ATI product page doesn't list Mac models in the requirements currently although OWC's page notes "Mac Pro with OS X 10.5.2 or later").
Several readers with Mac Pros running OS X Tiger had bought the 3870 before being aware of the 10.5.2 or later requirement also, as it wasn't on ATI's page.
I added a FYI about G5 PCIe towers to Oliver's review of the 3870 Mac/PC edition.

= Sponsor AD (9/26/2008) =
Last days to save on Hitachi 500GB Drives and OWC/NT Solutions using them. Through Monday, Sept. 29th 7PM CST - OWC customers can take advantage of the following rebate offers:
  • Get $10 back on Hitachi's fast/efficient P7K500 500GB 7200RPM SATA I/II HD w/16MB Cache. Only $59.99 after $10 rebate. Get $10 back on Mercury Elite Pro, Neptune and miniStack 500GB drives. 500GB FireWire for $104.99 after rebate, 500GB FireWire+USB2 from $119.99 after rebate, 500GB FireWire 800/400+USB2+eSATA from $149.99 after rebate
  • Get $20 back on Mercury Elite-AL Pro Dual-Drive RAID, NewerTech Guardian Maximus RAID-1 (Mirror) Solutions. Mercury Elite-AL Pro 1TB FW800/400+USB2 $227.99 after rebate, GMAX RAID-1 500GB+500GB FW800/400+USB2 RAID-1 $259.99 after rebate.
  • Get $40 back on OWC Rack Pro Quad-Bay 1U Rack solutions. Available with eSATA, FireWire 800, and/or USB 2.0 Interfaces. JBOD, RAID-1, RAID-0, RAID 0+1 options 500GB x 4 from $709.99

    Rebates for the above remain available for orders placed by Monday September 29th at 7PM CST. Or see all current rebate offers online here


  • Return to Accelerate Your Mac!Top
    Mac Drive Upgrades/Compatibility Reports Database Updated
    The Mac Drive/Storage Upgrades Database had 2 more reports added. Current total - 16,487. (Searching by drive type, brand, mac model etc. listed below will show full reports, most recent first)

      Hard Drives:
    • IDE Seagate 320GB (ST3320620A) in iMac G4 (OS X 10.4.11)
      (Includes notes on HD and internal RAM upgrades - ref: iMac G4 take apart/upgrading Optical Drive, HD, RAM (Internal) here from 2002)
    • SATA Western Digital 150GB VelociRaptor (WD1500HLFS) x2 in (2008) Mac Pro (OS X 10.5.5)
      (includes benchmarks of single drive and RAID. This is the new HLFS (suffix) model ("backplane ready") that mates with the Mac Pro HD bay connectors without any mods. (OWC has stock now on the 300GB VelociRaptor HLFS Mac Pro/Backplate ready version.) The original VelociRaptor models (GLFS suffix) required minor mod to mate w/Mac Pro bays - Info is included in Oliver's Comparison of 32GB SSD vs 10,000 RPM HDs article here from June 2008. )

    You can read full reports (latest shown first) by searching the database by drive/brand/interface/mac models (the latest reports are shown first in searches). The database includes reports on Optical Drives (Blu-Ray, DVD, CD/CDR, etc.), Hard Drives, Tape drives, Removable media (ORB, ZIP, MO drives), NAS (Network Attached Storage), in all interface types (IDE, SATA, Firewire, SCSI, USB, adapters).
    If you've added/upgraded a drive in your Mac send me the details (drive info/speed rating/mac model/OS version used, etc.). Note: Please use the drive for at least a week before reporting on it and test for booting from Disc with Optical Drives (as well as burning discs). Thanks.

    Return to Accelerate Your Mac!Top
    Other News/Articles, Mac Software Updates
    (later added items first)

    Return to Accelerate Your Mac!Top
    Recent Articles and Reviews
    Listing/links to recent articles and reviews you may have missed.
    Return to Accelerate Your Mac!Top

    Storage Solutions


    OWC SPECIALS!
    (see full list)

    = MEMORY =
    4GB (2x2GB) Mac Pro RAM (800MHz) $89.75

    4GB (2x2GB) Mac Pro RAM (667MHz) $84.50

    4GB (2x2GB) Kit for Unibody MacBook/Pros $82.50

    4GB (2x2GB) PC2-6400 for 2008 iMacs $43.75

    4GB (2x2GB) PC2-5300 SODIMMs $42.50

    2GB PC2-5300 SODIMM $21.75

    1GB DDR400 DIMMs $29.25

    512MB PC-133 SDRAM $30.75

    = WIRELESS =
    802.11N/g/b PCI, PCMCIA or USB adapters under $50
    802.11N/G/B Router $65

    = TV TUNERS/DVR =
    EyeTV 250+ w/clear QAM $130

    = CPU UPGRADES =
    7448 2.0GHz $375

    7447A 1.6GHz $215

    G3 1GHz ZIF upgrade $99.75

    = HARD DRIVES =
    500GB 7200rpm/16MB cache $59.99

    WD 640GB 7200rpm/16MB Cache $69

    1TB SATA HDs from $97.50

    1.5TB Seagate HD $157.50

    EliteAL eSATA/FW800/400/USB 2.0 Case Kit w/SW $75

    1TB EliteAL FW/USB 2.0 $175

    1TB EliteAL SATA/FW800/400/USB2 $209

    LG BR/HD-DVD ROM + DVD Burner $120

    = NOTEBOOK HDs =
    500GB WD Scorpio + USB 2.0 Case Kit $145

    320GB/7200RPM/16MB cache SATA $99

    200GB/7200RPM/16MB cache SATA $67.50

    WD Scorpio IDE 250GB $87.75

    = GRAPHICS CARDS =
    ATI HD 3870 PCIe $217.99

    ATI 9800 Pro AGP $229

    = SOFTWARE =
    Prosoft Data Rescue II $57.50

    XLR8YourMac.com T-Shirts $14.99
    Support this site!


    FasterMac.net
    Internet Access


    Mac Help Now!
    Freq. Asked Questions
    (Check First!)

    Mac Model Articles

    CPU Upgrade Articles

    Video/Card Articles

    Storage Articles

    Search Mac Drive Upgrades/Compatibility Database

    Search the CPU Upgrade Database

    Search the
    Game/System Perf. Database

    Read Game Reviews

    = back to www.XLR8YOURMAC.com =

    Copyright © , 1997-2009. All Rights Reserved
    All brand or product names mentioned here are properties of their respective companies.
    Legal: Users of the web site must read and are bound by the terms and conditions of use.

    site design by elroyonline