"Virtual PC and Games: Virtual PC is not recommended as a gaming solution for the Mac. Virtual PC does not provide the resources many PC games require to run, such as hardware accelerated 3D video."

Previous versions of VPC supported only the 3dfx Voodoo1/Voodoo2 cards (passthru designs) and the emulated environment takes a big toll on performance. Although some may have been happy with certain PC games when running a fast mac and Voodoo2 card under VPC 3, even with improved Altivec support I'd not assume demanding 3D PC games are really very playable under VPC 4, even with the fastest G4 systems. I've asked my Connectix contact about support for 3D cards like the Voodoo2 (the readme file comment above makes me wonder if it's still supported.) [*Update* A reader in the forums here noted after updating to VPC 4 he could no longer use his Voodoo2 cards. ] Also note the following warning on non-gaming video performance:

"Windows Media Player (version 7) and Movie Maker (included with Windows Me) have system requirements that exceed the capabilities of Virtual PC."

For non-gaming tasks, VPC has always been a great utility and I'm upgrading personally, but I just wanted to post this for readers to be aware of before buying. See the VPC 4.0 Readme for more info.

I've created a page here with the full contents of the VPC 4 Readme file.

" Mike-
Read your blurb about lowering the noise level of your G4 and got to thinking how nice it would be to quiet down my old 6500 with a Sonnet G3 upgrade. So, after about 15 minutes of tearing the computer apart (literally taking the entire subcase apart) and cleaning the accumlated junk out, I figured out part of the problem.

The areas where the power supply connected to the framework of the internal case were rubbing together slightly, producing a small amount of vibration noise. Isolating the power supply (using cut-up rubber bands and a bit of glue to hold them in place) was all it took to cut the noise level in half. I similarly isolated the hard drive mounting to further quiet my machine down. Even as I'm sitting here typing this, there is a noticable difference in noise output, even with absolutely NONE of the side, top, or front panels on. I figure that putting these back on would practically eliminate most of the fan noise coming from the machine.

One other modification that I performed was the removal of the old processor fan (which was extremely noisy and wasn't helping cool the new processor anyway) and the addition of a processor to the G3 card (which sits in the level 2 cache slot). Due to rather poor design of the upgrade (the processor and heatsink are on the side of the card that faces the RAM slots, leaving no room to mount the fan directly on top of the heatsink), I had to mount the fan so that it blows across the heatsink, parallel to the board itself. However, even with this less than ideal angle of cooling (and just one fan, mind you...there is room for two more), the processor temp has dropped from a rather balmy 51? C to 39? C. That is with GrayAmp, Eudora, and iCab all active and using processor. Also, the fan is nearly silent.

So, for a total of an hour and a half (twenty minutes of which was driving to RadioShack and back for the new fan) and four rubber bands, some glue, and $10 (for the fan), I have a quiet and cool Mac sitting on my desk.
Wes"

I asked if he had any photos/images of his mods for an article here.

" Hi Mike - It's me, the graphically challenged complainer about the Driver demo! <g>

I figured out the sluggishness problem. If you max out the Gfx details and turn *off* the frame rate limiter, it feels like you're playing in molasses.

And to clarify, the graphics themselves aren't that bad - it's just that they are very washed-out looking, like the gamma is too high.

And, I still can't get Glide to work with my V3 - it lets me choose the correct monitor, the screens go black and I can hear click of the res change, but then the screens come back up and there's an empty yellow error box in the upper right of the main (Rage 128) screen. Also, if I choose the non-Glide mode (OpenGL, I believe), and choose the V3-connected screen, the same thing happens. I've downloaded the new 3DFx drivers, as well as the OpenGL drivers that came with Cro-Mag, and I'll let you know what I find out.

I've been playing around with it for a while, and it is a very fun game. I'll probably end up buying it, but I sure would like to get Glide working (If only for personal satisfaction!).
Jeff "

I welcome other feedback on the demo. Please include your system and video card details.

• Metabox G4/400 in 7500/100 (rated 10)
• Newer Tech G4/400 in Beige G3 (rated 10)
• Newer Tech G3/400 in Starmax 4000/200 (rated 9)
  (notes required OS 8.6 or higher)
• Other World Computing G3/450 in Beige G3 (rated 10)
• XLR8 CarrierZIF w/Formac G3/450 ZIF in 9600/233 workgroup server (rated 10)
• XLR8 G3/450 in B&W G3 (rated 10)
• OEM (other brand) G3/450 in Beige G3 (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 of over 4,800 entries from most every upgradable Mac model *before* you buy. (Searchable by mac model/upgrade brand)

CDRW Drives:
• Firewire QueFire 8x4x32x (Plextor drive) w/Dual G4
• Sony IDE CRX160E (12/8/32) in ADS Pyro Firewire case w/B&W G3
  (listed under Firewire interface)
• SCSI Yamaha CRW8824sz (8x/8x/24x) w/8500
  
  Hard Drives:
• IDE IBM DeskStar 75GXP 30GB in G4 Dual CPU
• IDE Maxtor 40GB in 6200
  (filed under "Other Models" Mac system category)
• IDE Seagate Barracuda II 20GB in G4/AGP

You can find these full reports by searching by drive type, interface, mac model, etc. (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.

Software Updates:

• Lasso Studio 1.7.1 for Adobe GoLive 5 for Macintosh
• Lasso Web Data Engine 3.6.6.2
• BrightnessRocker (direct download link)
• Tri-Backup 2.2.5 (direct download link)
• MacCDspeed 1.0.2

Apple TILs:
• Software Update 1.2: Software and Information
• iMovie 2.0.1 Update: Software and Information
• GameSprockets 1.7.5: Software and Information
• Mac OS Runtime for Java 2.2.3: Software and Information
• USB Enabled Macintosh: Troubleshooting Sleep Issues
• Common System Error Messages; What they Mean and What Might Help Resolve the Problem
• StyleWriter Printers: How to generate a test page
• Mac OS: Display Resolution Switching at System Startup Time

Mac News: (Note: Regurgitated press releases, etc. are not listed)

• Blizzard Looking for Macintosh Programmer (blizzard)
• Apple issues profit warning (apple)
• Apple slashes revenue forecast--again (cnet)
• 1.2GHz Mac maker preps launch [xtrem again...] (the register)
• Undoing the Mac OS Facelift (wired)
• FireWire Hard Drives [see also the firewire reviews/articles here] (zdnet)

Mac Gaming:
• Driver Demo Mission Tips (game news here)

Misc. Hardware Related:
• Dr. Bott ships MoniSwitch Pro Dual VGA (DR.Bott)