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Top stories of Dec. 7th, 2000: |
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| Virtual PC 4 Problems Reported with Non-3D Games: |
| I posted a warning and the entire readme file contents here the day VPC 4 was released, which noted no 3D hardware support and that it was not a gaming solution, but I'm still disappointed that even 2D games seem to have problems. I'd noted previously that a reader could not run a 2D game (monkeyisland3), and another reader just sent word that other DirectX (he mistakenly calls it ActiveX) games like Close Combat also have problems:
"
I have a negative report on VPC. I primarily use VPC to run my favorite game
series Close Combat .... These games have very low CPU requirements, use strictly 2D
graphics, and ran fine, even speedily in VPC3. They do not run at all in
VPC4.
CC4 [Close Combat 4] crashes during load. CC3 starts to launch and then issues an error "unable to get format on Stream." Apparently this is an ActiveX [DirectX-Mike] error. I reloaded the version of ActiveX as shipped on the game CDs, no good. I tried
to upgrade to ActiveX 8 from Microsoft's servers, it refuses to install.
[Update: As noted in the Dec 22nd, 2000 news page, I was able to
install and run "Close Combat (2) A Bridge Too Far" game under
Virtual PC 4.0 running on a PowerBook G3-Mike]
It appears that VPC4 has more than a few bugs. The readme specifically says
that VPC4 supports ActiveX but does not offer enough performance for
advanced games. They are wrong, it doesn't support ActiveX at ALL. This
could be a major problem for many other programs besides games.
This reminds me of an old switch in some long-forgotten Mac CDEV, it offered
the choice: Faster/More Compatible.. I'll have to go back to VPC3, since
VPC4 is completely incompatible.
Charles
"
I'm not sure how universal the 2D game problem is, but welcome other reader comments on 2D gaming in VPC 4.
The version 4 upgrade leaves the VPC version 3 folder intact (but shares a common windows disk image) and one reader with Voodoo2 cards working in VPC 3 (but not VPC4) said he was able to run VPC 3 with the Voodoo2 cards after the upgrade.
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| Virtual PC 4.0 vs 3.0 vs PII 350Mhz Photoshop Test Results: |
Yesterday's news had Norton SI and Wintune test results comparing VPC v4 to v3, which noted impressive gains (SI scores tripled on a PB G3/500, G4 system also showed large gains in CPU and Memory performance). To see how VPC performed in applications, Jeffrey sent results of tests in Photoshop 5.5 in Virtual PC v4 vs v3 and included comparisons to a 350MHz Pentium II PC. Granted nobody would use VPC for Photoshop, but the results are interesting and real world rather than just benchmarks. The overall gain from VPC 4 over version 3 was nearly double. See this page for the test results.
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| OWC Firewire Products now includes 16x/10x/40x CDRW: |
| Sponsor OWC sent a note they have updated their products listings of Firewire CDRWs and Firewire Hard Drives. I see they have the Yamaha 16x/10x/40x CDRW drive as one of the options.
"
It has been some time since we last provided an update to our FireWire line up. We have a very complete selection, very competitively priced and
ours have been tested as the fastest on the market - equaled (not
exceeded) only by VST. All solutions include all cables and needed
software. CD-RW solutions are covered by a 1 Year warranty, Storage
solutions are covered by a 3 Year warranty.
OWC Mercury FireWire Storage Solutions
[see that page for a complete listing of 5400 RPM and "Pro" 7200 RPM models including a sale on the new 45GB/7200 RPM Pro model ]
OWC Mercury and Mercury Pro FireWire CD-RW Solutions:
Mercury FireWire Panasonic 8x4x32 CD-RW - $289.95
Mercury FireWire Yamaha 8x4x24 CD-RW - $297.95
Mercury FireWire Pro Plextor 12x10x32 CD-RW - $419.95
Mercury FireWire Pro Yamaha 16x10x40 CD-RW - $429.95
It's even better once $5 Fed Ex 2-3 Day or Free UPS Ground get's factored
in! :)
Best Regards,
Larry O'Connor
Other World Computing, Inc."
(Note: Since the news pages are archived for ever, models and pricing subject to change over time.) |
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| Rate Your CPU Upgrade Database Updates: |
| The Rate Your CPU Upgrade database has been updated with 7 new reports (total to date: 4,893). [Entries from after midnight will be added the following day.]
- Formac (zif socket card model) G3/400 in 7500/100 (rated 9)
(noted some settings issues)
- Newer Tech G4/400 in 9600/300 (rated 7)
- Newer Tech G4/400 in 8500/180 (rated 1)
(problems noted)
- Powerlogix Bluechip G3/466 in PowerBook Wallstreet2 (rated 10)
- Sonnet G3/400 in Umax S900 (rated 10)
- Apple G4/AGP upgraded to Dual CPU (rated 10)
- B&W G3/350 OC report
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)
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| Drive Compatibility Database Updates: |
| The Drive Compatibility searchable database had 7 new entries posted this morning (current total 2,124).
Combo DVD/CDRW Drives:
- IDE Toshiba SD-R1002 in G4/AGP
[I wrote to Apple recently to suggest Combo DVD/CDRW
drives as BTO options in the future - and to work with
Ricoh to see if their 9120 combo drive (fastest CD/DVD/CDRW
drive on the market now) could be made bootable
with Macs. It would be my choice of drives if it was.]
CDRW Drives:
- Firewire Fantom 12x10x32 w/G4 Dual
(apparently he missed all the past posts here on
the fact Plextor IDE drives have no Mac firmware update
flash updaters)
- Firewire Que 8x4x32 with G4/AGP
- SCSI Yamaha 2100 (16x/10x/40x) Ext. w/G4 AGP (& 2906 SCSI card)
- USB U-30098 (4x/4x?) with iMac
(no brand listed, bought at Circuit City he said)
Hard Drives:
- IDE IBM DeskStar 75GXP 45GB in Beige G3 w/PCI IDE card
(noted IDE card firmware update to 3.10 fixed a problem)
- IDE Maxtor 80GB 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.
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