" Hi, not sure if this was mentioned already, but there's a new firmware for the Acard AEC6280M IDE Card available. Version 2.14 (previous version was 2.10), supposed to Improve Reliability of Data Transfer. Haven't test it by myself yet. http://www.acard.com/eng/
Cheers,
hauke "

Acard's site is framed, so use this link - http://www.acard.com/eng/support/mac.html, rather than the above one which won't show the mac downloads by default.
Acard notes the 2.14 update is to "Improve Reliability of Data Transfer." See the readme file included with the download for instructions on how to flash the update. (They recommend no drives attached during the update.)

" Hi Mike
I use your site often for it contains a lot of valuable information. Thanks a lot for all this work! I recently converted my display-less iMac into an ATX case. As I read similar articles on your site I thought you might be interested in the topic. You can find the story at http://members.fortunecity.com/tinux1/sites/imac-atx.html
Note that I run two hard drives and a CD-ROM and a CD-RW with the former iMac. Cheers and keep up your site!
Martin "

The iMac rev A-D (233-333mhz) had a separate IDE channel for the hard drive and CD drive so with an ATX case, you could have a total of 4 drives (2 per channel/cable). Later iMacs (slotted) had only one IDE cable for both. The Systems page here has several past articles on G4, G3 and Legacy mac conversions to ATX cases.

" Beware ATI RADEON 7000 Mac Edition Firmware Update (v208)
After installing this firmware update "successfully", my off the shelf Radeon 7000 PCI no longer works AT ALL. There is no video coming out of the card. My monitors don't even attempt to sync when booting. I added my old Rage128 to the system to try to run the updater (or downgrader) again. I've since installed both the 208 and 119 firmware several times with no progress whatsoever. My Radeon 7000 is ruined. I just wrote ATI asking that they replace the card or provide working firmware ASAP but I don't have much faith right now. I'm very disappointed.

I'm running MacOS 9.2.2 on a Blue & White with a PowerLogix G4/550. The setup, with 2 Sony 17" monitors attached to the Radeon, has been running great since I purchased the card about a month ago.
Bobby "

Most of the reports were from B&W G3 owners, but one of the mails I've read from this weekend was from a Beige G3 owner also. I've just had another Beige G3 owner report a failure and another report a success. (There may be more in my inbox - I'm way behind but have seen at least 3 more emails since Friday on this failure. I wish I knew why this is happening.)

" The new system update 10.2.3 simply renders Maya PE 4.5 unsusable: the application crashes when loading. I launch the application, the interface start to appear, then bang!, the computer freezes, can't move the cursor and can't do a force quit. I have to reset the computer. I have a G4 Cube 450MHz, 512meg RAM and a GeForce 3. Does any one have the same problem???
FReD "

If anyone is running Maya 4.5 OK in 10.2.3, let me know (or if you have a tip to solve this problem, assuming it's not a compat. issue with the opengl update in 10.2.3). Although OpenGL 1.4 was noted as part of 10.2.3, ASP reports the OpenGL Frameworks is v1.2.1.
Update - a reader using the full 4.5 (not PLE) version noted no problems in 10.2.3:

"Hello there I'm running Maya 4.5 on 10.2.3 without problems.
G4 MDD 2x ghz 256 mb ram.
greets
Tom
(he later wrote)
sorry forgot to mention.
That's the full Maya I'm running,not a PLE. "

" Dear XLR8(yourmac),
Cleaner 6.0 and Altivec Enabler Powerlogix 1.0
in os 9.2.2 on my 8500 PowerLogix g4 it would just lock up completely when going to encode. Cleaner 5 works fine with the enabler enabled!!.
workaorund,
disable Atlivec Enabler Extension and all works smoothly. not sure whether it Altivec is used or not, but the encodes are flying thru so I think they must be. with the extension disabled, Cleaner 6 operates normally.
hope it helps
-4tune. "

• Apple G4/350 ZIF in Beige G3 (rated 8)
• Powerlogix G4/533 in Beige G3 (rated 10)
• Powerlogix G4/500 in Beige G3 (rated 10)
• Powerlogix G3/400 in 7500/100 (rated 9)
• Sonnet G4/800 in G4/400 AGP (rated 10)

(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.)

CD-ROM Drive Reports:
• IDE EPO 54X in Beige G3 (OS 9.2)
  (listed under "other" brands)
  
  DVD-R DVD Recorder Drive Reports:
• IDE Pioneer DVR-A04 (104) in PowerTower Pro using IDE PCI card (OS X)
  
  DVD+R/RW + DVD-R/RW Drive Reports:
• IDE Sony DRU-500A in G4/AGP (OS X)
  
  Combo DVD+CDR Drive Reports:
• IDE LG 4320B (32x10x40x + 8x DVD) in Beige G3 (OS X)
  
  Expansion Bay CDRW Drive Reports:
• Exp. Bay Matshita UJDA340 (8x8x24) in PowerBook G3 lombard (OS 9.2)
  
  IDE CDRW Drive Reports:
• Imation IMW241040IAB (24x10x40x) in G4/AGP (OS 9.2)
  (didn't note if bootable, no itunes or finder burn support)
• Lite-On LTR-48246S (48x24x48x) in Dual G4 DDR (OS X)
• Lite-On LTR-52246S (52x24x52x) in 9600 using IDE PCI card (OS X)
  (not bootable, but 10.2.3 itunes burn support he said)
• Lite-On LTR-48246S (48x24x48) in Beige G3 (OS 9.2)
• Sony CRX195E1 (40x12x48) in B&W G3 (OS 9.2)
  (problems noted)
• Sony CRX-160E (12x8x32x I believe) in Beige G3 (OS 9.2)
  (FYI - Illustrated CD drive install guide here covers G4 towers up to the Digital Audio Model, Beige G3 MT, B&W G3 and 8600/9600 Macs.)
  
  USB CDRW Drive Reports:
• Que (Mitsumi CR-4804TE) 4x4x8x used w/G4 AGP (OS X)
  (problems noted)
  
  SCSI CDRW Drive Reports:
• Yamaha CRW2100S (16x10x40x) used w/G4 AGP (OS X)
  
  Firewire CDRW Drive Reports:
• Memorex 52MAXX 2452AJ (52x24x52x) in FW case used w/Dual G4 (OS X) (no itunes burn support, listed under "other" brands)
  
  IDE Hard Drive Reports:
• IBM Travelstar 40GNX 20GB in PowerBook 1400 (OS X)
• IBM Travelstar 40GNX 40GB in PowerBook G4 (OS X)
  (Reader FYI - PowerBook G4 illustrated Hard Drive install guide here)
  
  SCSI Hard Drive Reports:
• IBM 73LZX 18GB in 8600 (OS 9.1)
  
  USB Hard Drive Reports:
• Maxtor 3000LE 40GB used w/B&W G3 (OS 9.2)

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.]
(Entries today will be added the following newsday. 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.)

• 1 year ago today
• 2 years ago today
• 3 years ago today