|
News stories of Dec. 24th, 2002: (light today, I was up all night writing the PL Dual 1GHz upgrade review, and had holiday matters to take care of.) |
| ATI Working on Fix for 7000 Flash Failures |
Some good news for those that saw a Radeon 7000 208 flash update problem (DOA card after the flash) - I've been forwarding all the failure report emails to an ATI contact, who said they are working on a fix for anyone who has been affected with a dead card, as well as steps to prevent this from happening to others. I've had several reports now of cards that were resurrected using a special flasher, so hopefully a fix will be posted soon but the Holidays are almost certain to impact that.
As a FYI, I've gotten over 30 Radeon 7000 related emails since yesterday - many noting success, some not. I'm glad to hear that many didn't have a problem, since after the first initial positive reports, the majority of mails were related to failures. (I worked all night on other things and have not begun to read all the emails in the last 24 hours, but I'll have more news perhaps later today. Trying to catch up on some Christmas things that I've put off until now.)
|
|
| Return to Accelerate Your Mac! | Top |
|
|
|
| Pioneer DVR-A03/103 (aka Superdrive) 2.0 Firmware Update |
| (from a reader email - I've not had time to try this personally)
"
Hi Mike,
Don't know if anyone else has done this, but I've got my A03 updated to firmware version 2.0 on Mac OS 9.22.
Pioneer's Australian site has the new firmware posted, but no Mac updater. However I extracted the firmware file from the PC updater using VPC and then simply used the Mac firmware updater they shipped with the 1.9 firmware.
To save others the hassle, I've posted the files you need on:
http://blishen.users.btopenworld.com/
Cheers and thanks for the great site,
David
"
I asked David what the changes/fixes were for 2.0 (vs. 1.90, the current latest Mac version) and he wrote:
"
Hi Mike,
All Pioneer says is:
DVR-A03 Firmware Update Information
Version: 2.00
(from Ver1.90 to Ver2.00)
* Supports 2X writing on the New 4X DVD-R media
* DVD-R/RW Writability Improvement
* CD-R/RW Writability Improvement
You can find an extensive review at this dvd-recordable.net page
The URL for the v2.0 firmware is:
http://www.pioneeraus.com.au/multimedia/dvdrrwfw.htm
(you need to click "go" and agree to some terms and conditions)
Merry Christmas,
David
"
After I try this, I'll add it to the other Pioneer "superdrive" (DVR-104/A04, DVR-103/A03) firmware updates listed in the FAQ's DVD section. (As of this morning, Pioneer's Mac updates page still shows 1.09 as the latest DVR-A03/103 firmware update available.)
|
|
| Return to Accelerate Your Mac! | Top |
|
| Rate Your CPU Upgrade Reports Database Updated |
The Rate Your CPU Upgrade database has been updated this morning with 1 new reports. Total to date: 7,842. (Entries made today are posted the next newsday morning.)
Here's a summary of the update added today :
- Sonnet G4/800 in 8600/200 AV (rated 9)
(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.)
|
|
| Return to Accelerate Your Mac! | Top |
|
| CDRW/CD/DVD/Hard Drive/Cardreader Compatibility Database Update Listing |
| The Drive Compatibility searchable database had 12 new reports added this morning. The database includes reports on Combo DVD-CDRW, CDROMs, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, CDRW, Hard Drives and Removables (tape drive, ORB, ZIP, MO drives, CF/Smartmedia readers, etc.) in all interface types (IDE, IDE RAID cards, Firewire, SCSI, adapters). Current total 9,260 reports.
Multi-Format Card Reader Reports:
- USB Sandisk SDDR-77 (Compact Flash/Memory Stick) used w/Beige G3 (OS X)
CD-ROM Drive Reports:
- SCSI Plextor PX32Tsi (32x) in Umax S900 (OS 9.1)
DVD-R DVD Recorder Drive Reports:
- IDE Pioneer DVR-A05 in B&W G3 (OS X)
Combo DVD+CDR Drive Reports:
- IDE LG GCC-4320B (32x10x40x + 16x DVD-ROM) in G4/AGP (OS X)
(modified itunes plugin in FAQ here)
- IDE LG GCC-4320B (32x10x40x + 16x DVD-ROM) in G4/AGP (OS X)
(noted video DVDs are 8x max speed, data DVDs are 16x max)
- IDE Samsung SM-332B (32x10x40x + 12x DVD-ROM) in B&W G3 (OS X)
(FAQ here has modified plugin for iTunes burn support in 10.2)
- IDE Samsung SM-316B (16x10x40x + 12x DVD ROM) in B&W G3 (OS X)
(noted not bootable, no itunes burn support)
IDE CDRW Drive Reports:
- Cendyne Lightning IV (48x16x48x) in B&W G3 (OS X)
(listed under "other" brands - no itunes/db burn support)
- Lite-On LTR-48246S (48x24x48x) in G4/AGP (OS X)
(itunes burn problems noted)
(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.)
- Matshita CW-7121 (8x4x32x) in iMac slot loading (OS 9.2)
(some problems noted)
Firewire CDRW Drive Reports:
- Yamaha CRW-F1 44x24x44 used w/Dual G4 (OS X)
(10.2.2 and later have native support - see FAQ for support
files for earlier OS X and OS 9 versions)
SCSI CDRW Drive Reports:
- Sony CRX-145S in Umax S900 (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.]
(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.)
|
|
| Return to Accelerate Your Mac! | Top |
|
|
|
|
FasterMac.net
Internet Access
OWC SPECIALS!
(see full list)= SOFTWARE =
Prosoft Data Rescue II $57.50
VMware Fusion 2 $77.99
Mac Office 2008 $257.50
= MEMORY =
4GB (2x2GB) Mac Pro RAM (800MHz) $130
4GB (2x2GB) Mac Pro RAM (667MHz) $127.50
4GB (2x2GB) PC6400 for 2008 iMacs $72.25
4GB (2x2GB) PC2-5300 SODIMMs $69
2GB PC2-5300 SODIMM $35
1GB DDR400 DIMMs $28.90
512MB PC-133 SDRAM $31.75
= WIRELESS =
802.11N/g/b PCI, PCMCIA or USB adapters under $50
802.11N/G/B Router $65
= TV TUNERS/DVR =
ElGato Turbo.264 (RFB) $57.50
EyeTV 250+ w/clear QAM $130
= CPU UPGRADES =
7448 1.8GHz $345
7447A 1.6GHz $225
G3 1GHz ZIF upgrade $125
= HARD DRIVES =
500GB 7200rpm/16MB cache $69
WD 640GB 7200rpm/16MB Cache $75.50
1TB SATA HDs from $118
EliteAL eSATA/FW800/400/USB 2.0 Case Kit w/SW $79
1TB EliteAL FW/USB 2.0 $185
1TB EliteAL SATA/FW800/400/USB2 $247.75
= NOTEBOOK HDs =
500GB Samsung M6 HD + USB 2.0 Case Kit $207.50
250GB 7200rpm Notebook HD + USB 2.0 Case kit $112.75
320GB/7200RPM/16MB cache $137.50
200GB/7200RPM/16MB cache $83.50
= GRAPHICS CARDS =
ATI HD 3870 PCIe $217.99!
ATI 9800 Pro AGP $205
ATI 9600 Mac/PC AGP $179
XLR8YourMac.com T-Shirts $14.99
Support this site!
Mac Help Now!
Freq. Asked Questions
(Check First!)
Mac Model Articles
CPU Upgrade Articles
Video/Card Articles
Storage Articles
Search Mac
Drive Upgrades/Compat. Database
Search the CPU Upgrade Database
Search the
Game/System Perf. Database
Read Game Reviews
|
