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12/03/98 - Thursday's News:	Click for Current News Page
CH USB Product Status: CH wrote me with a update on their USB products: Gamestick 3D USB - Released and in full production. CH Products has dedicated a full section on CH Web site to listing USB updates and related utility releases at: http://www.chproducts.com/usb/index.html Status of USB Products Curently shipping product: - Gamestick 3D USB USB Products under development: F-16 Combatstick Flight Sim Yoke Pro Throttle CH Pedals Pro Pedals F-16 Fighterstick Software status Mac: - Currently included pre-release driver that will allow the joystick to function with InputSprocket compatible games. Under development: - Control panel that will allow you to set up the joystick to function with older non InputSprocket games. Speaking of USB - I hear Intel broke a world record at Comdex by connecting 111 USB components to a single PC. There is even a USB modem from 3COM. = [4:00 PM Update] = Carmine's (MiM) News Feed AppleTIL Updates (THURSDAY:12/03/98)  Mac OS 8.5: Eject And Leave Behind No Longer Available  At Ease: Files Busy During Server Backup  GameSprockets 1.5: Read Me  iMac: Not Responding To Keyboard Or Mouse  AppleShare Client 3.8: Read Me  Apple Video Player: Importing Audio On NuBus-Based Power Macintosh  PowerBook G3 & G3 Series: Identifying Different Versions  Mac OS: "AppleTalk Network Has Been Interrupted" Error  Mac OS 8.5: Is Apple Telecom Supported?  Mac OS 8.5: Sending Quick Fax With AppleFax  Mac OS 8.5: Disabling File Exchange Without Restarting  Mac OS 8.5: How To Select The Desktop In Navigation Services  Mac OS 8.5: Crash When Using 720K DOS Diskettes Carmageddon Fix: I've created a separate page for the Carmageddon fix for 3Dfx Voodoo 1 cards with more than 4MB of Ram posted in yesterday's news. This SIT file posted here is now Stuffit 4.5 compatible as well. Readers say it also works on the MacMagic 8MB cards. ** This patch is provided as-is, with no warranties and is not for Voodoo 2 cards or for 4MB Voodoo 1 cards. ** One reader mentioned that using some of the themes for OS 8.5 noticably slowed his 8600 down, even screen redraws. He said reverting back to MacOS default made a visible difference in performance. Give me the speed over flashy frills any day ;-) = [12:00 PM Update] = More on TechTool Pro 2/Softraid 2.1.5: Bill Hennan who wrote yesterday citing problems with this combo replied that he was not running the latest DNA file (v17) at http://www.micromat.com. That seems to have resolved the problem. Although I'd not touch a Compaq Presario with a ten foot pole, I saw a sale flyer that listed the 4260 with Pentium II/266MHz, DVD drive and Ethernet card for $699. They must be trying to compete with the iMac for Christmas sales (and move out older model inventory). I wish Apple would lower the iMac price to $999 for XMas, but that is reported to not happen until February 1999. More on the Ult. Rez Sale Fiasco: I'm personally so tired of the on/off sales and conditions that seem to come and go on the Ult. Rez blowouts recently that I'd not buy one at $10. Readers are reporting now that the sale(s) seem to be off again, or have other conditions. MacWarehouse wrote late yesterday they were out and asked that I please remove the post as they were continuing to get calls from readers. Others wrote to say they were told there are condition on sales elsewhere. I know many of you have gotten your card at the sale price for but others this has been a frustrating, bungled mess (in my opinion). Here's two sample comments: " Just to tell you: This price is only when bundled with the purchase of a mac [MacMall sale] When you want to buy the Ult Rez alone it is priced $ 499,- no 14733. " " Hi Mike, I was on vacation when the last sale on ixMicro cards came up and unfortunately missed it. After reading today's post, I was relieved that more inventory had been found. Unfortunately, I could not locate any of the cards for $79.99. MacWarehouse and MacConnection still listed them as out of stock. MacMall did have them in, but the person I dealt with informed me of a memo he received that morning indicating that the price was up to $99.99. Still, $100 was a good price for a card that listed at $469. The rep was not sure if the bundle I ordered came with any software or not. [I'm sure it does] " Mach 5 CPU card Bus Speed Mod: Several people have asked if it's possible to modify the bus speed of the Mach 5 (250-350MHz 8600/9600 CPU cards). Apparently it is. Here's some info: " I¥ve got a 8600/250 and I found out that it¥s possible to increase the bus speed by changing the 16.6667MHz SMD-oscillator (it¥s the small black SMD-component underneath the heat sink with the inscription: 16.6667) In my 8600/250 I use a 18,5MHz one which results in 55.5MHz bus, 111MHz cache and 333MHz processor speed. It¥s running cool and very stable since one month. I also tried a 20MHz oscillator 60MHz bus, 120MHz cache and 360MHz processor but this setting was instable. I could imagine that Your 9600/350 will run fine @ 60MHz/420MHz or at least @ 57/399 (using a 19MHz oscillator). My MacBench 4.0 results @ 55.5/333MHz: CPU 829, FPU 1072 MacBench 4.0 results @ 60/360MHz: CPU 900, FPU 1153 MacBench 5.0 Results @ 55.5/333MHz: CPU 728, FPU 1462 MacBench 5.0 Results @ 60/360MHz: CPU 801, FPU 1592 (with SpeedDoubler 8.1 and LibMotoSh installed) [Note: Libmoto boost FPU scores dramatically, but I don't suggest using it for normal work, see my Libmoto page for details-Mike] " Not a huge boost and again there is no guarantee of stability. As this involves soldering it's not the for novice and I can't recommend you try it (it voids the warranty as well). More Mach 5 info is linked on the Systems page. Dean Thayer wrote with a note on yesterday's random desktop pictures tip: " I just read the Destop Pictures tip posted by Bob Gale. While it's true that this feature is undocumented in OS8.5 and the procedure he described is correct, it is not necessary for the picture folder to be on your startup volume. It just has to be available to the system at startup (i.e. not on removable media or remote volumes.) Dean Thayer Technology Manager METAGRAPHICS, INC. " Note that many readers replied this rotating picture trick works in all versions of OS 8. In response to a request yesterday for a English translation to a German page, Ryan Mantle sent a URL to a site that does text translations: http://babelfish.altavista.digital.com/cgi-bin/translate? Today's Unreal news page has another daily update with interesting comments on Game Wizard Voodoo II video artifacts, news about new maps, unreal guides and more. Don't forget to vote for your favorite garphics card chip in our new poll there. Yesterday's News Summary MacWarehouse out of stock on Ult. Rez cards Why OS X will run on your Mac Updated for additional comments Carmine's TIL Updates and Net News Feed MacMagic Tweaker memory size tip Desktop Pictures tip Refurbished Macs can be a good buy Graphics Chip Poll Carmageddon 3Dfx 'fixes' for 6MB-8MB Voodoo1 cards Comments on Newer Tech's G3 upgrades for 4400, Starmax 3000-5000 Game Wizard Voodoo 2 cards in stock at BLOL Unreal news page updated Other Net News For other recent site news/features links, see the Recent Site Features page. Note: Before sending tech support related questions please check the Freq. Asked Questions, Site Contents, CPU Card reviews/articles, SCSI reviews articles, Graphics card reviews, Tips/Misc, Message Boards and Help pages - in many cases the answers to your questions are there and they have far more detail than I can list in an email. For Apple G3 system info - see the G3-ZONE. News and guest reviews that don't require a reply are always welcome. I hope to catch up in the next few weeks. Thanks. Looking for past articles? Check the topics links (CPU Cards, SCSI, Graphics Cards, Systems) under the logo above or check the Site contents page. Make a Difference: Be the Difference Randy Mita, Brad Lau and I came up with a new slogan and theme for Mac advocacy - "Make a Difference: Be the Difference". We're asking that all Mac owners take advantage of every opportunity to let others know the Mac advantage. It's a grass-roots approach that will surely help.