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News Archive for Monday Feb. 16, 2009
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Unibody MacBook Pro 2.4GHz OC'd to 2.8GHz (using Nvidia Windows Tool)
From a reader mail Friday night (as always with OC'ing - YMMV as far as speeds and short or long-term reliability)

"Subject: Unibody 2.4GHz at 2.8GHz
http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=506896
2.8GHZ Stable.
CPU Freq: 2798.51MHz (310.95MHz x 9)
Video card : 9600m GT 256mo
GPU core: 400MHz (stock) OC to 560 MHz
VRAM: 700MHz (stock) OC to 890 MHz
= More than 7000 in 3dMark 06 demo at 1280x800.

(I asked for more info on the OC)
I'm using the latest Nvidia System tools w/ESA (Enthusiast System Architecture) Support v6.0.3. (for XP/Vista)
-Spacetitox"

I don't own (yet) a Unibody MacBook/Pro but welcome other feedback mails on this from readers that do.

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OS X Driver Updates for Sonnet Tempo Pro Express/34 and Tempo E4P (PCIe) Cards
While doing some digging in reply to a reader mail today (on SATA expresscards - see post below) I noticed Sonnet's driver downloads page has driver updates (Feb. 13th, 2009 post dates) for their (Marvell chip based) E4P (PCIe) SATA card and Tempo SATA Pro ($299.95) ExpressCard/34 cards:

"Tempo SATA Pro ExpressCard/34 MacBook Pro Driver Installer/Updater (v2.1.7)
Description: This software updates the previously installed driver (that enables the use of Tempo SATA Pro ExpressCard/34 in MacBook Pro computers running Mac OS X) to version 2.1.7. This version includes fixes that enhance stability in certain MacBook Pro models while the card is inserted and volumes mounted when putting the computer to sleep. This version fixes an issue that caused certain computers to display the name of the card as "Unknown Vendor" in the menu bar and in System Profiler. This version enables the card to support volumes greater than 2TB created in disk enclosures with a built-in hardware RAID controller.

Supported System Software: Mac OS X Version 10.4 and later

Note: You may also use this software to install the driver required to enable the use of the Tempo SATA Pro ExpressCard/34 in MacBook Pro computers.
This software does not work with Tempo SATA ExpressCard/34 (TSATAII-E342P)."

Here's the notes on the E4P PCIe Card driver update:

"Tempo SATA E4P Mac Pro Installer/Driver Updater (Version: 2.1.7)
This software updates the previously installed driver (that enables the use of Tempo SATA E4P in Mac Pro computers running Mac OS X) to version 2.1.7. This version enables the card to support volumes greater than 2TB created in disk enclosures with a built-in hardware RAID controller.

Supported System Software: Mac OS X Version 10.4.8 and later"

A reader using an E4P card in his mac pro replied:

" Hey Mike, installed the new Tempo SATA E4P Mac Pro Installer/Driver Updater, version 2.1.7 dated Feb 13th 2009, on my Mac Pro (8 core 3.2GHz, OSX 10.5.6, all up-to-date according to software update).
My E4P has 4 eSATA lines connected to a home-built external box with Four Western Digital 250GB drives. So basically 4 drives direct connected. It seems ok to me. For some reason it doesn't say the driver version under my system info, but the installer said it completed fine and my machine restarted ok.
I was wary since this machine was running fine before and the changes listed for v2.1.7 driver didn't seem to affect me, but took the plunge anyway. Long story short things seem ok. Below is a screen grab from my system profiler.
-Kevin
(Apple System profiler info)
Sonnet Tempo SATA E4P:
Type: IDE Controller
Driver Installed: Yes
Bus PCI
Slot: Slot-4
Vendor ID: 0x11ab
Device ID: 0x7042
Subsystem Vendor ID: 0x16b8
Subsystem ID: 0x434b
Revision ID: 0x0002
Link Width: x4
Link Speed: 2.5GT/s"

BTW - I didn't spot it originally but the sonnet downloads page also has a (Feb 13, 2009) "Tempo Serial ATA PCIe/PCI-X Family Firmware Updater (Mac)" - although a reader w/PCI-X card wrote he had problems after the update (HD icons changed, can't drag and drop, can't run repair permissions.) He had no problems previously and regrets applying the update.

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MacBook Pro Express34 Card reports page updated
I've updated the MacBook Pro owner reports on Express34 Cards page with another Unibody MacBook Pro owner's comments on problems with SATA expresscards in Bootcamp/Windows (Vista 64bit in this latest report). He noted trying 5 different cards including the Sonnet Temp "Pro" card ($299.95) and mentioned the same error as in an earlier post there on Dec. 1st 2008 (from a Unibody owner that tried 6 different cards).
If anyone has used an eSATA Expresscard OK in Bootcamp/Windows with a Unibody MacBook Pro, let me know the details.
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Other News/Articles, Misc. Software Updates
(some I missed on Friday)

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Recent Articles and Reviews
Listing/links to recent articles and reviews you may have missed.
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