News Archive for: 1/23/2006 Monday's News
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PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.67/1.5GHz) Memory Slot Repair Extension Program
(Follow-up to a past post on this problem that some readers reported)

" Have a look at this:
PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.67/1.5GHz) Memory Slot Repair Extension Program

Finally Apple have done something about this issue. I had this problem in the summer of last year and got it fixed under warranty. Still its good to know that it will be fixed free of charge should it ever occur on my computer again...
-BR Rickard "

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Experimental build of SheepShaver for Intel Macs (for OS 9 classic support)
In reply to the question posed in last Tuesday's news (Anyone with an Intel Mac try SheepShaver? (to run OS 9 apps))

" Yes, Experimental ports to MacOS X for Intel are now available online!
http://www.gibix.net/dokuwiki/en:projects:sheepshaver

my screenshot.
http://toshi3.cocolog-nifty.com/.shared/image.html?/blog/images/ssintel.jpg
-Toshimitsu T."

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Apple Alum Cinema Displays Feedback page updated
I've updated the page of Alum Cinema Display Owner Comments with a 23in model owner's report on 2 samples having several stuck pixels. (More rare these days but as always - YMMV.)
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G5 owner comments on WD Raptor 150GB
(Updated - see below for later problem report)

" Just installed a new Raptor 150 in my G5 2.7 DP. It took me a while to get it going since I was cloning it over from a Raptor 74, you know the usual voodoo, zero out the drive 1st (even though it's new) (normally you don't need to do that unless you suspect it has bad sectors) and then clone it over and then run permissions, Disk Warrior, etc..
Anyways, I'm happy to report that it works in a Mac and it's a speed demon. I'm not big on benchmarks but I can tell you that it destroyed the old "74" and it leaves others on another planet.
Another big plus for G5's is that this drive is MUCH QUIETER.
Take care, Niko
P.S. I can send the actual benchmarks if anyone's interested. "

At first I said it was good to hear the new Raptor dosn't have the G5 onboard SATA issues reported with the WD4000KD (400GB/7200rpm) drive, but Niko wrote on Jan 25th that he later saw problems with the new Raptor:

"Subject: Raptor 150 (Bad News) Follow up...
Hi Mike,
Just wanted to report a follow up...
It worked great the first night when I reported the install to you, it wasn't having any of the symptoms that some of the other WD's people were reporting about. I moved a huge chunk of data onto and then back to another drive and it worked only the first couple of times. The next evening spelled disaster...

It was having the same issues that the others were having only worse, it was corrupting data and it wreaked havoc on some system files. I tried to repair permissions and then ran some other utilities only to have the system lock up again. I checked the jumpers and tried everything that other people posted and then checked WD's website as well with no luck. I finally decided to boot off a Firmtek 1/V4 card and it finally worked. Now I have to re-clone the drive from my original drive and call it a day.

The only thing that doesn't work is the Apple Hardware Test, it won't boot now, it reports some type of RAM kernel error and refuses to start the test. Oh well, I guess it's a small price to pay for booting the beast off another controller card.
It seems to be booting just as fast off the Firmtek card as it did with the on-board SATA, takes about 18 seconds. (Normally booting from PCI cards takes a bit longer.)
Take care, Niko "


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Apple Knowledge Base Doc Updates (Apps, new iMacs, iPod, OS X)
(from Apple's weekly listing)

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CDRW/DVD/Hard Drive/Storage Compatibility Database Update Listing
The Drive Compatibility Database had 14 new reports added this morning. (Entries later today are added the next newsday morning.) The database includes reports on CDRWs, Combo DVD-CDRW, DVD-ROM, DVD Burners, Hard Drives and Removables (tape drive, ORB, ZIP, MO drives, NAS, CF/Smartmedia readers, etc.) in all interface types (IDE, IDE RAID cards, SATA, Firewire, SCSI, USB, adapters). Current total - 15,483 reports. (searching by drive type/brand, mac model etc. listed below will show the full reports, most recent first - does not include updates to previous reports) iApps burn support mentioned in reports unless otherwise noted.

    DVD+R/RW + DVD-R/RW Drives:
  • Firewire Lacie d2 (NEC ND-3550A mechanism) used w/G5 Tower (OS X 10.4)
  • FIrewire (cased) LG GSA-4167B used w/Powerbook G4 (OS X 10.3)
    (using Patchburn 3 for 10.3.x iApps burn support. Some problems noted - I suggested he drive the drive without his FW hard drive in the chain.)
  • USB (cased) LG GSA-2164D used w/Mac Mini (OS X 10.4)
    (another report of iDVD 06 having 8GB/DL project support for non-apple supported drive.)
  • IDE Pioneer DVR-110D in G4/AGP (OS X 10.4)
    (Illustrated CD drive install guide here covers B&W G3, Beige G3 MT and G4 towers up to the Digital Audio Model)
  • IDE Sony DRU-810A in (MDD) Single G4 DDR (OS X 10.4)

    Combo DVD(ROM)-CDR Drives:
  • IDE Toshiba sd-r2212 in iBook 2001 (OS X)
    (noted native burn support in 10.2.8 for this model)
  • IDE Sony CRX835E in iBook 2001 (OS X 10.4)

    Hard Drives:
  • IDE Hitachi Travelstar 7k100 100GB in Mac Mini (OS X 10.4)
  • IDE Maxtor (6L120P0) 120GB in iMac slot loading (OS X 10.3)
    (FAQ's iMac section has links to upgrade guides)
  • IDE Samsung MP0603H 60GB in iBook 2001 (OS X 10.4)
    (FAQ's iBook section has links to upgrade guides)
  • IDE SerialATA PCI card connected Seagate ST3400832AS 400GB in G5 Tower (OS X 10.4)
  • IDE (SerialATA onboard) Seagate (Barracuda 7200.9) 300GB in G5 tower (OS X 10.4)
  • IDE PCI card (Sonnet Tempo Trio) connected Seagate ST3300831A 300GB in (MDD) Dual G4 DDR (OS 9.2)
    (mentioned problems with this drive co-existing with another drive on the MDD's ATA/66 bus.)
  • IDE (SerialATA onboard) Seagate ST3300831AS 300GB in G5 Tower (OS X 10.4)

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.)
(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.)

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Rate Your CPU Upgrade Reports Database Updated
The Rate Your CPU Upgrade database has been updated with new reports (entries later today are added the next newsday morning). Total to date: 10,169. Here's a summary of the reports added (search by brand/mac model for full reports - latest reports always shown first):

  • Powerlogix G4 1.6GHz (7447A) in (Quicksilver) G4/AGP (rated 10)
  • Sonnet G4 800MHz in 7300 (rated 9)

    (Full reviews of G4 and G3 upgrades compared to stock CPUs, including real world apps/game tests, install info, etc. are linked at the CPU upgrades page. OC/CPU module articles are on the Systems page.)

(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).

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