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Top stories of 7/30/2001: |
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| CharisMac Bundles Mac/Win2K RAID Software, Cuts Price by $100: |
Charismac has a press release on their bundled RAID software for Mac OS 9.x/Win2K and notes the price has been cut to $99.95. The press releases noted a limited time $59.95 pricing. Their RAID software supports Firewire as well as SCSI and Fibre-Channel drives on the Mac, and IDE drives under Win2K. (Since IDE drives connected to PCI IDE cards are seen as SCSI to pre-OS X versions, I'd assume that would also be supported with OS 9, as they are with Softraid, but Charismac made no mention of PCI IDE card/drive support. As a FYI, Acard/Sonnet IDE RAID cards are OS X compatible as noted here previously and requires no RAID software for RAID 0.) Charismac RAID supports RAID 0 (striping) and RAID 1 (mirroring).
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| Radeon Cards at Apple Store Cut to $149 (was $249): |
Thanks to a reader's heads-up, I see that the Apple store has reduced the price of the OEM Radeon AGP cards by $100 to $149. (The card is listed only on the Accessories page, Displays section.) The "learn more" notes there's a fan, but recent reports from Cube owners noted their cards had only a heatsink. However the accessories page does not list the Cube (shorter height) Radeon card anymore. There may be a limited supply of these cards left. Last fall I posted a page with info on the OEM Radeon AGP card (fanless version).
As noted during MWNY, only Nvidia cards are now offered as BTO options on G4s now, but there's hope the Radeon II may be an option when it ships this fall.
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| More Comments on OS X Java Performance Tips/Tweaks: |
Ruffin Bailey replied to a post in Friday's news
"(From Friday's news post regarding an acceleration tip)
"I am not sure if this ability exists in the current VM or only in the
updated development version (1.3.1). (You can get the dev one by signing
up for a free ADC online account). But the performance gain in the demo
appeared to be significant. Its good to see Java performance enhancements
coming down the pipe. "
Just for clarification, I just sent a question to the Java Dev list a few
days ago on this very subject. In brief, yes, you do need the Developers'
Preview to use the hardware acceleration feature. In the latest DP release
(iirc), hardware acceleration for Swing is turned on by default; no need to
hack up a strange command line. It's also been suggested by (non-Apple)
members of the list that this will be one of the additions you'll get when
OS X 10.1 is released.
Do remember that this won't increase start up times. This accelerates GUIs
only, and only those in "Swing".
One note of warning: There have been some bugs reported in the DP Java
Virutal Machine releases. For the typical OS X user (ie, not a Java
developer), I would recommend waiting for 10.1.
Here are some links to more info on Java hardware acceleration:
(Note - the links below require a login to access-Mike)
http://lists.apple.com/mhonarc/java-dev/msg07648.html -- My question
http://lists.apple.com/mhonarc/java-dev/msg07649.html-- Answer 1
http://lists.apple.com/mhonarc/java-dev/msg07651.html -- Answer 2
http://java.sun.com/products/jfc/tsc/index.html -- Swing news from Sun
For what it's worth, my biggest speed increases that have made OS X run
well on my machine (an iBook with a paltry 128 megs RAM for now) was to
turn down my resolution to 800x600. Aqua really does suck up the RAM,
apparently. Once I got to 800x600, X was pleasant to use. My only
complaint is that the scaled down resolution looks a little funky on the
iBook (as warned), but that's a small price to pay until I get more
RAM. Every GUI, including Java, of course, is much faster. I'm now using
OS X full time on the 'book.
Ruffin Bailey
"
If you missed Friday's news item Ruffin refers to, it's still linked on the archives page and here.
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| ATX Molex Connector Info: |
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A reader sent a listing of Molex connector part numbers for ATX supplies. (The Systems page here has several ATX case conversion articles where connectors like this are referenced.) |
"
Hi Mike,
I did some research into the part numbers of the Power Supply connectors
after reading the 7500, 8500 and 9600 to ATX power supply conversion
articles. Digi-Key has added the needed parts to their stock. Below
are the Digi-Key and the Molex part numbers. Note that the "receptacle"
is the thing at the end of the power supply wires. Most of us would
probably think that should be called a Plug, but the actual metal
terminals inside are female and the plugs are on the motherboards.
Item Molex part number Digi-Key number
10 pin, dual row 39-01-2100 or 39-01-2105 WM3704-ND
receptacle
20 pin dual row 39-01-2200 or 39-01-2205 WM3709-ND
receptacle--ATX connector
22 pin, dual row 39-01-2220 or 39-01-2225 WM3710-ND
receptacle
24 pin, dual row 39-01-2240 or 39-01-2245 WM3711-ND
receptacle
If one needs extra pins to crimp on wires and install in the
receptacles, one may get any of several choices in Molex's 5556 and
44476 family. Digi-Key carries:
Female pins for 39-00-0039 or 44476-1112 WM2501-ND or WM1914-ND
above receptacles
The above are for use with 18 - 24 guage wire. They also carry choices
for use with 16 guage and 22-28 guage wire.
Molex divides their products into "Families" whose numbers may not have
anything to do with the part numbers assigned to individual parts. A
search on the family number at Molex's site will turn up all the
individual parts in that family. The above receptacles are in the 5557
family. Pins for the 5557 family come from the 5556 and 44476
families. The connectors on the Power Mac x500/x600 motherboards are
the same as the 5569 family or maybe the 5566 family (the former has
plastic pegs on bottom).
Plugs which fit these receptacles are the 5559 family. For example,
with a 20 pin 5559 plug (39-01-2201 fits the connector on the ATX PS)
and the appropriate 5557 family connectors, one could build an ATX to
Mac power adapter, so that one could conveniently use any ATX power
supply just by attaching the adapter.
I hope this is helpful,
Jeff W.
" |
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| CPU Upgrades Owner Ratings Database Updated: |
| The Rate Your CPU Upgrade database has been updated with 21 new reports tonight (total to date: 5,990). [Entries after midnight eastern time are added the following day.]
- Newer Tech G4/400 in B&W G3 (rated 10)
- Newer Tech G3/400 in 8500 (rated 8)
- Newer Tech G3 (no speed listed) in 7100/80 (rated 1)
(bought used/problems noted)
- Powerlogix BlueChip G3/466 in PB G3 wallstreet1 (rated 9)
- Powerlogix BlueChip G3/466 in PB G3 wallstreet1 (rated 1)
(updated report after 6+ months of use)
- Powerlogix G3/350 in Powerbase (rated 9)
- Powerlogix G3/350 in Powerbase LP (rated 9)
- Powerlogix G3/350 in PowerCenter (rated 10)
- Powerlogix G3/350 in PowerCenter Pro (rated 10)
- Sonnet G4/350 in Umax S900 (rated 10)
- XLR8 G3/220 in 9600/200 (rated 7)
- XLR8 G4/500 in Beige G3 (rated 10)
- XLR8 G3/466 in Beige G3 (rated 10)
- XLR8 CarrierZIF w/OWC G3/333 in 8500 (rated 10)
- XLR8 CarrierZIF w/OWC G3/500 in 9500 (rated 6)
- XLR8 CarrierZIF w/OWC G3/400 in 7600 (rated 10)
- XLR8 CarrierZIF w/G3/400 in 9500 (rated 9)
- B&W G3/300 OC report (@350mhz)
- G4/AGP Dual 500 OC report (@550mhz)
- iMac G3/266 OC report (@300mhz)
(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.)
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| CDRW/CD/DVD/Hard Drive Compatibility Database Updates: |
The Drive Compatibility searchable database had 28 new reports added this morning. The database has reports on Combo DVD-CDRW, CDROMs, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, CDRW, Hard Drives and Removables (tape drive, ORB, ZIP, MO drives, etc.) in all interface types (IDE, IDE RAID cards, Firewire, SCSI, adapters). Current total 4,320 reports. [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.]
You can find full owner reports by searching the database by drive/brand/interface/mac models (the latest reports are shown first in searches).
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.
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