" This new power sharing architecture uses both the 12v and 5v/3.3v outputs of the Power Mac's power supply, allowing greater flexibility for other upgrade products requiring the 5 volt or 3.3volt outputs. "

They also mention quieter fans. I asked Waypoint if these upgrades had 1.4GHz and 1.33GHz rated CPU chips respectively (after seeing the "operating at" note) and they replied:

"Hi Mike, Here's how to read our code for the part number:

M5D-1214G
M - M Series (multivoltage board)
5 - 7455 processor
D - Dual processor
12 - The actual rated processor speed (1.2GHz) by Free Scale (formerly Motorola)
14 - The speed (1.4GHz) at which we have tested and certify the board to operate
G - For use in 100MHz machines

John Highhouse
WayPoint Distribution Inc. "

Personally I'd rather see them note what the CPU chip rating is up-front (clearly) in the item listing/description. Prices listed are $699 for the dual 1.4GHz and dual 1.33GHz models and $669 for the dual 1.3GHz model. Owners of first model G4/AGP towers (aka Sawtooth's) should check their Uni-N revision (early motherboards had a rev 3 Uni-N; a rev 7 or later is required for dual CPU upgrade compatibility.) You can check this using Apple system profiler in OS 9.1-OS 9.2.x (see Sonnet Duet errata page) or use this Uni-N revision checker utility which will run in OS X. The OS X terminal command mentioned in the Sept. 5th, 2002 news page still works in OS X versions up to 10.2.8, but does not report the "device-rev" in Panther.

ioreg -l | grep -A 12 'uni-n@'

Press return and then look in the output at the entry called "device-rev" for the Uni-N revision number. If the number is 7 or higher, then the motherboard is dual CPU compatible.
(Reviews/performance comparisons of previous GigaDesigns upgrades are linked here on the G4 reviews page. You can also search the Rate your CPU Upgrade for reader reports on GigaDesigns and other upgrades by mac model.)

(original news post from a reader mail, before v1.18 was included with the mac os x flasher download)

" Hi Mike, This 107 SuperDrive from Pioneer just keeps getting better and the "official" & "hacked" support is incredible.
Pioneer has released Firmware for the DVR-107D DVD Writer and DVR-A07XLA & XLB DVD Writer. This release # is 1.18.
http://www.pioneeraus.com.au/computer/firmware.html
(a ZIP file download, but uncompresses to an .EXE, as does the flashman.rpc1.org site download. I can't uncompress the EXEs with Stuffit (standard) Expander v7.0x here, but Scott said he used version 8.0.2 )
Looks like we are getting closer to Dual Layer Support:
(although some have flashed NEC ND-2500A drives to DL 2510 model firmware, I doubt that Pioneer will release an official firmware update for the 107D to add dual-layer burning. Like other mfrs, I suspect they'll sell a new drive model with DL burning support.)

For Models DVR-107D FW Version 1.18

• DVD-R Writability Improvement
• +R Writability Improvement
• DVD-RAM Playability Improvement
• CD Playability Improvement
• +R DL DoubleLayer Playback Implemented (NOT Record)
  
  For Models DVR-A07XLA, DVR-A07XLB, DVR-107AXL & DVR-107BXL FW Version 1.18
• DVD-R Writability Improvement
• +R Writability Improvement
• DVD-RAM Playability Improvement
• CD Playability Improvement
• +R DL DoubleLayer Playback Implemented (NOT Record)

I am going to update my Mac Flasher and upgrade my DVR-107D in my G5 and see what happens. (he has a std retail/OEM drive, not one of the "A70x" Apple firmware models. He later wrote)
I was able to flash the drive successfully with the new "official" 1.18 FW. I had the 1.16 "hacked" Firmware prior to flashing to the new 1.18 FW. ASP now reflects:

PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-107D:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Model: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-107D
Revision: 1.18 (firmware version)
Drive Type: CD-RW/DVD-RW
Disc Burning: Apple Supported/Shipped (native burn support in 10.3.3 and later)

I will play with the drive a little today and see if there is any issues as well as see what happens with the "+R DL DoubleLayer Playback" if possible. Both iTunes & Toast 6 Titanium are recognizing the drive with the new FW.

(I asked if he had edited the flasher script of the OS X flasher for the DVR-107D or if he had just renamed the 1.18 firmware file extension (to .116) and used the 1.16 version of that OS X flasher download)
I renamed the file and used the OS X flasher.
-Scott "

I flashed my (std OEM model) DVR-107D last week to the tweaked 1.16 firmware (which is region free, has 12x DVD rip and allows selecting 8x burns with some 4x media, although flawless burns may not happen with all 4x media). I may flash the drive to the official 1.18 firmware later today.

• Mac OS X 10.3: Administrator authentication allows root privileges in Finder for 5 minutes
• Xserve G5: Xserve Remote Diagnostics appears to stop functioning with Apple Fibre Channel PCI card installed
• BMW iPod Adapter FAQ

• Apple OEM Dual G4/450 (at 500MHz) in (gigabit) G4/AGP (rated 9)
• Giga Designs G4 1.2GHz (at 1.467GHz) in (Digital Audio) G4/AGP (rated 9)
  (full review of this upgrade at the G4 reviews page here.)
• Sonnet G4 1GHz in B&W G3 (rated 10)
  
• Sonnet G4 1GHz in B&W G3 (rated 10)
  (full review of this upgrade vs G3 1.1GHz and others at the G4 reviews page here.)
  
  (My reviews of G4 and G3 upgrades w/apps/game tests, install info, etc. are linked on 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). For detailed reviews with performance tests and install tips, see the CPU Upgrades page.)

CDRW Drives:
• Firewire (cased) Fantom FCD48FWC 48x12x48x used w/B&W G3 (OS X) (no native burn support, problems noted)
• IDE LG GCE-8400B in Dual G4 (OS X 10.3)
  (didn't note drive speed rating or if it has native iApps burn support)
  
  Combo DVD-CDR Drives:
• Exp. Bay Teac DW 224E (24x24x24x +8x DVD-ROM) in PowerBook G3 2000 (OS X) (not bootable from CD, using patchburn 1.1 for burn support. Systems page, Powerbook section has articles from 2001 on expansion bay combo drive installs/swaps.)
  
  DVD-R + DVD RAM Drives:
• IDE LG 4040B in Dual G4 DDR (OS X 10.3)
  (using Patchburn II for Panther iApps burn support.)
  
  DVD+R/RW + DVD-R/RW Drives:
• IDE Emprex ide1008 in G4/AGP (OS X)
  (Listed under "other" brands, no native burn support.)
• Firewire (cased) NEC ND-2510A (2.4x Dual Layer DVD+R, 8x DVD-R/+R single layer) used w/Powerbook G4 (OS X 10.3) (using Patchburn II for Panther iApps burn support. Still no dual layer disc support yet however.)
• Firewire cased Sony DRX-700UL (2.4x Dual layer DVD+R, 8x DVD-R/+R single layer) used w/eMac (OS X 10.3) (using Patchburn II for Panther iApps burn support, and iDVD ext. drive burn tip from FAQ. Still no dual layer disc support yet however.)
  
• USB (cased) Pioneer DVR-107D used w/iBook G4 (OS X 10.3)
  (problems noted with DVDs)
• IDE Pioneer DVR-107D in (MDD) Single G4 DDR (OS X 10.3)
  (native burn support in 10.3.3 and later)
• IDE Pioneer DVR-A07XLB (DVR-107D) in G4/AGP (OS X 10.3)
  (Illustrated CD drive install guide here covers G4 towers up to the Digital Audio Model, Beige G3 MT and B&W G3 Macs)
  
  Hard Drives:
• IDE Hitachi Travelstar 40GB (8MB cache/5400rpm) in PowerBook G4 (OS X 10.3)
  (Reader FYI - PowerBook G4 Ti 15in. LCD illustrated Hard Drive install guide here
  Alum. PB G4 15in take-apart guide here.
  Powerbook G4 12in LCD illustrated Hard Drive install guide here)
• IDE Samsing MP0402H 40GB in PowerBook G4 (OS X 10.3)
• IDE Western Digital 200GB (x4) in (gigabit) G4/AGP using IDE PCI Card RAID (OS X 10.3)
  (Illustrated guide to adding a 2nd HD here in B&W G3 rev2 and G4 towers up to the QuickSilver models.
  IDE articles page RAID section has an illustrated guide for adding 2 more drives in the side bays.)