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Top stories of 3/22/2001: |
| Updated Fire 0.22 Fixes AOL Block: |
(Updated). The Fire home page now has a 0.22 version that fixes the AOL block noted earlier today. [Geoff wrote that it doesn't work with OS X beta, only the final release. ]
(The original post from earlier today follows)
A reader reported (and it was noted on the Fire home page) that Epicware's OS X instant messenger was being blocked by AOL.
"
Today when I started up my computer, I noticed that Fire kept crashing directly after it started up. I rooted around in the preferences and such, and determined that it had something to do with the AOL service of Fire. I decided to hit the Fire web site, to download another copy, when there I saw the following message:
It appears that AOL has successfully blocked Fire.app. There will be no login to AIM until I update my version or AOL removes their block. There is no ETA. (3/22/01 10 AM)
Ack! What the hell? Are they going the way of Microsoft now? Is this even legal?
Geoff
"
Geoff noted this problem just appeared today (Fire was working fine yesterday). |
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| Workaround for Getting Nvidia Driver Update to Work: |
| Reader Peter Chin wrote how to solve the problem of the recent Nvidia 1.1.1 driver/1027 firmware installed. As noted previously, early G4 owners with the 1.09 drivers/1017 firmware reported the updater would not install. His comments include some performance tests also.
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[Warning: There may be an updated installer released that will not require this workaround. If you mistype the script there could be problems and of course Peter warns that this may not work for you although it did for him. Safest is to wait for a revised updater to be released.]
"
Here's what I did to update my GeForce MX using Apple's GeForceMX .smi
update file.
1. Use TomeViewer to extract the ROM update, the flasher, and all
the extensions that begin with 'nVidia' into one separate folder.
(Make sure you're using v.1.3d3, earlier versions may fail to
extract all files.)
2. Replace the existing nVidia extensions (the v.1.0.9 versions)
with the newer ones, or back the old ones up just in case.
3. Run the GeForce2MX flasher application. You'll get a
blank menu bar at the top of the screen, but that's okay.
4. Click on the desktop to switch back to the Finder.
5. Run Script Editor (the one found in the Apple Extras/Applescript
folder) and paste the following instructions into the editor:
tell application "GeForce2MX AE Flasher-1027"
CompareROMVersion
if (CompareROMVersion) = true then
FlashROM
end if
quit
end tell
6. Click on the Run button to execute. Your screen will go
black for 10-15 seconds. Wait for your screen to come back.
7. Reboot. You're done!
After you restart, run Apple System Profiler to verify that
the flash worked- if it did, the firmware version should show
up as 1027F1 where before it said 1017F1.
Warning: this should only be done if you feel that it's absolutely
necessary to upgrade your GeForce. My own experience indicates
that the only thing this new firmware buys me is parity with
any newer versions of Mac OS 9 (yeah, right) and the emotional
security that comes from knowing all your computer hardware
is up-to-date. I have a sneaking suspicion that Mac OS X may
flake on this card just from looking at Apple's past track
record of keeping screen drivers updated across revisions
of OSes.
I've already hit a couple of snags with this new firmware.
First, Throughput v.1.5 scores dropped dramatically- CPU Transfer
rate dropped down to 60 MB / sec, FPU and AltiVec went from
300 / 600 MB/sec down to 220 MB/sec (both,) and CopyBits
seemed to be the only one that actually improved by
going from about 182 MB/sec to 190 MB / sec.
The Oni demo, at all resolutions tested up to 1024 * 768
didn't seem any faster in 16 or 32 bit.
Fullscreen Quicktime seems to be a bit slower for me,
although this could be just because the LCD screen I'm
using can't keep up with the card..
Peter Chin"
The tests I did in Lightwave 3D 6.5, Quake3, etc. were with the 1.1.1 drivers on a card with 1027 firmware. I don't think this fixes the issues with many Rave games either, based on previous owner comments.
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| OWC Closeouts Specials on Sonnet G3 Upgrades: |
Site sponsor OWC wrote:
"
Hi Mike-
We have 3 Sonnet Accelerator closeout items for the readers-
1 for the Nubus crowd-
Sonnet G3/300 w/1mb Backside Cache - $225.95
These cards are now discontinued by Sonnet, and we have the last of them.
And, 2 specials for the "upgrade challenged" PCI based PowerMacs-
Sonnet G3/240 w/512k Backside Cache - $164.97
Sonnet G3/300 w/1mb Backside Cache - $219.95
The last time we had these cards, they sold out VERY quickly, they're an excellent upgrade for the 6400/20th Anniversary machines!
All 3 of the specials are on the XLR8YourMac specials page-
Thanks Mike!
Jamie" |
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| CPU Upgrades Owner Ratings Database Updated: |
| The Rate Your CPU Upgrade database has been updated with 2 new reports (total to date: 5,432). [Entries from after midnight EST will be added the following day.]
- Sonnet G3/500 in PowerTower Pro 225 (rated 1)
(also noted Sonnet G4/450 also didn't work)
- Beige G3/266 OC report
You can find these 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/HD Compatibility Database Updates: |
The Drive Compatibility searchable database had 18 new entries added this morning including Combo DVD/CDRW drives, CDRWs, Tape Drives, Removables and Hard Drives. (Current total 3,342 reports). Entries from after midnight are added the following day. [BTW - the drive database is not a place to post questions, it's for reports on drives you've used. For guides to drive installs, see the IDE, SCI or Firewire articles linked above and/or the FAQ. 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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| Video Card/System Benchmark Performance Database Updated: |
| Updates to the Mac Game/Video Card Performance database included:
- Quake3 retail results (1024x768) from 667MHz G4/AGP with GeForce2MX card
- UT Wicked400 results (640x480) from PowerBase w/G3/361MHz upgrade and Voodoo3 3000 PCI Card
- Quake3 retail (v117) results (800x600, 1024x768) from G4/AGP 733MHz w/Geforce2MX card
- Throughput results from Beige G3/333 with Voodoo3 card
Total entries in the database to date: 2,649. If you haven't already, enter your results with any of the game titles or benchmarks listed on the entry page (details on how to test are there). If you're curious how a CPU upgrade or new Video card would help game performance, the search page options can help you find similar system/configurations to get an idea before you buy.
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