Today's Software Updates, Apple TILs and Other Net News section has several interesting items including updated DVD utilities, MS Outlook 8.2.2 (for users of MS Exchange Server) and an article on possible DRAM price hikes. Check out the listing below. (Thanks again to Barney Bouy)

Symantec has fixed the problem with the NAV 5 May virus defs update. (I just downloaded and unstuffed the file fine.)

A reader sent a note about his new Don't Do It Yourself PacBell DSL Page.

Newer Tech Upgrades/FPM RAM Issue Reminder: The issue of FPM (older Mac) Buffered/Dampered (Newer Tech's term) RAM and Newer Tech CPU upgrades was originally noted a few years back when Umax was shipping their G3 cards in some S900 machines. (Not an issue with any Mac that uses SDRAM.) Notes on the issue have been posted in the news a few times over the years and have been in the FAQ's Troubleshooting G3 Upgrades and Memory sections for some time. As noted in the FAQ, the problem and specific info on the memory types was noted by Umax in their knowledge base regarding Newer Tech upgrades, RAM timing and Tsunami motherboard Macs (many older 6 slot models like the 9500, S900, PTP...). Here's a quote from the Umax knowledge base tech note on the issue:

"It should be noted that these issues ONLY affect Newer Technology's cards as they are, strictly speaking, in violation of Apple's RAM access timing specifications for the Tsunami logic board design...[I have no idea if this is true or not. And remember it was written years ago and may or may not apply now, and could apply to other brands of cards as well.-Mike]

The gating factor is whether or not the 244 memory imposes "bus hold" or not. If it does, it will be very problematic with Newer's PowerPC 750 processor cards; if it does not, it will be okay.

At the same time, and as a final note on this topic, make sure that the RAM in use does not have an "H" preceding the "244". "H" indicates Bus Hold, which absolutely will not work with Newer's G3 upgrades "

Readers sent a note on Newer Tech's FAQ Memory types page which also explains the issue as well (page is very slow to load today).

The Umax tech note was posted long before the G4 CPU was available, but the issue came up again after a new entry in the Rate Your CPU Upgrade database from a 9500 owner with a Newer Tech G4/350 card reported he's experiencing problems that may be RAM type related. I've sent the above info to him for checking his installed DIMMs. I also suggested he try deinterleaving RAM and/or removing any older/slower dimms. I assume he tried setting the RAM timing to 70ns in the Newer Tech control panel and toggling the state of the motherboard cache enable.

I've never had the problem personally with any CPU card and my standard buffered (4244 or 6244 chips) dimms bought over the last 3 years. Until this issue came up a few years back, I had never heard of 'dampered' RAM, only 'buffered' ram. Nor have I ever ordered anything other than the standard Dimms listed at Mac dealers. Readers with other brands of CPU Upgrades also noted removing the 'H' type Dimms allowed them to run higher bus speeds.

More VPC 3.03A WindowsUpdate Problem Reports: Several readers reported they also had system lockups in Virtual PC 3.03A when trying to update Windows 98 at windowsupdate.com. One reader noted that a standalone Win98 SE updater would also hang, saying he thought it was due to fact there was no floppy on the Mac (saying the updater required the presence of a floppy drive). I'm going to try disabling the Windows 'search for new floppy drives' option in the device manager/performance/file system/floppy disk section to see if that helps.

More on PCI Audio Cards/Beige G3 Problems: A reader sent a comment in reply to previous posts here on PCI bus errors from several Creamware Pulsar audio card owners. Most were using Beige G3s, but one B&W G3 owner with other PCI cards installed also had the same problem.

"Hi, Mike
I have a client with a RME Digi96PAD card in his beige G3. When operating under SoundManager, he does not have any realtime capabilities (i.e. record and play simultaneously). I spoke to RME and they said, there are revisions of the beige G3 which don't fully support a required feature of PCI. Steve could possibly encounter the same symptoms.

As I live in Germany, I can translate and submit his problem reports to Creamware.
Regards, Bernd"

More Tips on Sony 420GS Monitor Issues: The latest reader comments:

"Just a further comment on the G/4 -Sony 420gs issue. My monitor never went blank, but I did have these faulty monitor 120 hz at 1024X768 settings show up. When I purchased this monitor & put it on the 450 g/4 (AGP) not rage [128] pro, it would fail to retain the correct monitor resolution on cold starts, upon restart it would then come up at the correct resolution (the resolution that I wanted it to be).

I used to have my monitor plugged into a switch to manually shut off not only the monitor but also other peripherals such as hubs, printers etc -all shut of at once. Reason being some transformer blocks still draw some current even when the peripheral is considered off.So by using a switch shutting all current off to the actual plugs,there would be some savings in current. (when you add up all the stuff plugged into a dual monitor, printer, hub, scanner, jaz, speaker etc. setup - there is a lot of current to waste when some things are thought of to be off, but still drawing current)

To solve this problem retaining resolution, I had to leave the Sony monitor plugged in & on even when the g/4 was off. Resolution then was always retained on cold stars or restarts. Sony only draws 7 watts when plugged in & on but no video feed from g/4.

Sorry this is so long-hope it might help someone. Btw rage pro [Rage128 Pro-Mike] update card from apple solved faulty monitor sync setting of 120mz @ 1024x768-returned it to 1024X768 @ 85hz-the correct setting. ...
Paul"

Yesterday's news had a tip on powering up the monitor after the system.

Mactell Vision 3D Lite/Formac Model Info: Norman Beam replied to a problem post from a reader with the MacTell Vision 3D Lite and Sony 420GS monitor in yesterday's news with info on the equivalent Formac graphics card:

"Mike,
Someone may already of told you this, but the "Mactell Vision 3D Lite" you mentioned yesterday on xlr8yourmac.com is a "Formac MT10". The last version of the software I was ever able to find was:

GA10MT-ROM 1.7.1 (ROM file for flashing the card via CardManager 1.1.1)
MacTell 5.4.0 (Control Panel)
vision 3d pro II (3D accelerator library, goes in Extensions folder)

I hope that helps. Great web page!
Your fellow C'villean,
Norman Beam"

Bob Friede wrote that the 1.7.1 ROM file is no longer available at Formac's site but there is a GA10MT 1.7.3 ROM file at: ftp://ftp.formac.com/public/updates/Eproms/. (Charles Sheils sent a note that v1.7.1 ROM and 5.4.0 Control Panel is at ftp://ftp.formac.com/public/updates/beta/MacTell/)

NAV 5 May Defs Update Unstuffing Problems: [Larry Lloyd sent a note that Symantec is aware of the problem and is in the process of fixing it.] I'm not the only one who reported problems unstuffing yesterday's May NAV 5 (M5_20005) virus definitions update from Symantec's FTP site. Several other readers reported having the same problem. Although it was not listed yesterday afternoon when I checked, the NAV download web page (vs. FTP) now lists the May update (select NAV for Mac). It links to this NAV 5 file via HTTP, which may be the same file as on the FTP site, I've not had time to try it. (The filename is exactly the same as the one on the FTP site.)

ADS Firewire Case/PowerBook Firewire Problem Report: I've had no problems with the Clubmac Firewire/IDE case working with the review PowerBook Firewire, but this reader says he had problems with the ADS case and his new PB:

"Mike-
Just thought Id let u know that the ADS pyro drive kit will not work with my Powerbook 400 (Firewire). I tried a ATA/33 4GB western digital drive, and also a Maxtor 30GB 7200 rpm drive, no luck with either.
Lindsay "

If anyone else has used the ADS case with a Powerbook firewire, please contact me with specifics.

"Espionage" G4 Ad: Barney Buoy sent a link to an interesting G4 AD (Quicktime movie) from at Adcritic.com

Epson 850Z Camera USB Tip: A reader reported he was unable to get the camera's USB port to work with the Mac until he followed an Apple Tech's tip to connect the camera after the mac had booted (vs. having it plugged in at boot). That solved the problem he said. (Thanks for the tip David.)

(OT) Mother of All Battery Chargers: David also sent a note about the "Mother of all Battery Chargers" for AA/AAA size NiMH batteries. The charger/conditioner plus 8 1550mAH batteries and Auto power adapter is $49.95 plus shipping.

"Hi Mike
I had to share this charger/batteries with you and this online merchant...30-day 100% satisfaction guarantee just like Outpost! Not kidding :)

The charger is major cool...car adapter...conditioning cycle...two different charging circuits for two types of batteries at the same time.

Batteries are 1550MAH!! Talk about stout...no battery I know of is this strong.

Wow!...got eight(8) batteries, charger, ac/dc car adapter for $49.95...
David"

See this EPC Online page for more info.

The searchable Rate Your CPU Upgrade and Mac Game/Video Card FPS Performance databases were updated with new entries early this morning.

Software Updates/Other Net News:

Recent Software Updates:
• Outlook 8.2.2 (for users of MS Exchange Server) there's a readme file there too.
• DVD Region and Codefree Playback 2.2 (other stuff to read there as well)
• Keyspan USB Twin Serial Adapter
• Unreal Tournament 413 (noted yesterday)
• May Virus Defs for NAV (fixed now)
• MP3 Rage 2.0

Apple TILs
• Power Macintosh G3 300MHz: Printing to LW 300, 350 w/ VM off
• Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White): Storage Options
• Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White): No Support For Hard Drive in Zip Drive Expansion Bay [But it's been done before]
• PowerBook (FireWire): Intermittent Errors at System Startup Time
• Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White): Certain Keyboards Disallow Open Firmware Startup

Hardware Related
• DRAM drama as vendors predict another price hike (the register)
• DDR vs Rambus: the saga never ends (the register)
• Panasonic, SCM Microsystems Announce USB-SCSI Interface Support for 5.2GB Rewriteable DVD Drive (Yahoo)

General News
• HP, AT&T form Interactive TV printing alliance (yahoo)
• Visor sales pull ahead of Palm (sv.com)
• MP3.com CEO: Settlement Likely (yahoo)
• Metallica fingers 335,435 Napster users (news.com)
• Widespread duplication error in Mac FLY! 2K
• Microsoft's Real Problem: No Innovation (dvorak)
• Dell cries mercy for Microsoft (redherring)
• Cheap PC Hacker Strikes Again (wired)

The recent features page also lists articles posted (most recent first) as does the sidebar links here. The site topics pages (systems, cpu upgrades, etc. - see top and sidebar links on this page) also are places to check as well as the FAQ.

Monday's News Summary

• Education poll asks which is better, Macs or PCs
• Problems unstuffing NAV May Virus defs
• Unreal Tournament 413 Update Released
• Airport Base Station 'Full Reset' Tip
• Yamaha RP-U100 Receiver Review
• Sony 420GS/Mactell Vision 3D Lite Problems
• Costco has Maxtor 40GB Plus drives for $259.xx & TDK VeloCD for $229.xx
• Richmond Best Buy Sony Firewire 10X CDRWs at $399
• VPC 3.03A WindowsUpdate Problems
• Fat Folder Fixer & Other Free Utils from Alsoft:
• Mac Beta Software For Yamaha @PET RP-U100 Receiver
• Apple G4/Sony CPD-420GS Monitor Tip
• More HDT 4.0 Feedback
• Airport Base Station: Can't Retrieve Config. Settings (Solved)
• Sonnet Lowers Prices
• Adaptec 2940UW v4.1 Firmware & Mac Clones Warning
• QT DK Website
• New Mac Unreal Tournament Site
• Gamecenter's predictions on E3's top 5 games
• Bottom Line's latest weekly specials
• Rate Your CPU Upgrade and Mac Game Framerates databases updated.
• Software Updates Listing
• Other Net News

Friday's News Summary

• iMovie Download Installer Notes
• Download iMovie Free
• PowerBook Firewire Overclocking Page
• Reminder on Turbomax Firmware Update Benefits
• Raves for Prosoft's Radialogic Drivers
• ORB Tools v.1.42b1 Update
• Portable Firewire Drive Reviews
• Feedback on Pulsar Audio Card PCI Errors
• Macsense UKB-600 extended keyboards available
• Mac Fly! 2K due today according to EBworld
• OWC's latest weekly specials
• Rate Your CPU Upgrade and Mac Game Framerates databases updated.
• Software Updates Listing
• Other Net News

Thursday's News Summary

• Virtual Game Station v1.4 Update
• Virtual PC 3.03A Updater Posted
• OWC Zforce/ZIF bundle sale
• MS Office VB Extension Freeze
• IntelliMouse Setup for Unreal Tournament
• PowerBook 1400/Sonnet G3 Upgrade report
• More VPC 3.03 Feedback
• Audio Extraction w/SimpleText
• Uswest DSL user on QT 4.12 and Streaming Media
• Reader Request: Help w/Pulsar Audio Card Errors
• SIIG Firewire PCI Card Report
• Voodoo5 6000 Pics
• Opera Browser for Macs in development
• Rate Your CPU Upgrade, Mac Game Ratings and Mac Game Framerates databases updated.
• Software Updates Listing
• Other Net News

For links to older news pages see the Archives page.

The recent features page has a lists reviews/articles you may have missed.

For a guide to finding answers to questions - see my Site Guide page.

Considering a CPU Upgrade? Search the CPU Upgrade Owner's Survey results and search for owner reports by Mac model and/or card brand. The current database has more than 3,700+ reports and growing.