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Top stories of Nov. 20th, 2000: |
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| Pentium 4 Comparison Tests: |
| Tom's hardware has an interesting series of
Pentium 4 performance comparison tests with previous PIIIs and AMD's fastest Athlons. The included results with the Pentium 4 overclocked to 1.7GHz, with some surprising results (and disappointments) in some cases. Several other sources noted somewhat disappointing performance in some areas such as business apps/benchmarks. PCworld has a Pentium 4 article titled A Disappointment at 1.5 GHz, saying "PC WorldBench tests suggest you'll be initially served every bit as well, if not better, by older Pentium IIIs and Advanced Micro Devices Athlons" and later commented that "In PCWorld.com tests, the new chip barely keeps pace with the 1-GHz PIIIs used for comparison, and it even fell behind these older systems on some measures". Other sources also noted somewhat disappointing performance in some areas such as business apps/benchmarks.
From what I could gather so far, AMD's fastest Athlons still look to be the best PC/Windows bang for the buck. (1GHz Thunderbird CPUs are under $260 at some net sources.) Pentium 4 systems were announced by IBM, Dell and Gateway with many starting at $1999 for 1.4GHz models with 128MB of PC800 RAMbus RAM (400mhz System bus, DDR).
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| Heat (Firewire Drive) Utilities 1.1beta Released: |
| In the past a few readers noted the free Heat Utilities driver helped performance with their Firewire hard drive in some cases. The developers just sent a press release on a 1.1beta version update:
"
Monday, November 20, 2000 - MacPitStop.com is proud to release Heat Firewire Utilities v1.1b. This is a beta version pending user feedback and adds support for RBC bridge-type devices. Previously, Heat did not support firewire devices equipped with a RBC (Reduced Block Command) IDE to Firewire bridge.
Heat Utilities (v1.0) performs formatting, partitioning and optimization of Firewire® (1394) hard drives. Heat Utilities includes it's own highly optimized driver that controls the firewire drive. Many users notice improved performance using Heat in replacement of the original driver that came with the firewire drive.
Heat Utilities also contains a feature to defragment files on your Heat Utilities enabled Firewire drives that is similar to the commercially available MacMedic and MacMedic Pro software.
Heat Utilities requires an Firewire-enabled Apple Macintosh with a hard drive attached to an available Firewire port and MacOS 8.6 or higher. In order to download Heat, please visit the MacPitStop web site at http://www.macpitstop.com/.
A free account is required in order to download Heat Utilities."
I wecome any feedback on v1.1beta from readers. |
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| Reader Reports Problems with Heavy Metal FAKK2 Full Version: |
| A reader sent a report on the full version of FAKK 2:
"
Mike-
Just a quick note about the HUGE problems with the above game, which seems
to be Beta Ware at best.
The game has memory leaks, video artifacts a go-go, atrociously bad sound
problems, a seeming NEED to lock up when loading levels, and no way of
saving games as the prescribed method does not work!
Go here for testimonials, rants, and incredulity:
http://fakk2.godgames.com/support.htm
As you can see, our PC cousins seem to be in a similar situation, though
they have the benefit of the game being released in August, allowing
Godgames more time to >finish< the PC version...
All the Best-
Ed O'Briant"
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| Drive Compatibility Database Updates: |
| The Drive Compatibility searchable database had 20 new entries posted this morning (current total 2,001). (Note - I welcome OS X reports in the database from users of non-Apple CD/DVD/CDRW/Firewire drives - select OS X on the entry form)
Combo DVD/CDRW Drives:
- IDE Toshiba SD-R1002 in B&W G3
DVD ROM Drives:
- IDE Hitachi GD 7000 (8x/40x) in B&W G3
- IDE Asus E608 in B&W G3
(listed under "other" brands. Some problems noted)
- IDE Hitachi 7000 in Beige G3
(notes wired4dvd card issues with Evergreen and OrangeMicro USB and Firewire cards)
CDRW Drives:
- Firewire APS 8x/4x/32x with G4/AGP
- USB HP 8210E with G4/AGP
(notes problems with 4x burn rates)
- IDE Mitsumi 4804 TE in Beige G3
- Firewire Sony CRX1600L (12x/8x/32x) with Beige G3
(notes problems burning audio cds from the apple cdrom drive)
- Firewire Yamaha 8824 w/G4 AGP
CDROM Drives:
- IDE LG (Goldstar) CRD-8240B (24x) in G4/AGP
(listed under "other" brands)
Hard Drives:
- IDE IBM Travelstar 32GB in PB G3 Wallstreet 2
(notes strange comment on having to shield/insulate screws)
- IDE IBM 75GXP 30GB in G4/AGP
- IDE Maxtor 40GB in Beige G3
- IDE Maxtor 45GB in B&W G3 rev 1 with PCI IDE card
(notes low write speeds)
- IDE DiamondMax 5400 rpm 30GB in B&W G3 rev 1
(problems noted - suspect data corruption issue w/rev 1's IDE chip)
- 8 Maxtor 40GB drives using SCSI/IDE Raid Case & 39160 SCSI card in Dual G4
(listed under SCSI interface type)
- IDE Quantum Fireball LM 20GB in Beige G3 using PCI IDE card
(noted a strange issue with CD and ZIP drives mounting)
- IDE Quantum 30GB in Beige G3
- SCSI Seagate ST318416N 18GB in 7600
- IDE Western Digital 18GB in PowerCenter/Pro w/PCI IDE card
- Firewire Western Digital 30GB with 8500 (updated original report)
You can find these full reports by searching the database with the drive/brand/mac models listed above selected (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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| Rate Your CPU Upgrade Database Updates: |
| The Rate Your CPU Upgrade database has been updated with 20 new reports today (total to date: 4,799!)
- Metabox G3/500 in Beige G3 (rated 9)
- Newer Tech G4/400 in 8600 (rated 9)
- Newer Tech G4/350 in 8500 (rated 1)
(boot problems noted)
- Newer Tech G3/260 in 4400 (rated 8)
- Newer Tech G3/500 in 9500 (rated 6)
(updated report, noting ram dimm types were the reason for past problems)
- Other World Computing G3/450 in Beige G3 (rated 9)
- PowerLogix BlueChip G3/500 in Powerbook Wallstreet 2 (G3/233/512k model)
- PowerLogix BlueChip G3/500 in Powerbook Wallstreet 2 (G3/233/512k model)
- PowerLogix BlueChip G3/500 in Powerbook Wallstreet 2 (G3/292/1MB model)
(All 3 BlueChip G3/500 owners rated the upgrade a 10)
- PowerLogix G3/375 in 8600/250 (rated 9)
- PowerLogix G3/366 in PowerBase (rated 10)
- Sonnet G4/450 in 8500/180 (rated 10)
- Sonnet G3/400 in (Radius) 8100 (rated 10)
- Sonnet G3/500 in Beige G3 (rated 10)
- Sonnet G3/400 in 7100/80 (rated 8)
- XLR8 CarrierZIF w/G3/400 ZIF in 8500 (rated 10)
- XLR8 CarrierZIF w/G3/233 ZIF in 8500 (rated 10)
- XLR8 G4/400 in Beige G3 (rated 1)
(problems noted)
- Apple G4/400 AGP, G4/350 AGP OC report
- Apple B&W G3/350 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 of over 4,700 entries from most every upgradable Mac model *before* you buy. (Searchable by mac model/upgrade brand)
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| Video Card Game/Benchmark Performance Database Updated: |
Updates to the Mac Game/Video Card Performance database included more Unreal Tournament Wicked400 demo results (640x480, 800x600, 1024x768) from a G4/500 Radeon AGP owner and Unreal Tournament (800x600) results from an 8500 w/G3 upgrade and Voodoo3 3000 PCI.
Total entries in the database to date: 2,221. 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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