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Top stories of 10/10/2000: |
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| XLR8 Comments on OS X Beta Compatibility: |
XLR8 has posted a press release regarding OS X Beta support for their CPU upgrades. As I noted a few weeks back, I installed OS X Beta fine on my B&W G3 with XLR8 G4 ZIF upgrade but they note that only their G3 ZIFs are currently compatible with OS X beta when used in Beige G3s. For pre-G3 Macs using XLR8 CPU cards, like all mfrs, XLR8 will have to provide an OS X cache enabler. See their XLR8® and OS X public beta
press release for full details.
(Note to those new to this site: XLR8.com is not affiliated with this site (AccelerateYourMac!) in any way, although I have aways been a fan of their upgrade cards and so are thousands of readers, as shown in the CPU review database here.)
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| ThermoGraph CPU Temperature Utililty Monitors Both CPUs in G4/DPs: |
Bart sent a note about a CPU temperature utility called Thermograph which shows a graph over time of CPU temperature and allows checking each CPU in dual processor machines (you can see which one is being used most). Thermograph costs $7 to register and only works with the following macs according to the developer's page:
- AGP G4's (including the dual processor systems)
- iBook
- iMac DV
- FireWire PowerBook G3
Newer Tech's GaugePro (freeware), XLR8's Control panel, Powerlogix's Cache Profiler (freeware) all report CPU temperatures also but don't show graphs over time or have all the features of Thermgraph, although they do work with most any G3 or G4 upgraded older Mac. (Most of the CPU upgrade reviews here include screenshots of these utils.)
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| ATI Graphics Card/L2 Cache Slot G3 Upgrade Tip: |
Although not everyone reports problems with using an L2 cache slot G3 upgrade with a graphics cards, many did (in past reports in the CPU reviews database and in an older page here on the issue). A reader sent a note that disabling the "ATI Extension" (part of the retail ATI card drivers) seems to have solved his problems with a Sonnet L2 G3 upgraded 6500. (This extension is really useless IMHO and many usually disable it.) Not sure this is a fix for everyone but wanted to post a note just in case.
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| Firewire/USB Combo Portable Drive Case Kits: |
I wish these were available before, but FWdepot has announced a portable hard drive case kit (for 2.5" notebook drives) that has both Firewire and USB ports. The list price will be $150 for the kit which includes the enclosure, a FireWire cable and a USB cable,
CD, and manual. ( An external power supply is an additional $15.00 for users of PCcard firewire controllers or when daisychaining multiple drives) .
They expect the kits to ship on Oct 14. (For previous reviews of portable and other firewire case kits and drives, see the firewire articles page.)
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| Sam's Club WD Drive $30 Rebate for Oct.2000: |
A reader sent a reminder that Sam's Club has a $30 rebate on Western Digital drives for the month of October, 2000. While not as good a deal as the previous $40 rebate noted here last month (where a 20GB/7200 RPM drive was $59.98 after rebate), it's still worth checking out. Pricing and stock on WD drives may vary by store.
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| Rate Your CPU Upgrade Database Updates: |
| The Rate Your CPU Upgrade database has been updated with 4 new reports today (total to date: 4,645)
- Powerlogix Zforce w/OWC G3/400 ZIF in 8500/180 (rated 8)
- XLR8 G3/466 ZIF in Beige G3 (rated 10)
- XLR8 G4/400 ZIF in Beige G3 (rated 9)
- B&W G3/350 OC report
(noted DVD RAM drive problems at 400MHz)
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 4,600 entries from most every upgradable Mac model *before* you buy.
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| Drive Compatibility Database Updates: |
| The Drive Compatibility database had new 16 entries posted today (current total 1,648). (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)
CDRW Drives:
- Iomega IDE ZIPCD 12x4x32 in G4/AGP
(problems noted)
- Que Firewire 8x4x32
- Teac SCSI CD-R56S in 8100
- Yamaha Firewire CRW8824
Hard Drives:
- IBM TravelStar20GN 20GB in iBook 2000
- IBM Deskstar 75GXP 76GB in G4 Dual
- IBM Deskstar 75GXP 30GB in rev 1 B&W G3 (passes Intech integrity test)
- IBM Deskstar 75GXP 30GB in Beige G3
- Maxtor Firewire 80GB (w/7x00 mac with firewire card)
- Quantum IDE Fireball Plus LM 30GB in G4/AGP
- Quantum IDE Fireball Plus LM 20GB in iMac
- Quantum IDE LCT15
20GB in Beige G3
- Quantum IDE QMP20500LM-A 20GB in B&W G3 rev 1
- Samsung IDE SV2044 20GB in B&W G3 rev 1
- Western Digital 40GB (ATA/100) in Beige G3
Removable Media Drives:
- OEM ZIP (w/ OS X)
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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