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Top stories of 10/1/2001: |
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| ATI ROM Update Extender OS X Install Instructions: |
A reader in the forums posted a reminder about the OS X (manual) installation of the ATI ROM update file noted earlier today. The info is in the Readme file, but might be missed by some users. From the comments in the readme file, I'm assuming if the flash the PCI Radeon, you don't need the ROM extender file installed in OS X. Here's a copy of the full readme file with the OS X manual install of the ROM extender file highlighted.
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| ATI Retail ROM Update for Rage128, VR128, Radeon Cards: |
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Versiontracker lists an ATI 9/1 ROM update for the following graphics cards:
- RADEON MAC EDITION
- RAGE ORION
- NEXUS 128
- XCLAIM VR 128
"
What's new in this version:
NEXUS 128, RAGE ORION, and XCLAIM VR 128
* Fixed a problem causing MAC OS X to report a Kernal Panic
RADEON MAC EDITION
* Fixed a problem with supporting multiple ATI cards under OS X
* Fixed a problem with Display Jitter
* Added support for 16 bit Gamma
The readme with the download notes the flash rom updater is for PCI Radeons only, although an extensions update is also installed that is common for AGP Radeons also. There's also an OS X manual install note of the Rom Extender noted in the readme file.
As I'm typing this, there was only one report at VT's page on the update, from a retail Radeon (PCI) owner that noted an OS X refresh issue, but please send me your comments on this update if you try it. (Please note your card, OS, system, etc. details and if it helped with any problems you've had. My retail AGP Radeon has not had any of the problems noted. (Like all Rage128 and later cards, it has poor 16bit image quality in games however, but I don't think this update has any fixes for that.)
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| More Reports of Firewire Drive Mounting/Sleep Issues in OS X 10.1: |
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Friday I posted a page on my Mount/Sleep Tests in OS X 10.1 with 3 of my Firewire hard drives. (My VST 12GB portable and a Oxford911 AC powered case kit built drive was OK, a portable Oxford911 case drive had the wake from sleep error.) Over the weekend several readers posted drive database entries noting problems with some drives in 10.1 Here's a summary list from the database entries that noted a problem. (I have gotten emails on the problem also, but have not had time to read/summarize them yet.)
- CalDrives 80GB used w/G4 Cube
(Caldrives is listed in the database under "other brands")
- Maxtor 20GB in Oxford911 FW case used w/PowerBook G4
- Toshiba 10GB in Oxford911 portable FW case used w/PB G3 2000
- Que M2 10GB used w/G4 AGP
- Que 24/10/40 in Oxford911 FW case used w/G4 AGP
A G4/AGP owner using a Maxtor 40GB in an ADS Pyro case noted no drive sleep issues in OS X 10.1. It's possible that future drives/case kits may have later firmware to address this issue, so if in doubt contact the case/drive vendor before buying. For those that had only the wake from sleep issue, the workaround of course is to unmout the drive before putting the system to sleep. (Some noted problems just mounting the drive however.) I've added the above listing to the end of my article on Firewire drives and OS X 10.1
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| Que 24/10/40 IDE CDRW Owner Reports Native Support in OS X 10.1: |
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I don't have one of these drives to test, but a drive database report over the weekend from a B&W G3 owner noted that 10.1 supports the Que 24/10/40 IDE CDRW without any modified support files. (I posted a modified support file for the drive in the past here for OS 9):
"
If anyone ever had an doubts about getting this drive should get one. I just updated to 10.1 and in the system profiler it lists my drive and says (Apple disc burning supported)! I haven't hacked any files or anything. It just worked. Yeah!
Before I was using 10.0.4 and System profiler didn't even show it, but someone at Apple must have added support for this drive because now it works. Pop in a CDR and it asked to initialize it and that works. Itunes works with it too. I love this drive and for $99 it's like a dream come true.
Thanks again Mike, I wouldn't have bought this drive it it wasn't for your site. Everyone go out and buy one!"
There were two sales noted here in the last month on the $99.99 after rebates price at CompUSA. The rebates may have expired by now though. (For readers that missed it, there's a page on the IDE articles, CD/DVD/CDRW section with the first Mac owner feedback on this drive from a few weeks back. And the FAQ's CDROM/CDR section has a link to the OS 9 itunes/discburner mod file for it.)
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| Comments on Abilities/Limitations of OS X 10.1 RAID: |
Reader Drew Cunningham sent a summary list of comments on OS X 10.1 RAID:
"
Some notes about the abilities and limitations with the RAID of 10.1's
Disk Utility"
- You cannot install a system (X or 9) on a RAID disk
- You cannot partition a RAID disk
- A RAID disk will not be recognized on 9.2.1
- A RAID disk will not be recognized on Mac OS X earlier than 10.1
- The RAID disk WILL be recognized under Classic (under 10.1)
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| CDRW/CD/DVD/Hard Drive Compatibility Database Updates: |
| The Drive Compatibility searchable database had 25 new reports added this morning. The database includes reports on Combo DVD-CDRW, CDROMs, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, CDRW, Hard Drives and Removables (tape drive, ORB, ZIP, MO drives, etc.) in all interface types (IDE, IDE RAID cards, Firewire, SCSI, adapters). Current total 4,879 reports. Here are today's additions:
Combo DVD/CDRW Drive Reports:
- Matshita UJDA710 (expansion bay) in PB G3 2000
[2 different owner reports added]
- Toshiba SD-R1002 in B&W G3
IDE CDRW Reports:
- Lite-On 24x10x40 in Dual G4
- Lite-On 16x10x40 in Beige G3
- Que 24/10/40 in B&W G3
(notes native support in OS X 10.1 - no
discburner/itunes mod file needed)
- Sony CRX160E 12x8x32 in G4 no AGP (yikes)
(problems noted)
- Teac CDW512E (12/10/32) in B&W G3
(not bootable he said)
- Teac CDW516EB (16/10/40) in Beige G3
(no itunes/discburner support)
Firewire CDRW Reports:
- Lite-On 24x10x40x (Buslink retail box) used with G4/AGP
- Que Fire 16x10x40 used w/PowerBook G3 2000
- Que 24/10/40 in Oxford911 FW case used w/G4 AGP
(commented on FW drive problems in OS X 10.1 )
IDE Hard Drive Reports:
- IBM 60GXP 40GB in B&W G3
(notes OS 9.2 driver helped prev. problems)
- IBM Travelstar 30GB in PowerBook G4
[using the illustrated install guide here]
- IBM Travelstar 48GB in PowerBook G3 2000 (two reports)
[using the illustrated install guide here]
- IBM Travelstar 20GB in PB G3 Lombard
(noted the lid closing/sleep sensor issue that was thought to
affect wallstreets only)
- Maxtor D540X 40GB in iMac
- Seagate Barracuda ATA IV 40GB in G4 Cube
- Western Digital 40GB in 9500 w/IDE to SCSI Adapter
Firewire Hard Drive Reports:
- CalDrives 80GB used w/G4 Cube
(noted OS X 10.1 mount problems)
- Maxtor 40GB in ADS Pyro case used w/G4 AGP
(noted no drive sleep issues in OS X 10.1)
- Maxtor 20GB in Oxford911 FW case used w/PowerBook G4
(noted the same wake from sleep issues I did with a portable drive
under OS X 10.1 in this article)
- Que M2 10GB used w/G4 AGP
(noted sleep mode issues in 10.1)
- Toshiba 10GB in Oxford911 portable FW case used w/PB G3 2000
(noted sleep problems in OS X 10.0.4)
You can find full owner reports by searching the database by drive/brand/interface/mac models (the latest reports are shown first in searches).
For guides to installing CD/CDRW/DVD drives or Hard drives in many mac models, see the IDE Articles page. The Firewire articles page also has guides on case kits, installing drives, etc.
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. [If you post an updated entry - make sure you use the same name, etc. as you did before so I can find your past entry. Thanks.]
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| CPU Upgrades Owner Reports Database Updated: |
| The Rate Your CPU Upgrade database has been updated with 4 new reports today (total to date: 6,256).
- Powerlogix G3/375 in PowerCenter 150 (rated 10)
- Powerlogix G3/300 in Umax S900 (rated 8)
- Sonnet G4/450 in 7300/200 (rated 10)
- Vimage G3/240 in Starmax 3000/200 (rated 9)
(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.)
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