9600 never boots into Jaguar for install |
May, 24, 2003 9:09 AM |
pkurzweil542 |
9600 (350)/Sonnet G4 800/448MB/ATI Nexus128 video, ATTO UL2D UW SCSI (w/36GB 10k HD) and an 18GB HD on the internal MESH bus (Bus 0), stock CD-ROM on Bus 1. The symptom is that after running XPF, it restarts and then just sits there. The monitor loses sync, then 10 - 15 seconds later it boots back into 9.1 off the HD instead of into the 10.2 installer. I have done everything I can think of. De-interleaved RAM, removed all PCI cards except the Nexus, tried an older Rage card instead, tried formatting with both Drive Setup (from 9.1) and HDST 3.5. This happens no matter which HD I choose. It's frustrating because I have an 8550 with a Sonnet 400MHz G4 and the same ATTO card, and Jaguar installs and runs on that like a champ. Only difference I can see is the 8550 has built-in video, but I see people have success with 9600's, and anyway the 8550 is using a Rage PCI card and not the built-in. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I'm dying to see if this beast would run Pro Tools 6. :-) |
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RE: 9600 never boots into Jaguar for install |
May, 30, 2003 7:51 AM |
pkurzweil542 |
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Hey now, I didn't post my issue to start a debate about SCSI! Personally, I wouldn't trust my data to an IDE drive if you put a gun to my head. I've been using Pro Tools since 1991. SCSI is the only option. I prefer speed and reliability to mere convenience and price. I deal with pro audio, not video games and mp3s. Now, back to my problem... ;-) What I want to understand is why the same card with the same firmware works like a charm on the 8550 and not the 9600. The only difference I can see is the card in the 8550 is REV 5 and the 9600 card is REV 7. I still plan to remove the card and see if OSX will install on the MESH drive as suggested here. |
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RE: 9600 never boots into Jaguar for install |
May, 29, 2003 4:29 PM |
mjoecups358 |
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SCSI certainly remains the most reliable way to hook up drives to your mac IME. Although the ATA cards have come a long way too. Serial ATA anyone? :~> Marty |
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RE: 9600 never boots into Jaguar for install |
May, 25, 2003 4:17 AM |
john.england |
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"SCSI is such a pain in the ass these days, and you can get multiple ATA channels working well on a Mac, there's no good reason to stick with it. " Yeah there is, speed! I constant smoke everyone around when it comes to transfer rates. I've never had a single problem with SCSI and when you are dealing with sound and video files that are quite large, that speed is wonderful. |
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RE: 9600 never boots into Jaguar for install |
May, 24, 2003 6:28 PM |
ian |
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A 10k RPM Ultra Wide SCSI drive in a 9500 with a slow G4 and a slow bus won't do a whole lot of good, especially if you want to run ProTools. There's just not enough PCI bandwidth to make it worth your while. I found a more cost-effective solution to use an ATA card (mine's a SIIG ATA/133) with cheaper ATA drives. I have 3 of the 120 GB Samsung SpinPoint drives, but the Western Digital SE drives I've been told are noticeably faster. SCSI is such a pain in the ass these days, and you can get multiple ATA channels working well on a Mac, there's no good reason to stick with it. Now, before people start yelling, I use an ATA/133 card mainly for its ability to use drives in excess of 137 GB. I know that Apple has actually modified their ATA/66 and ATA/100 implementations to use drives larger than that, but I believe there are few Mac PCI cards that will. While the speed is theoretically higher, it's more of a cost per megabyte and theoretical maximum storage issue. Also, I don't need to use iDVD, so it doesn't bother me that the ACARD chipset converts the drives to SCSI, as seen by the system. Actual SCSI is a lot harder to work with, and costs more for less space. I'd almost suggest swapping the CPU card from your 8550 into the 9600 (if they are compatible, and I think they are.) If the 400 MHz card works, you know it is an issue with the 800 MHz Sonnet card and not something else in the system. Hopefully that will help narrow it down for you. |
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RE: 9600 never boots into Jaguar for install |
May, 24, 2003 4:57 PM |
pkurzweil542 |
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gabb - when I have time I'll pull everything except the video card and attempt to install Jag to the drive on the MESH bus. However I would greatly prefer having OSX installed on a 10k RPM UW drive, wouldn't you? |
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RE: 9600 never boots into Jaguar for install |
May, 24, 2003 4:55 PM |
pkurzweil542 |
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greg - I have had exactly the opposite experience. Sonnet's installer freezes the machine every time when it launches the "Destination CD" control panel. I will never understand how a company with Sonnet's resources can have the audacity to charge $30 for that. Why do they need to install 3 control panels plus replace the Startup Disk panel, when all XPF does is run one app once. My frustration lies in the fact that the 8550 is flawless and it has the same SCSI card, it just has a 400MHz G4 and not an 800. |
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RE: 9600 never boots into Jaguar for install |
May, 24, 2003 3:08 PM |
gregoryy |
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I've seen trouble with XPF where Sonnet's installer worked - sorry. I just had too many problems with XPF. |
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RE: 9600 never boots into Jaguar for install |
May, 24, 2003 1:19 PM |
gabb |
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pkurz, i really think its ur SCSI card, try using another card if u have one. |
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RE: 9600 never boots into Jaguar for install |
May, 24, 2003 12:35 PM |
pkurzweil542 |
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Thanks for the reply... Same Jaguar install disc used on the 8550. Firmware version is the same as the card in the 8550 (1.6.4f0). All SCSI chains are definitely terminated properly. The wide drive is a 68-pin, no adapter. I already removed all PCI cards except the ATTO and one video card and got the same symptom. This is why it's so puzzling! |
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RE: 9600 never boots into Jaguar for install |
May, 24, 2003 10:44 AM |
gabb |
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I had the same problem with my Adaptec SCSI card. Well first check the OS X DIsk, is it the same one u used install on the 8550? If so then ur Disk is fine and bootable. With my Adaptec 29160 card I had to update the Flash ROM (downloaded it frm their website) and it worked like a champ. I just upgarded to a SOnnet Crescendo 800Mhz PCI card and I had also had another nightmare, CRASHES!!! see my postings just below this one. And to my pleasant surprise it was the PCI cards thatwere conflicting, in most cases ppl say its the RAM, but so far it has not been the case. So in both my troublesome cases it was the PCI cards. I have heard ATTo cards r a little troublesome with the new world equpiment so try changing the ATTo card. ALso try changing the jumpers on ur HD, one more thing if u r using an adapter(80 to 68pin or 68 to 50pin) for ur HD that could be the case, those adapters are a nightmare for booting purposes. Gabby |
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