| ID | | Article Title | Post Date |
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75 | 
| Will my Crescendo/WS upgrade recognize any DIMM? | May-12-09 |
| The Crescendo/WS will work with any DIMM that works with the "stock" Wall Street PowerBook, and in many cases increases available memory from 192MB to 512MB. This is due to the resolution of an Apple ROM issue that prevented some of these systems from properly recognizing all available RAM.
There are some 256MB modules that can only be utilized as 128MB, due to a limitation of the parts used at the time that these notebooks were manufactured. A controller chip used in the system's design can recognize a maximum of 128MB of RAM in each "bank" of memory. Until recently, virtually alll 256MB DIMMs used two banks of 128MB. Recent advances in RAM have led to the introduction of some DIMMs with 256MB in a single bank, which has raised the visibility of this issue. These parts are stable, and are not known to reduce system reliability, but they will not deliver the full desired memory capacity. There is no single method for identifying these parts without installing them, so it is recommended that you work with a reseller who can either confirm the design, or who will accept a return based on compatibility. |
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169 | 
| May I discard my original CPU after installing Sonnet's upgrade cards?
| May-07-09 |
|
171 |
| The speed indicated on the G3 or G4 chip on my Sonnet processor upgrade doesn't seem to match the speed of the upgrade I purchased. What's the story? | May-07-09 |
|
218 |
| The computer's standard startup process takes noticeably longer after upgrading to any Mac OS 9.x system from Mac OS 8.6 or earlier. | May-12-09 |
| This is not a malfunction and is not related in any way to Sonnet upgrade products; this is the result of an additional Mac OS 9.x startup process that did not occur during startup in earlier Mac OS versions. There is a new "hidden" Mac OS 9.x feature called Startup Memory Tests in the Memory Control Panel, which defaults to the "On" setting. This adds time during a startup or restart, as all of the RAM installed in the computer is checked.
This issue affects any machine running OS 9.x (OS X status is unknown as of this writing), with or without upgrades installed. The more RAM installed, the longer the test. (Note that a Mac upgraded with a Sonnet G3 or G4 processor card gets through this process much faster than a "stock" machine.)
Since this is not a malfunction, no solution is required. However, since RAM seldom fails after the first few days of regular use, you may turn this test off if a faster startup cycle is desired. To access this feature you must hold down the Command key and the Option key WHILE opening the Memory Control Panel. When the control panel opens, you will see a setting at the bottom of the control panel. Click the Startup Memory Tests' Off button, then close the Memory Control Panel. Be aware that from now on, when you start up or restart your computer, the Mac OS will NOT check your RAM. If in the future you suspect a memory problem and want to check your RAM, you will need to repeat this procedure and turn the Startup Memory Tests back on. |
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226 |
| When I insert a diskette into my PowerBook it does not mount to the desktop. | May-12-09 |
|
227 |
| PowerBook crashes when Sonnet Crescendo/Encore software extension is active. | May-12-09 |
|
234 |
| PowerBook G3 with a Crescendo/WS installed has unstable operation, including slow and erratic operation of applications, and possible machine freeze-up.
| Jun-17-09 |
| Installation of certain combinations of DIMMs (RAM) of different capacities on the Crescendo/WS processor upgrade card may result in unstable operation of the PowerBook.
This issue affects Crescendo/WS cards manufactured before February 12, 2002. These parts may be identified by serial number, ranging from A1001 to A1949. The serial number is printed on a white sticker, and is affixed to the bottom surface of the card. Crescendo/WS cards manufactured February 12, 2002 and after are not affected by this issue, and have serial numbers of A1950 and higher.
Users who encounter this issue should download and run the Crescendo/WS firmware updater.
Note: As it is necessary to open your PowerBook to check the serial number on the Crescendo/WS processor card, you may save time by downloading and running the firmware updater; if your card's firmware is already up to date, no update will take place.
This Sonnet firmware update adjusts specific logic memory timing parameters on the Crescendo/WS processor upgrade card and fixes operational instability of PowerBook G3 Series machines with the Crescendo/WS G3 card installed.
This firmware update also boosts the maximum supported memory on the Crescendo/WS from 192MB to 512MB, far exceeding Apple Computer's stated maximum capacity for these systems. |
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