[Langdon]

So it looks like there is a problem with Sawtooths and GeForce _MX cards running Panther. And it is still unknown if there will be a fix from either company that does not neuter the graphic card in some way.

So right now I have Panther on its way and that is paid for. I also have a GeForce 4MX that will be held through tomorrow for me from a friend before they put it up on eBay. I am unsure if I should turn the video card down now and just run Panther on the Rage 128 or get the card and stay with Jaguar until there is a fix for the problem - If there ever is one.

Suggestions???

[emdash]

Well, that's a dilemma. But if you don't actually have the geforce in your possession, my advice would be to not get it at all. Grab a Radeon from somewhere and you'll be much happier.

Of course, I'm doing exactly the opposite: I had already installed a geforce last summer, so now I'm sticking with Jaguar + GeForce for the time being (just because I'm too stubborn to downgrade to the Rage 128).

But with every day that goes by, my resistance to plunking down the cash for a Radeon dwindles....

[David Lee]

I have a Power Mac G4 Sawtooth with a Geforce 4MX installed and until the advent of Panther I was very happy with it. (Snappy™!) The glitch is that even with the workaround geforce.kext file made available by OWC (see their home page) there are problems, for example, DVD player refuses to run. And of course, installing a new system is a pain, as you must boot up from the option key, another HD, and replace the original geforce.kext with the replacement BEFORE the new install of Panther (after installing from the 1st CD) can even get started once, or you have real trouble doing anything. Have to run repair permissions too. Apple just has to get this straightened out soon. Conclusion: go for a Radeon and hope for better luck. Ciao

[Langdon]

Thanks for the advice so far. I just started to look into the option of getting a Radeon 8500 for PC and giving that Mac ROM flash a try. If it is really as easy as people have said thus far it might be my best option. It seems to be only a little more money than the original Radeon Mac version and twice (if not four times) the amount of memory on it.
I am still weighing out my options but I am almost positive I will stay clear of the GeForce4. I called OWC yesterday and asked for the status of the workaround and they didn't seem too confident. They have 2 people working on it but Apple doesn't seem to be giving them much help at this point.