[Zubir]

Is it possible for a processor with a failed L3 cache to continue to function? Tiger won't see the L3 cache on my Sonnet 1.4, and neither will Xbench. My Xbench score has dropped 50 points. I've installed Sonnet's cache software. The Sonnet support guy tells me it's working, but I don't know what to think. Also, I've developed an annoying boot problem that forces me to press the CUDA button to get the system to start every time I shut it down. Could this be related to a flakey processor? Anyone else had this kind of problem?

[outsourced]

Have you tried starting your system with a Panther startup disk? You could at least verify whether or not 10.3 sees the L3 cache. At least you'd know if the problem is hardware or software.

Not sure if TechTools shows CPU info, but that would also be a good diagnostic.

[Zubir]

I reinstalled Panther, and it didn't see the L3 either. I'm RMA'ing the Sonnet, so it's all cool. To tell you the truth, when running just a single app, the difference between 1.4ghz and 533mhz isn't that much. Guess it's chalked up to Apple optimizing the crap out of OS X for G4's.