[ZSS]

I realize this topic has been widely discussed, but most posts are a month or so old, and I did not find an answer specific to my needs. So, please humor me and tell me what you think I should do.

My Machine: Blue and White G3 Series running OSX 3.3
CPU Type: PowerPC 750 (2.2)
CPU Speed: 300 MHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
Memory: 512 MB
Bus Speed: 100 MHz

My problem: My sister in law gave me a LaCie external DVD burner for Christmas. I can't use it because I get "buffer underrun" on even the lowest setting. I would also like to use iDVD, which requires altivec (G4).

The obvious solution (to me at least) is to upgrade the processor. I've read in other posts and at xlr8yourmac that a 900mhz G3 chip would give me the best speed, but I still wouldn't be able to use iDVD. I've also heard that you can't use iDVD with an external burner no matter what. Is that true? What is the best solution, a G3 upgrade or a G4? And assuming I do upgrade the processor, do I necessarily need to upgrade anything else (video card, RAM, ROM, etc.)

Help me Obi Wan, you're my only hope.

[Partisan01]

Originally posted by ZSS:
I realize this topic has been widely discussed, but most posts are a month or so old, and I did not find an answer specific to my needs. So, please humor me and tell me what you think I should do.

My Machine: Blue and White G3 Series running OSX 3.3
CPU Type: PowerPC 750 (2.2)
CPU Speed: 300 MHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
Memory: 512 MB
Bus Speed: 100 MHz

My problem: My sister in law gave me a LaCie external DVD burner for Christmas. I can't use it because I get "buffer underrun" on even the lowest setting. I would also like to use iDVD, which requires altivec (G4).

The obvious solution (to me at least) is to upgrade the processor. I've read in other posts and at xlr8yourmac that a 900mhz G3 chip would give me the best speed, but I still wouldn't be able to use iDVD. I've also heard that you can't use iDVD with an external burner no matter what. Is that true? What is the best solution, a G3 upgrade or a G4? And assuming I do upgrade the processor, do I necessarily need to upgrade anything else (video card, RAM, ROM, etc.)

Help me Obi Wan, you're my only hope.

I'm actually running a similar system and am quite happy with it. Is it possible you're getting the DVD errors because of the firewire speed? What if you upgrade to firewire 800? Is the DVD drive USB, then upgrade to usb 2.0. The USB and firewire in the B&W if older technology, sometimes a new controller card doesn't hurt for a new device.

nate

[ZSS]

What if you upgrade to firewire 800?

Had not thought of that. I'll look into it. That still doesn't answer the iDVD question though. Will I need to upgrade to G4 to use iDVD? Anyone know if iDVD works on external burners...oops, I guess that's a question for another forum. Still relevant to this one though, if it means mac modification to usr it. Also still currious if upgrading the processor neccesitates other upgrades (RAM, VRAM, Video card, etc.)

[capuchin]

Why not crack that sucker open and install the drive in place of the stock unit?

Worked for me with my B/W and DVD-R...

[ZSS]

Why not crack that sucker open and install the drive in place of the stock unit?

Tempting, but I don't want to void the warranty on the LaCie drive. It registers as a pioneer DVD, so I'm sure I could do it. As to the suggestion of upgrading the firewire card, the drive's firewire output is 400. So, no gain there.

I still need to know if upgrading my processor neccesitates other upgrades as well. Anyone know?

[Dex13]

Originally posted by ZSS:
Why not crack that sucker open and install the drive in place of the stock unit?

Tempting, but I don't want to void the warranty on the LaCie drive. It registers as a pioneer DVD, so I'm sure I could do it. As to the suggestion of upgrading the firewire card, the drive's firewire output is 400. So, no gain there.

I still need to know if upgrading my processor neccesitates other upgrades as well. Anyone know?

Look Here:
http://www.sonnettech.com/product/configurator.html
And..
http://www.sonnettech.com/product/encore.html

For a 1.0 Ghz G4 you pay $500 ...
And you can put 1 Gig of ram ...
And you can put FW 800
And you can put a 120gb HD

[druber]

A few thoughts and questions.

The drive itself would connect to an ATA bus inside the computer--it's simply harnessed to a Firewire400 so that it can interface with your computer. Installing the drive in the B&W would certainly yield a faster connection. In fact, it's necessary if you want to use iDVD. iDVD doesn't support burning to an external drive. The good news, the Pioneer drives are what Apple uses as SuperDrives, so compatibility shouldn't be a problem.

Yes, Apple's iDVD page reports "733MHz G4 or faster required for iDVD". I wouldn't at all be surprised if iDVD checked the processor and refused to run on a G3, period. Make sure, if you're looking at a G4 upgrade card, that System Profiler will recognize that the card is a G4. If it won't, you're no better off.

Does the drive, or the software you're using, support buffer underrun protection? This is designed to cache data far enough ahead that the burner doesn't run dry and create an error while waiting, ruining the disc. Basic question, but thought I'd ask. Are these DVDs you've been trying to burn, or CDs? Do CDs burn okay? If not, that may be a worse sign.

I understand the desire to upgrade a machine, it's a great selling point. By the time you've added that G4 ($500), a GB of RAM (~$200) and anything else, your price is waving at an eMac as it goes past, and you're still tied to a very slow bus speed, slow RAM, poor graphics card, etc.

If you're just looking for DVD burning, I'd look to the software, see what its minimum requirements are. FireWire400 should be fast enough to record a DVD at bottom-end speed. If you're looking for a solid step up, I'd consider a new machine. The eMacs are nice on price; the G5s have some strange limits (few internal drives allowed, only room for an optical drive, RAM must be installed in pairs, etc.) but are way ahead in bus/RAM speeds.

Not many folks have cash to happily chuck at a new machine every other year. That B&W's no Spring flower. A machine that runs iDVD happily will take an investment either way. Just have to decide if the investment's worth the payoff.
Cheers

[Lateralus]

Originally posted by Dex13:
Look Here:
http://www.sonnettech.com/product/configurator.html
And..
http://www.sonnettech.com/product/encore.html

For a 1.0 Ghz G4 you pay $500 ...
And you can put 1 Gig of ram ...
And you can put FW 800
And you can put a 120gb HD

The 1GHz Sonnet is one of the worst processor upgrades ever developed for a Mac. It limits the bus speed of the B&W to 66MHz, from 100MHz. Because of the 66MHz bus speed, the new 1GHz PowerLogix PowerPC 750GX upgrade will have no problem running at pace against the Sonnet, and it only costs $350. It also does not require a risky firmware update, like the Sonnet.

[ZSS]

Still considering cracking it open....I do also have a Wallstreet that could benefit from an external burner if I get a PCMCIA card.

Current software is Toast Titanium. Buffer underun protection isn't working. All it does is make coasters (music, data, video, you name it).

The machine (and the burner) were gifts from my sister in law. Machine is hand me down, burner is new. She'll by the upgrade chip if that will solve the problem. A G3 chip would offer better speed, a G4 chip lets me use iDVD. Primarily I just want to do amature video for family.

eMacs are a good deal, but not on the table. If she buys the chip, I can up my Ram to a gig. I just want to know if I neccesarily have to upgrade anything else.

[discotronic]

I tried installing iDVD on my G3 iBook 900. It installed but it wouldn't start up. A message popped up telling me that the required hardware couldn't be found. I guess a G4 is required.

iDVD requires at least a G4 733MHz. You are looking at $349 for a Sonnet G4 800MHz or $499 for G4 1GHz. You might want to check out other programs that could do what you want and would be compatible with your DVD drive. There is no guarantee that your drive would work with iDVD.

As far as upgrading anything else in your system you should be fine. Your video card should be 16MB if it is the original. It isn't top of the line but it shouldn't hold you back too much. Increasing your memory is always good. If you do the upgrade the system will definately be usable longer. You might want to post in the software forum and get some suggestions about a good iDVD replacement program. Good luck.

[druber]

In that case, no, I don't think just upgrading the RAM will be enough to get you running as you'd like. iDVD, also, probably not what you want, as discotronic said. iMovie's what I'd look to, but if you're keeping the same proc card, you might want to find another hobby to take up during all the waiting for the system. Knitting?

I'd definitely get in touch with Toast about the broken buffer. That's a pretty important functionality.

Huh, I thought the original B&Ws only had 8MB of RAM, though you're right. It was such a dog at UT, I thought the specs must have been lower than they were.

[discotronic]

Here is a thread that tells you how to hack iDVD so you can use it with a G3 processor and tips on how to use an external DVD burner.

http://forums.macnn.com/showthread.p...hreadid=205251

[bojangles]

Interesting feedback on the 1-GHz ZIF. I�ve posted a question/poll on a very similar subject in the Power Macintosh forum.

Thanks in advance!