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meducus · May 28, 2002, 08:31 AM

I just recieved my new ibook 700 (12.1), which I ordered on Tuesday when they were announced. I'm pretty stoked to get it so quickly (I'm in Australia).

My first impressions of this new ibook are great.
I have only the 128 meg of base ram that came with it (as I'm saving for a 512) but it is still running X (10.1.4) much better than my friends ibook 500 (with 384 megs ram). I think X is perfectly usable on this ibook.

Anyway I am only just coming back to mac after a long excile in Windows so I may be a bit ignorant ..... but I'm willing to answer any questions about the new ibook if I can.

bs_argh · May 28, 2002, 08:43 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by meducus:
..... but I'm willing to answer any questions about the new ibook if I can.<hr /></blockquote>How well does it run Quake 3: Arena?

Chimpmaster · May 28, 2002, 08:46 AM

thats a damn good question...

Panzer · May 28, 2002, 09:05 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by meducus:
..... but I'm willing to answer any questions about the new ibook if I can.<hr /></blockquote>How well does it run Unreal Tournament X?

What are your overall impressions after you have had a chance to use it? Do you feel it was worth the money?

xyber233 · May 28, 2002, 10:08 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Panzer:
How well does it run Unreal Tournament X?

<hr /></blockquote>This is the most important question

.

SeSawaya · May 28, 2002, 11:09 AM

off topic question - Is Unreal tournement out for X????? I cant find it anywhere.

Congrats on your purchase!! I love my 500 ibook, can only imagine the 700. Have fun!

Panzer · May 28, 2002, 02:52 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by SeSawaya:
off topic question - Is Unreal tournement out for X????? I cant find it anywhere.<hr /></blockquote><a href="http://www.macgamefiles.com/detail.php?item=16914" target="_blank">http://www.macgamefiles.com/detail.php?item=16914</a>

Enjoy!

meducus · May 28, 2002, 05:15 PM

Sorry I don't have quake or unreal. Could I test it with a demo version?

jetta_gt · May 28, 2002, 05:52 PM

could you make some more comparisons between the older 500/600 machines and the new 700? maybe full-screen iTunes visuals framerates? Tell me anything, I just want to hear that my new 700 icebook will be faster than my slow as snot (but i still love it!) 500Mhz iceBook....

clow · May 28, 2002, 08:05 PM

Hi,

This is my 1st time posting in here after lurking for the last couple months. I finally went to buy an iBook 700 yesterday and have been playing with it ever since. Setting everything up is quite easy, even got the ABS working without a hitch. Wireless baby! (you can tell I'm excited)

I'm also a convert from the PeeCee land.

Takes me awhile to find my way around but its quite intunitive. If I get stuck, theres always commande line and man pages.

I'm a Unix Sys Admin by trade and Darwin is so cool.

Chris

Superchicken · May 28, 2002, 11:52 PM

hah that's great!
Glad you're enjoying your Mac time.

I'd have to say the best part about a Mac... is the lack of windows

BRussell · May 29, 2002, 12:41 AM

Did you folks with the new iBooks get 10.1.5 on it?

Milo Waye · May 29, 2002, 01:07 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by clow:
Hi,

This is my 1st time posting in here after lurking for the last couple months. I finally went to buy an iBook 700 yesterday and have been playing with it ever since. Setting everything up is quite easy, even got the ABS working without a hitch. Wireless baby! (you can tell I'm excited)<snip> <hr /></blockquote>I must know what ABS stands for but all I can elate to at the moment is Anti-Lock Brakes

Shoot I was gonna skip this edition but now I'm intrigued. I'd like to see bakeoff results 'tween the 700 and new 667 PB. And I read of a promo in the Apple stores where you can pick up MS Office for X for like less than 1/2 price with purchase of a 'book and Applecare. Please somebody restrain me!!

g. olson · May 29, 2002, 01:07 AM

I also had a chance to play with a new 700 mhz iBook purchased at the Apple Store Saturday. It was running 10.1.4. Didn't have a chance to compare it to thoroughly to my 600. Why would anyone want to play Quake on a laptop?? Or is that some kind of joke?

SeSawaya · May 29, 2002, 02:24 AM

thanks PANZER!! Now I have have UT for X! Only it runs SO FREAKIN SLOW on my 500 ibook!!!! (I thought it was bad in 9)

UGH!!!! Now I want a new machine!
THANKS PANZER!!!!

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

wunderkind · May 29, 2002, 02:30 AM

ABS = Airport Base Station.

sniffer · May 29, 2002, 02:39 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by g. olson:
I also had a chance to play with a new 700 mhz iBook purchased at the Apple Store Saturday. It was running 10.1.4. Didn't have a chance to compare it to thoroughly to my 600. Why would anyone want to play Quake on a laptop?? Or is that some kind of joke?<hr /></blockquote>Well.. It's in theory much easyer to join a lan party with a laptop I would say.
BTW, it's a nice way to spend a rainy day beating the crap out of windows users in q3a.. It's about fast enought on my ibook with my current *.cfg files. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> (Q3a is about the only fps game that I own and feel worth playing under my setup.. <img border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" title="" src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" /> )

[ 05-29-2002, 02:46 AM: Message edited by: sniffer ]

bs_argh · May 29, 2002, 03:37 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by meducus:
Sorry I don't have quake or unreal. Could I test it with a demo version?<hr /></blockquote>Yes, the demo version will do fine.
It's the same engine..

If you have the Win32 or another full version disk, the 1.31 pointrelease is here: <a href="http://www.fordimankan.dk/download/Quake3-1.31-macosx-b2.sit" target="_blank">http://www.fordimankan.dk/download/Quake3-1.31-macosx-b2.sit</a>

meducus · May 29, 2002, 07:01 AM

OK, I'll download the demo and see.

BRussel - It comes with 10.1.4 loaded

fafnir · May 29, 2002, 08:49 AM

Could you also post the results of Cinebench 2000?

<a href="http://www.maxon.de/pub/benchmarks/cinebench_mac.sit" target="_blank">http://www.maxon.de/pub/benchmarks/cinebench_mac.sit</a>

g. olson · May 29, 2002, 09:03 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by bs_argh:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by meducus:
Sorry I don't have quake or unreal. Could I test it with a demo version?<hr /></blockquote>Yes, the demo version will do fine.
It's the same engine..

If you have the Win32 or another full version disk, the 1.31 pointrelease is here: <a href="http://www.fordimankan.dk/download/Quake3-1.31-macosx-b2.sit" target="_blank">http://www.fordimankan.dk/download/Quake3-1.31-macosx-b2.sit</a><hr /></blockquote>Ah, I understand now. That really wasn't a smartass question. I love Quake on my desktop machine, but I've never played with other humans. I just use all the cheats I can find and blow the f**! out of everything I see.
Gary

Panzer · May 29, 2002, 09:21 AM

Something else I'm very curious about, memory throughput. Using GaugePro I would like to see how fast the new systems are:
<a href="http://www.newertech.com/software/gauges/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.newertech.com/software/gauges/index.html</a>

If anybody can also test the 500 and old 600 I'd appreciate seeing how they compare. It would be nice if the sahara can increase performance here.

Thanks!

meducus · May 30, 2002, 12:09 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Panzer:
Something else I'm very curious about, memory throughput. Using GaugePro I would like to see how fast the new systems are:
<a href="http://www.newertech.com/software/gauges/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.newertech.com/software/gauges/index.html</a> <hr /></blockquote>I downloaded and ran GaugePro (in system 9, won't run in X) but it obviously doesn't now how to read the new system (ibook 700, 128, 12.1) properly, here are the results it gave:

CPU - unknown
CPU Version - 1.2
Temperature - unavailable
CPU Speed - 437.7 MHZ
Bus Speed - 97.3 MHZ
Memory performance - 86.6 MB/Sec Moving Memory (64-bit)
L1 cache - Unknown
L2 cache - None
L3 cache - n/a

It only looks like the Bus and Memory specs are right - it must not know how to read the new chip (750 fx i guess).

I also downlaoded that Quake demo listed above (by bs_argh) but as soon as I launch it it "quits unexpectedly"

bs_argh · May 30, 2002, 05:27 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by meducus:
I also downlaoded that Quake demo listed above (by bs_argh) but as soon as I launch it it "quits unexpectedly"[/QB]<hr /></blockquote>Uhm, the link I gave was an upgrade for the full version.

Lemme find the demo for you...

bs_argh · May 30, 2002, 05:28 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by bs_argh:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by meducus:
I also downlaoded that Quake demo listed above (by bs_argh) but as soon as I launch it it "quits unexpectedly"<hr /></blockquote>Uhm, the link I gave was an upgrade for the full version.
Lemme find the demo for you...[/QB]<hr /></blockquote><a href="http://www.apple.com/games/demos/quake3arena/" target="_blank">http://www.apple.com/games/demos/quake3arena/</a>

that should work.

meducus · May 30, 2002, 06:22 AM

man that quake demo is huuuuge. I'm only using the 56K modem. I'll download when I'm on work's network (the have a fast connection).

x user · May 30, 2002, 09:47 AM

It''ll be nice to know how it does run. I know on my 600 I could barely squeeze 30-40fps average out of RTCW Beachtest. On the beach only about 20. I've been playing on a G4 recently and I'm all spoiled now.

Panzer · May 30, 2002, 10:47 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />
I downloaded and ran GaugePro (in system 9, won't run in X) but it obviously doesn't now how to read the new system (ibook 700, 128, 12.1) properly, here are the results it gave:

CPU - unknown
CPU Version - 1.2
Temperature - unavailable
CPU Speed - 437.7 MHZ
Bus Speed - 97.3 MHZ
Memory performance - 86.6 MB/Sec Moving Memory (64-bit)
L1 cache - Unknown
L2 cache - None
L3 cache - n/a

It only looks like the Bus and Memory specs are right - it must not know how to read the new chip (750 fx i guess)."<hr /></blockquote>Thanks for trying but I think that even the memory performance test is not accurate. I was reading last night that the old 600 got somewhere over 100 MB/sec and I would expect your to be faster. Instead something you could do, probably more important is:
<a href="http://www.macupdate.com/download.php/ThroughPut.sit?id=4808" target="_blank">http://www.macupdate.com/download.php/ThroughPut.sit?id=4808</a>

It's a program to test how fast your system can feed the video card. This is basically what I was trying to measure in the first place. For reference, my 8600/g3-500/radeon scores like this:
CPU 32 bit stream 26.2 MB/sec
FPU 64 bit stream 41.5 MB/sec
AltiVec N/A
CopyBits 256 bit BusMaster 83.8 MB/sec
It's pretty slow

One last thing, does your Apple System Profiler say anything about the on board RAM being 2-2-2 latency?

Thanks a lot!

meducus · May 30, 2002, 07:04 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Panzer:
<hr /></blockquote>Thanks for trying but I think that even the memory performance test is not accurate. I was reading last night that the old 600 got somewhere over 100 MB/sec and I would expect your to be faster. Instead something you could do, probably more important is:
<a href="http://www.macupdate.com/download.php/ThroughPut.sit?id=4808" target="_blank">http://www.macupdate.com/download.php/ThroughPut.sit?id=4808</a>

It's a program to test how fast your system can feed the video card. This is basically what I was trying to measure in the first place. For reference, my 8600/g3-500/radeon scores like this:
CPU 32 bit stream 26.2 MB/sec
FPU 64 bit stream 41.5 MB/sec
AltiVec N/A
CopyBits 256 bit BusMaster 83.8 MB/sec
It's pretty slow

One last thing, does your Apple System Profiler say anything about the on board RAM being 2-2-2 latency?

Thanks a lot![/QUOTE]

OK the results for Throughput (V1.5) are:

CPU 32 Bit Stream 48.6 MB/sec
FPU 64 Bit Stream 81.0 MB/sec
Altivec N/A
Copybits 256 Bit Busmaster 164.8 MB/sec

Loooks about twice as fast as your 7500 on all tests (care to explain what these results actually mean??)

N.B. System profiler mentions nothing about Ram being 2-2-2 (in OS X...haven't looked in 9)

Panzer · May 31, 2002, 10:30 AM

Basically this test measures how fast the CPU and bus can send data to the video card. My interest was in how it would perform as a gaming machine.

Being twice as fast as my old desktop machine sounds about right, but if somebody with the old 600 could test theirs, it might be interesting to compare the results.

Thanks again for the info

Carl Norum · May 31, 2002, 12:13 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by meducus:
N.B. System profiler mentions nothing about Ram being 2-2-2 (in OS X...haven't looked in 9)<hr /></blockquote>If your RAM is 2-2-2 in OS X it had better still be 2-2-2 when you boot in OS 9, unless magical things are happening to your devices when you reboot the computer. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

tycheung · May 31, 2002, 12:17 PM

the really important question is if it can run Deus Ex 2: The Invisible War

meducus · May 31, 2002, 06:14 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Carl Norum:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by meducus:
N.B. System profiler mentions nothing about Ram being 2-2-2 (in OS X...haven't looked in 9)<hr /></blockquote>If your RAM is 2-2-2 in OS X it had better still be 2-2-2 when you boot in OS 9, unless magical things are happening to your devices when you reboot the computer. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> <hr /></blockquote>Thanks Carl, but I meant there is no reference to whether or not it is 2-2-2 Ram when looking in System Profiler under OS X. I haven't looked in the System Profiler in OS 9 .....perhaps it includes the information.

gumby5647 · Jun 1, 2002, 11:08 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by clow:
Hi,

This is my 1st time posting in here after lurking for the last couple months. I finally went to buy an iBook 700 yesterday and have been playing with it ever since. Setting everything up is quite easy, even got the ABS working without a hitch. Wireless baby! (you can tell I'm excited)

I'm also a convert from the PeeCee land.

Takes me awhile to find my way around but its quite intunitive. If I get stuck, theres always commande line and man pages.

I'm a Unix Sys Admin by trade and Darwin is so cool.

Chris<hr /></blockquote>Ah.... another happy convert. I LOVE IT! what a great time to be a mac user!

Hey Bill. repeat after me. "another bites the dust..."

stumpiej · Jun 1, 2002, 01:38 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by gumby5647:
Ah.... another happy convert. I LOVE IT! what a great time to be a mac user!

Hey Bill. repeat after me. "another bites the dust..."

<hr /></blockquote>just wanted to announce.. i too am a PC-Mac convert! typing this on my fully loaded ibook 700 (12.1).. and LOVING it!

i have to admit, i wouldn't have switched if not for OS X, but i've since grown to enjoy OS9 as well.

as far as performance, as you know, i've never had another mac to compare it to, but it certainly beats my PII 300 laptop! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

gumby5647 · Jun 1, 2002, 02:05 PM

Here is a picture of your new processor.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/gumby5647/.Pictures/PowerPC750Fx.jpg" alt=" - " />

kinda looks like a G4...

seanyepez · Jun 1, 2002, 02:29 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by sniffer:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by g. olson:
I also had a chance to play with a new 700 mhz iBook purchased at the Apple Store Saturday. It was running 10.1.4. Didn't have a chance to compare it to thoroughly to my 600. Why would anyone want to play Quake on a laptop?? Or is that some kind of joke?<hr /></blockquote>Well.. It's in theory much easyer to join a lan party with a laptop I would say.
BTW, it's a nice way to spend a rainy day beating the crap out of windows users in q3a.. It's about fast enought on my ibook with my current *.cfg files. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> (Q3a is about the only fps game that I own and feel worth playing under my setup.. <img border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" title="" src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" /> )<hr /></blockquote>It depends if the LAN's just with friends or if you're out to play competitively at something like Ownij (<a href="http://www.ownij.com" target="_blank">www.ownij.com</a>).

Quake on a laptop isn't terrible. So long as you get 60-80 frames per second, you won't be at a terrible disadvantage. I recommend enabling vertex lighting and running ay 16-bit color to enhance framerates considerably. LCD's lag. Lately, LCD's have been a lot better, though, and new, multi-domain panels refresh almost as fast as CRT's do (less than 25 milliseconds as opposed to the ~17-millisecond refresh time on CRT's).