>Looking for suggestions on what I need to perform two tasks with my setup >which includes a 7300/180 upgraded to G3 and a 6500/250: > >1. Play DVDs >2. Burn CDs
I have done both on a 7300/200, using this technique: 1) an EIDE/UATA CD/DVD-ROM-R-R/W drive was adapted to SCSI using an ACARD "SCSIDE Bridge" card; this card not only allows for attachment of hard drives exceeding 120 GB (I have tested 300 GB drives), but it allows for attachment of CD and DVD drives and have these be recognized as if these were SCSI drives, 2) a Radeon 7000 video card for DVD decoding and playback. (1) requires one such "SCSIDE Bridge" per drive, and it bypasses the many complications found in PCI cards. PCI cards do a poor job of simulating devices other than hard drives, and only the latest ones support hard drives exceeding 128 GB. (2) is a direct consequence of using a software-based player, and, therefore, needing a hardware assist for the decoding process. 200 MHz (604e) is about the slowest process or which will function as a DVD player, and there would be significant jerkiness at that speed. Upgrading to a 300 MHz G3 is much better, and nearly perfect performance can be had at 350 MHz, or higher. Now, to get the audio portion of the DVD you would need CD/DVD Speedtools in order to transport that audio over the (simulated) SCSI bus and into the real SCSI but. Toast handles these simulated drives properly, at least as to CD burning. I have not attempted DVD burning. Since B&W G3s are going very cheaply, a 450 MHz model could cost less, and deliver much more (except greater than 128 GB hard drives) for the above functions. For greater than 128 GB drives, HD Speedtools offers a good option for OS 9, and a incomplete but sometimes useful solution for OS X, providing that HD is placed on the "multiword" bus, which is the same bus as the CD/DVD drive. My 450 MHz B&W G3 has been upgraded to a Pioneer DVR-110, and it will burn single- and double-layer DVDs all day with perfection. The DVD decoder card is needed for OS 9, but is not needed for OS X. The necessary DVD ripping and burning tools are only available for OS X. -- PCI-PowerMacs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Sonnet & PowerLogix Upgrades - start at $169 | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> PCI-PowerMacs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/pci-powermacs.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[email protected]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive:<http://www.mail-archive.com/pci-powermacs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> iPod Accessories for Less at 1-800-iPOD.COM Fast Delivery, Low Price, Good Deal www.1800ipod.com
