Thoughts on the 'new' PowerMac G4 ATI 9600....

[TugBoat]

Well it seems someone has decided to market the G5 only 9600s using the known hack that allows use in PowerMac G4s;
http://eshop.macsales.com/Catalog_Item.cfm?ID=7292&Item=APL630ATI96G4
I've been trying to decide which card to get, the doctored 9600 or stock 9800. The bad thing is, the doctored 9600 doesn't allow powering an ADC, and worse, it's the OEM version meaning it doesn't even have S-Video out. That sucks. The benchmarks aren't that impressive either when compared to the 9000 Pro;
http://eshop.macsales.com/Reviews/Framework.cfm?page=/Benchmarks/111204video/index.html
Great, I've just about given up on an ATI All-in-Wonder for the Mac, and now they release a castrated 9600. There was talk, about a year ago, about an All-in-Wonder for Macs, I guess that's all it was.....

I guess some people might be interested in this new release

[live4ever]

Also if you can find an OEM GeForce4 Ti 128mb they aren't too shabby.

[TugBoat]

Well, the 9600 is Core Video compliant whereas the 9000, 8500, and GeForce4 Ti isn't. It's just that anyone that already has one of those cards will not see a significant improvement with the 9600 in other areas. So, if you already have one of the before mentioned cards, your best bet is the 9800. If you have something else, the 9600 is attractive for the price and the Core Video thing.
http://www.apple.com/macosx/tiger/core.html
Core Image? I thought it was Core Video

The whole Mac Graphics card thing just pisses me off

[lordsmurf]

This is just one more reason MACs are not a great video solution outside of a few rigid styles.

[TugBoat]

I wouldn't say that.
Even though I'm pissed, I can still see the other side. It would be nice if someone would explain why Apple has apparently decided it's better if we use firewire boxes to accomplish video in/out verses Graphics cards. That's apparently what's happened. I would prefer to use built-in hardware verses another external add-on. There must be a good reason why Apple has taken this route...right? Anyone?

Of course, it does make Apple's job of providing Video drivers easier....

[norinradd]

I have a 9600 in my G5 and I can't really tell the difference between its performance and the GF4Ti that used to be in my G4, It does cope pretty well with Motion though.

I use a Canopus ADVC 300 at the moment but plan on gettting a Blackmagic card soon just to improve my "few rigid styles"

[quickdrawmx42000]

I've been running this card in my Digital Audio G4-466 for a week now, and it's a dream compared to the card it replaced, the original Rage 128. Quartz is much snappier. I can use Expose with video running, and games are better too. A little processor upgrade and my HT Mac will have a little longer life.

One problem, though - I had already upgraded to 10.3.6, and once I installed the 9600, I started getting the problem where DVD player won't start up as some others with the 9800 are. In my case it seems to have nothing to do with the DVD drive; it's a Pioneer 107. Using VLC until Apple comes up with a fix (I hope).

I've got a Panasonic projector plugged into the Mac, which is visually running circles around my Sony DVD player, but only because the 9600 card enabled a native 856x480 resolution through DVI that the Rage couldn't for some reason. This alone has made the $100 well worth it for me!

[norinradd]

Interesting, I haven't seen this DVD problem yet on mine, my internal drive is a NEC 3500 AG supported with patchburn and I am running 10.3.6.