REQ: Sonnet Crescendo PCI G4 Sonnet software

[MacGuy]

I have this card installed in my 8500 Power Macintosh 8500.

However to do some testing i removed the card, replaced the original 8500 card, the re-install the PCI G4 card.

The Sonnet software comes with the card and is on a floppy.

The floppy disk seems to be damaged.

Does anyone here have and would share a copy of the Sonnet software please ?

[supernova777]

http://www.sonnettech.com/support/kb/kb.php?cat=319&expand=_a1_b307_a2_b230&action=b260

download it here

expand the "driver" > triangle

heres a direct link
http://www.sonnettech.com/support/downloads/software/sonnetcache14.pkg.zip

Operating System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.1-10.4
File Name: sonnetcache14.pkg.zip
File Size: 35.1 KB
Description: This software enables Sonnet Crescendo/PCI and Encore/ZIF processor upgrade cards' L2 and L3 caches under Mac OS X. It will also correctly report the size and speed of the caches and the processor speed to the Mac OS X kernel.
Supported Processor Upgrade Cards: Crescendo/PCI and Encore/ZIF G4
Note: This software is not used with any other Sonnet processor upgrade card. This software does not enable you to install Mac OS X.

hmm ok maybe thats not it at all

heres the manual
page 19 seems to be where u want to start
http://www.sonnettech.com/support/downloads/manuals/crescendo_pci_g3_or_g4_manual.pdf

Power Macintosh® 8500, 8515,
9500, 9515, and Workgroup
Server 8550 Installation
This chapter contains instructions for installing
Crescendo/PCI processor upgrade cards into Power
Macintosh 8500, 8515, 9500, 9515, and Workgroup
Server 8550 computers.
Operating System Compatibility
At this printing, Crescendo/PCI processor upgrade
cards are compatible with System 7.5.2 through
Mac
®
OS 9.1. Mac OS 9.x is required for G4 AltiVec
™
use. For up-to-date Mac OS compatibility, check
our website.
You Should Have
The following items should be included in your
product package:
• Crescendo/PCI processor upgrade card
• Crescendo/Encore Install diskette
• Installation manual
•
Powered by Sonnet
label

Installation Overview
This overview is intended for those with prior
experience installing Sonnet upgrade products or
Macintosh hardware. We strongly recommend
following the full installation instructions if this is
your first installation of this hardware.
Installing the Crescendo card takes a few easy steps:
1)
Install Mac OS 9.x (only if upgrading as part of
this installation)
2)
Install Sonnet software
3)
Shut down computer
4)
Remove case cover from computer
5)
Remove current processor card
6)
Remove Level 2 cache card (if present – 85XX
models only)
7)
Reset CUDA switch on logic board

Install Crescendo card into Processor Card Slot
9)
Replace case cover onto computer
10)
Affix the
Powered by Sonnet
label to front of
computer
11)
Turn on your newly upgraded computer
12)
Reset computer’s date and time
13)
To upgrade to AltiVec-enhanced software, see
Chapter 10
For more complete instructions, follow the installa-
tion procedure outlined in the pages that follow.

[supernova777]

seems u are pretty screwed without the software eh?
luckily web.archive.org is your friend

http://web.archive.org/web/20040803105928/http://www.sonnettech.com/downloads/proc_upgrds_sw.html

click here and select the cpu upgrade + download the software

http://web.archive.org/web/20070715230137/http://www.sonnettech.com/downloads/proc_upgrds_sw.html#tools

this may be a more recent version of the software - looks like there was a revision put out in 2005

[MacGuy]

chrisNova777,

Fantastic help.

Hope the new system update ( my floppy shows version 2.0.2 ) will fix a problem that prompted me to uninstall and reinstall the G4 card.

[MacTron]

Just curious:
Why you have a G4 in a PCI card, instead of a CPU slot one?
The PCI model usually is for Macs without CPU slot and it is slow.
BTW: the Sonnet software are only to enable the backside cache. This increase around 30% the CPU speed, but the computer can boot without this Sonnet extension, well at least in the G3 CPU upgrade cards.

[MacGuy]

MacTron

Thanks for spotting that.  Also thanks for the additional info.

Not sure if i had enough coffee or maybe too much when i typed that info .  The sonnet PCI G4 card is installed in the 8500 processor slot following the instructions in the manual and a talk thru from Sonnet tech when i purchased the card in 2004.

I have always been pleased with the performance of the card as compared to the original factory processor.  The Sonnet processor speed was also helpful when i tricked the 8500 to run Tiger using XPostFactp installer app.

[supernova777]

BTW: the Sonnet software are only to enable the backside cache. This increase around 30% the CPU speed, but the computer can boot without this Sonnet extension, well at least in the G3 CPU upgrade cards.

that was my mistake..
i didnt see that it was just for the cache  when i posted it

i found him the right version of the software (if he has the "encore") on web archive

(2007 update)
http://web.archive.org/web/20070715230137/http://www.sonnettech.com/downloads/software/ce_install_v30.sit

(2005 update)
http://web.archive.org/web/20070715230137/http://www.sonnettech.com/downloads/software/ce_install_v231.hqx

hmm it seems the 2007 link is bad

what about this?
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/6849/sonnet-firmware-updater

which card is it that u have?

is this it?

[MacTron]

MacTron
The sonnet PCI G4 card is installed in the 8500 processor slot ...

The sonnet PCI G4 card cannot be installed in the 8500 processor slot because don't fit.

So please to avoid confusion don't call your G4 processor slot CPU upgrade module a *PCI card*.

The PCI G4 upgrade card is for systems like PM 7x00 with the CPU soldered on the motherboard, and which dont have a CPU Slot, so the only way to upgrade it, is to place the new CPU in a PCI card,  which is a very bad idea.

[supernova777]

using an 8500 could be considered a very bad idea;) with or without the upgrade LOL 

[MacGuy]

which card is it that u have?

Yes, the box cover you posted is the card i have installed.

Sonnet Crescendo PCI G4 - 800 no longer sold by Sonnet.

Info about this card : http://www.everymac.com/upgrade_cards/sonnettech/crescendo_g4_pci/crescendo_pci_g4_800.html

Downloaded and installed the software for this card.

The problem i was testing to find out what was causing it  is still there however I will startup a new topic unless you guys get sick of reading about my 8500 blues.

[MacGuy]

So please to avoid confusion don't call your G4 processor slot CPU upgrade module a *PCI card*.

I understand what you are saying it is just that on the "box" and manual refer to the card as PCI G3 or G4 which is why i referred to the card as a PCI card and then following install instruction installed it in the "processor" slot.

[supernova777]

it probably meant that its for PCI macs.. which means the new types of macs (at the time) which are now "old world rom" macs /w pci slots...
as opposed to Nubus macs..

it must be the Crescendo "Encore" that you have
because the pci version says its only for the powermac 7200 or something