Sonnet Encore/ST G4 driver uncertainty

[dr bu]

Poor Dr Bu recently got this Sonnet card for free (along with heatsink) and thought he might upgrade his G4 gigabit ethernet 400 some.   
Only drivers he could find though (here, on the Garden and Wayback) e.g. Crescendo Encore Installer 2.3.1, lists his machine but explicitly says it is not required for Encore ST/G4.  

[Knezzen]

The only thing you need to do is patch the firmware for the machine to work. No extensions needed

Here you have the firmware patch: http://www.sonnettech.com/support/kb/kb.php?cat=316&expand=&action=a3#a3

[dr bu]

i see.. only, link is for osx. ill try the firmware updater in the 2.3.1 package. hyvens 

if something goes wrong, you can always uninstall it, right?

[IIO]

upgrading the firmware on the third party processor will not touch your computer or files at all.
however, if OSX is required to run the firmware upgrade, why not install OSX? a fresh 10.4.11 install should be in every OS9 computer, it makes a great tool for troublesolving at least.

[dr bu]

Not.

[devils_advisor]

That firmware patch is only for osx. Os9 doesnt need it but comes with extensions to activate altivec support if available.  The patch can be removed when you need to change the cpu's

[Knezzen]

No, the firmware patches openfirmware so that it thinks that you have a supported CPU installed. My Gigabit Ethernet G4 would not boot with the Encore/ST 1.2ghz in it (black screen) without the firmware patch applied. Same with my MDD and MDX in place. Black screen without the patch applied.

[GaryN]

True dat. No nuttin' w/o the patch.

[IIO]

couldnt he boot into osx via firewire?

[Knezzen]

couldnt he boot into osx via firewire?

Sure he could. Or switch internal drives and install OSX there.

[dr bu]

as stated, i used the 2.3.1 (os9), no extensions (custom install), firmware updater only.
changing cards was easy..noticeable better speed and Max has not crashed yet.

but i am puzzled, the processor now calls itself (PowerPC G4) 7455. the firmware updater says its for a 7457 or 7447A card. nowhere on the original or the new card could i find these or similar numbers..
btw..firmware..where is that physically located? in the logic board?

[GaryN]

It's a 7447a
The 7455 you're seeing is probably due to the Mac System Info code lacking the 7447 choice.

[Knezzen]

That's what the (open)firmware patch does actually. It puts in the serial number (or identifier if you will) of the new CPU in openfirmware.
Since 7447's didn't exist when the machine was made, the patch adds the serial of the CPU as a 7455 and thus makes it look like a 7455 so the machine boots.

[dr bu]

Since changing processor, SoundApp (the only "playlist-program" I ever got along with) is unable to play 24bit aiff (stuttering noise interrupt). 24bit Sd2 works fine. Tried Audion but it does not seem to play 24 bit at all. No problem in any other program (Cubase, Peak, Max, etc). Itunes, I do hate.