Quirky Quicksilver problems

[JAG]

I'm having some difficulty with a Quicksilver 933 I've had for a couple years. I don't use it much, but don't remember initially having these issues when I acquired it.

The main problem I'm having is getting it to work with any other types of hard drives other than a standard 3.5" PATA drive. I know there are issues with getting PCI SATA cards to work and I've given up on that for now after trying to mod the voltage regulator on one I bought from Alibaba with no success.

I've bought two different SATA to PATA converters. Both sort of work in that I can see the drives and format them, but they're either not bootable or when they do boot, my Apple black USB pro mouse inexplicably doesn't register clicks (though the cursor does move).

I just can't figure out if there is something I'm doing wrong here or do I just have a "flaky" machine.

 

[MBongo]

Battery voltage check OK?
Mouse functions fine otherwise w/ other machines?
OS X based primary machine - or dual boot scenario with OS 9 too?
Testing with PATA drive and SATA adapter - both on same IDE cable?
Or solely, or only with the adapter?
Zap the PRAM after hardware changes?
(And in some cases, reset the PMU.)

Some of those PCI SATA controller cards will not boot OS 9 or OS X
without changing or flashing their EEPROMs. [Although some might
mount and access attached drives - but not boot.]


AND some of the SATA bridge adapters might:
(1). Not function completely. (Or at all.)
(2). Not function, along with another drive on same IDE cable.
(3). Must be jumpered accordingly.

For single, multi-partitioned, multi-boot (OS 9 and X) SSDs
- have had great results with the EVB-002-3 “Bribge” adapters.



For dual SSD or SSD + conventional HD configs on same IDE cable
… the pricey StarTech, Addonics or other “red” (Marvel chip based) adapters.


Or even the lesser cost RXD-629A7-7 adapters for similar dual drive setups.


There are four different Quicksilvers in use here. The latest being a 733 upgraded with a 933 MHz CPU - which initially gave me fits. Only after re-seating the video card (among other re-seats) did it become stable. Contact / connection tarnish and oxidation seems more prevalent lately in these 20 year old machines. (Especially after extended hibernation.)

Flaky? Perhaps.
I prefer to think that they occasionally just require some coaxing.

For more background info on the bridge adapters mentioned here, see thread:

All Hail the RXD-629A7-7 IDE/SATA Adapter

All Hail the RXD-629A7-7 IDE/SATA Adapter

macos9lives.com

 

[JAG]

The PRAM battery has a good charge and the mouse works otherwise fine
I'm mostly using 9.2.2 and running just the PATA to SATA adapter alone.
I have tried both of these adapters with the above symptoms.
I guess I'll try making sure the slots are clean and everything is seated properly.
It's frustrating as it's an excellent machine otherwise and I love the way it looks. It's my favorite PowerMac by design.

 

[MBongo]

Agree completely about the Quicksilvers’ aesthetics.

You might test again with that StarTech adapter’s jumper set as “Cable”?
I lean towards Master / Slave jumper settings with Quicksilvers.
However the recent 933 here… seems to prefer Cable Select.

This 933 now has a “B” mobo with 150 MHz bus speed hack / tweak.

Simple Quicksilver System Bus speed hack

A wire jumper and a resistor… First mentioned by Jonathan Renaud (2007 / link now dead). Tested on a Quicksilver “A” mobo in 2021 with great results. No way to gauge or confirm the speed increase at that time. NOW thanks to evanboonie on MacRumors mentioning… MAChSpeed _3.5.0_OS9.sit from...

68kmla.org

150 MHz QS Bus Speed!

150 MHz QS Bus Speed!

macos9lives.com