<b>Mac OS 7.6.1 and L2 cache problem also affects PowerBook 3400? Not likely.

In the last few days, reports have surfaced that the new PowerBook 3400 may have the same sort of problem with the loss of L2 cache functionality that has previously been confirmed for Alchemy-based Macs. I first saw mention of this on O'Grady's PowerPage. In the PowerBook Discussion Forum, an Apple response seemed to take the claim seriously, stating: "Reports of this have been escalated to Engineering and we are awaiting further developments." The PowerBook Memory Source web site also detailed this claim.

What seemed to get this spark ignited was the fact that all three common utilities for checking on the L2 cache (MicroMat's TechTool Pro, Newer's Cache-22, and L2 Company's L2 Cache Tester) reportedly failed to indicate when an L2 cache was installed on a PowerBook 3400.

However, today's posting on the PowerBook Memory Source claims that this is a false alarm - that, in fact, the problem is with the utilities not being compatible with the 3400 rather than with the L2 cache itself. It also claims that Newer's Cache-22 will, in fact, recognize the L2 cache on a 3400 - despite some other reports that say it will not. Eric Belsley, on today's MRP, similarly asserts that there is no L2 problem on the 3400.

Meantime, expect updated versions of TechTool and TechTool Pro to arrive shortly.