Firewire RAID and G4- Known ISSUES?

I'm currently attempting to work out some bugs with an older system that we're trying to squeeze some more life out of. With the impending switch in MacIntel, this seems like a logical solution. We work with mainly DV elements (DV, DVC PRO, DVC PRO 50 etc), but our new clients are bringing us BetaSP, VHS and all sorts of garbage. Getting this to work is crucial to the future or our studio.

Here's our set up:
Dual 800 G4
1.5g RAM
ATI 9800 Pro
IgniterX (current Drivers for 10.3.9)
800gb Firewire RAID (4 x 200)

I've heard that the bus cannot handle the throughput with this type of configuration
and that SCSI is required in order to manage the data rate? Something like a max of
30 mb/sec? Has anyone else had success with these older G4's and this type of config?

We're unable to capture or playback through the Igniter board. Video monitoring on
an external monitor is only a still frame of whatever the positioner is parked on.
When played, it remains the static image, when stopped... the image will update.

Would bumping up to a Dual 1.42 G4 bail us out until next year?
(we're counting pennies right now)

Thank You for any help and/or insight!
Thanks to Aurora for you help already.


Little Mountain Studio
Kage Magic Imaging Studio
We are the Shadow Brothers
Welcome to the Digital Dojo