I checked the Motorola part number he sent in and found out the parts are 3.8 ns access, 6.7 ns cycle time, rated for 150 Mhz according to the Motorola data sheet. The parts are Motorola's 128K x 16 Bit, pipelined BurstRam Synchronous fast static rams, available in 133, 150 and 166 Mhz rated speeds.

These Motorola parts integrate input registers, an output register, 2 bit-address counter and SRAM into one device for lower assembly parts count. [4:15 PM Update]

Wired news has a story of interest called "Apple promises a comeback". [4:15 PM Update]

Performa 604e Upgrades: Gary D. sent good news for Performa 6116 owners regarding the Sonnet Technologies  Cresendo 604e :

" I have been running my Crescendo Card 604e at 216mhz on my Performa 6116CD for approx. 2 weeks. It is stable, gives me the best bang for the buck, and it allows me to use my 'obsolete' clock accelerator, a DVC Equalizer. The DVC is set at 72/36 mhz. Mac bench and Norton System Info say this is the best setting for my system, efficiency-wise. I did add a second fan, vertical mounted on the 6116's center support pillar, and I removed the 'AV Port' cover to improve ventilation. Without the DVC, I would only get 180 mhz from the Crescendo- a waste of mhz! For those who want to stay within Sonnet's guidelines, set it for 66/33mhz and get the Crescendo to run at the approved max of 200mhz."
Gary

Finally a upgrade path for Performa owners. Check with Sonnet for other models and options as well. I get a lot of upgrade questions from older Mac owners and it's good to see there are choices out there now.

Owners of Mac LC, LC II,Performa 250, 400, 405, 410, 430 and Color Classics - see their Presto page for 68040 Upgrade options. [1:00 PM Update]

G3 All-in-One Comments: Jeffrey Wragg wrote with comments on the new Apple machines:

" I just got in 9 All-In-One G3's, the 233MHz model (no zip, no video in). They were $1499/ea and look VERY weird, with this translucent, completely covered with large, round vent holes, top and back plastic. They are rockets though, and the students and faculty are impressed with them. They are great for us higher Ed types and would also be fine for many homes, just need to drop the ethernet and add a modem.

Great site,
Jeff"

I've heard nothing but good comments on the machines. Hope they make the consumer market soon. In a related note, Apple has a press release on Video Editing in the classroom using the G3 All-in-one. [12:00 PM Update]

MetaCreations is said to be shipping Ray Dream Studio 5 & Ray Dream 3D Training packs. The training CDs are interactive lessons with step-by-step guides on the basics of modeling, rendering and animation. A reference glossary is also included.

Suggested retail price is $39 each direct from MetaCreations. For more information contact MetaCreations at 800-846-0111. For other Ray Dream learning resources, visit MetaCreations resources page. [12:00 PM Update]

More PowerBook Duo Disassembly Tips: Rich Brude wrote with some new warnings and a URL that might help Duo owners:

" You are looking at pretty major surgery to get to the battery. The bu battery is located under the track ball. To get there you need to take the Duo almost completely apart. [Duo 2300] Text instructions can be found at:

http://www.cris.com/~jbook/internal.html

The battery is lozenge shaped, about the size of a quarter, and both of the ones I've seen have been covered with brown plastic. The battery attaches to the MB with a short length of twisted wire.

Someone with your level of hardware know how should have no trouble. But be very careful with the video ribbon cable. It will be expensive to replace if you pinch it.

Good luck,
Rich Brude

P.S. Thanks for all the hard work on your web page."

Several people wrote in to say thanks for posting the disassembly instructions in yesterday's news, so I thought this may be of benefit as well. Thanks to Rich for sending in the info!

For a general Duo FAQ see Kim's Duo pages at: http://members.aol.com/kim/computer/duo/duoindex.html (Thanks Kim!). [12:00 PM Update]

OS 8.1/G3 Audio Tuneup Feedback: I installed the Audio TuneUp 2.0 patch on the G3/266MT last night with no problems, however Ryan Grimes wrote of a new sound control panel conflict:

" Mike,
The audio fix worked for my G3, but beware of it installing a separate "Sound" control panel. I had to remove that for the problem finally to go away. "Monitors and Sound" will conflict with this control panel.
Ryan

P.S. You are an invaluable service to the Apple World, and I just wanted you to know that you have made so many people's lives easier because of your endless work."

Thanks Ryan! It is possible I overlooked it due to the late hour, but I did not see a sound control panel on the G3 Minitower after the install.

G3 Cards w/Alternate OS Feedback: I received lots of mail regarding the problem enabling the G3 backside cache in other operating systems for the Mac (see yesterday's news). Here are some of the more interesting replies:

" Howdy, just thought I'd say I love you're site....

The problem is that the G3 processor requires a command to enable the L2 cache and to set the L2 cache speed. Most operating systems (including MacOS) don't understand how to do this. The new G3 macs, in their ROMS, turn on the L2 cache and set the speed. [This was the issue mentioned in the original post -Mike]

Now for a solution. (I have personally never used BeOS so I don't know if it uses a booter or not....)

LinuxPPC (the latest snapshots turns on the G3 processor's items from my understanding, you can see this by typing cat /proc/cpuinfo, if it doesn't tell you the L2 is on, chances are it's not..)

For MkLinux (or any other alternative OS that uses a booter method) you can try this (it's worked on the newer control panel).

Use ResEdit and change the type of the Newer Extension to 'scri' and then rename the item so that it is alphabetically before the booter..

This will cause the newer extension to load first, and then the booter should run immediately after, booting the OS. Bingo, you're G3 is activated.. :)"
[name withheld per request]

Another mail indicated that BeOS would soon support enabling the backside cache:

" Mike,
The guys working on MkLinux are planning on supporting the backside cache soon. I am currently running MkLinux pre-DR3 with the PowerLogix PowerForce 275/275 running at 300Mhz.

I was running the multiprocessor version of the kernel with my dual 180 604e card, but the single G3 is MUCH faster, even with NO backside cache enabled.

Haven't received BeOS R3 yet, so I can't confirm whether or not it runs. I'll send you an update on it after I get it. The guys at Be have put the Newer Tech G3 card in their list of compatible but unsupported, so hopefully most G3 upgrade cards will be able to work.

Later,
M. Lamoureaux"

Tech Tool Pro 2.02 and Norton 3.5.2 Incompatibilities?: Bill Hennan writes of problems with this mix:

" Mike I am not asking for assistance directly, but I am wondering if you could query your readers about any incompatibilities they have found using these two products. I run NDD daily and have not found any major problems on my RAID0 volume until I installed TechToolPro 2.02 this afternoon, and after running it allowed it to fix some problems with my hard drive. TT2 then reported that all was well. I then quit it and ran Norton's DiskDoctor and found that it reported that my external boot RAID0 volume had some major problems that needed to be fixed, but it would have to be done from another boot drive. I am NOT running HFS+

I let NDD re-scan, and the fix the RAID from the Norton CD. I re-ran NDD, and it still reported problems. I ran NDD from an internal boot hard drive, and the same thing happened. I finally ran Apple's DiskFirstAid from the 8.1 CD, and if found and fixed the problems. I re-ran NDD again, and it reported all is well.

I'm probably going to leave well enough alone, and see if TT2's techsupport has any reports of problems using both NDD and TT2. I did have the "protection option on" and had run it before running NDD today. NDD did complain about finding alias'. I wonder if that had anything to do with it?

Regards,
Bill Hennan"

I've not used Tech Tool Pro 2 but I read the initial release was buggy and had to be replaced. I've gotten no feedback on the latest version. If you have any info that could help Bill please contact me.

Bill sent a complete Norton Disk Doctor report of his system for those that are interested. The mail subject said NDD v3.5.2, but the report says v3.5.1.

Disk Driver Fix for G3 Card problems: Cheng-hung Hsieh initially reported stability problems with his new G3 CPU card that were resolved by a disk driver update.

" Dear Mike,
Thank you for your help. My G3 220 is running well on 300/40/150 now. after testing this card on my brother's 9500, i think the problem is my Hard Driver. if i format my hard driver with apple driver setup 1.4, the HD will crash, when i reboots with G3. I formatted it with HDT 2.5.2 first, then use driver setup 1.4 formatted again. it is working well now.

best regards
cheng-hung hsieh"

Glad to hear all is well. I'm still amazed at the speed reports from PowerForce 220 owners. That card has to be the performance bargain of the decade.

In reply to my comments regarding POWERTools in yesterday's news, a reader reports some disturbing news regarding another clone manufacturer:

" Hi Mike,
I read the comments about Powertools and couldn't help but think of Supermac Umax going the same route into oblivion. I recently tried to purchase parts through the service providers listed on the supermac website.....a good 1/2 of them DO NOT carry Supermac anymore or will discontinue.

I'm wondering if you've heard of anything regarding the licencing issue with Umax?

As ever, great site, dude...keep it up!!!
Later
Drew"

Only Apple knows for sure what will happen when the license comes up for renewal.

Jim Prete writes that PowerCenter Pro 180's (see my review) are available at MacWarehouse. I also want to publicly thank him for sending a manual and PowerCC OS 8 cdrom to me awhile back (Thanks Jim!).

" Hi Mike, Good value for someone needing a decent machine now with the prospect of upgrading in the future.

I am buying five more and I think they will go fast.. Price is around $1270.00 with 16MB ram.

I thought your readers might want to know.

Thanks for all you're doing."
Jim Prete"

I really like my PowerCenter Pro, just wish I had more time to use it. If you do talk with MacWarehouse, please mention you saw this on Accelerate Your Mac! (and see if they have any cheap 9600/300's :-)

Although after the layoffs of Mac product personnel I'm not high on Techworks, but I thought I'd mention they have licensed the Newer Technology G3 CPU card design and will be marketing several models under their own brand name.

Onsale.com had an interesting Addonics "Pocket Zip" drives on the block (here) that use a PCMCIA IDE controller apparently and requires no separate power supply (but reduces battery runtime of course). The drive is very compact but they list only PC support, and not sure if the std. Iomega driver would work with it on a Mac PowerBook. Top bid price was $147, but the auction closes at 12:30 PM PDT today. [Update: Chris Hough wrote to say the drives do not work based on a trial at MicroCenter in a PowerBook G3.]

Need Help? Before you send email for tech support, please check the Troubleshooting page or try searching the site (use quotes for exact matches! i.e. "mach 5" vs mach 5 which will match machine, 5, etc.) and to check the FAQ, Performance Basics, Links, and Forums for solutions to your problems or answers to tech support questions. They have a lot of good info and are a great source of help.

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