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Before Installing the CarrierZIF Card: As per XLR8's instructions, install the CarrierZIF
software before swapping out your card to ensure their 'virtual firmware' is loaded on the first boot with the G3 CPU installed. If you're running a 601 CPU card (i.e. 7500/90 or 7500/100), readers say some versions of the XLR8 installer may say it requires a 604 CPU or better.
The XLR8 manual has illustrated guides to many Mac system installations of the card, so I won't repeat that here but remember the following Installation/Troubleshooting tips:
- Remove any L2 cache dimm before installing the card (on Macs that have removable
cache dimms). 9500, Genesis and S900 systems have soldered-in cache so use XLR8 cache control v1.4 which allows disabling the motherboard cache via software.
- Verify your card speed settings - don't assume your Mac will run 50+ MHz bus speeds - start low (45MHz for instance). Don't assume you can overclock the CPU - make sure it is set within the rated speed. Verify that the card runs reliably at rated settings first.
- Reset the CUDA switch. As noted on the XLR8 Manual, press and hold the CPU reset (called the CUDA) on the motherboard. I hold it down for 30 seconds. As with zapping the PRAM, you'll have to reset some control panel settings like date/time, disk cache (on some OS versions), etc.
With some IXMicro graphics cards you may get no video after zapping the pram or a cuda reset. If this happens I remove the IXMicro card, power up the system, wait a few seconds and turn it off. Then reinsert the card. This seems to restore video in my experience.
- Make sure the CPU card is fully seated in the slot. Don't use excessive force or twist the card during insertion. If the card is hard to seat - check the center slot on the card to see if it seems too narrow for your motherboard cpu connector's center keying stub (rare, but reported in some cases - contact XLR8 or your dealer if this is the case)
- If you still can't boot even with low bus speeds and no L2 cache, check your RAM. Deinterleaving may help (i.e. - make sure dimms of the same size are not in matching Ax/Bx slots). In some cases you may have a suspect Dimm or a mix of RAM that is the cause. I often remove any old 8MB dimms that shipped with Apple systems for instance. Running an extensive RAM test overnight using XLR8's PowerControl, Techtool Pro or Newer Tech's free Ramometer will often identify problematic RAM.
- At least initially, make sure you don't run the cache at more than the rated speed. Most ZIF models have 2:1 (1/2 CPU speed) rated cache. In my experience the XLR8 cache test 'suggested' maximum cache speeds are often optimistic and may not be reliable if they are much higher than the rated cache speed. (I've had it suggest 60MHz over the rated speed - which didn't prove to be reliable).
CarrierZIF Compatibility:
The CarrierZIF is listed as compatible with the following Mac models:
- Apple: 7300, 7500, 7600, 8500, 8600, 9500, 9600
- DayStar Genesis, Millennium (check w/XLR8 for older Genesis compat.)
- UMAX S900 & J700.
- Power Computing PowerWave, PowerTower Pro (225/250 owners should contact XLR8 before buying), PowerCenter, PowerCenter Pro, PowerTower
- Note: The early CarrierZIF cards were PowerBase compatible (based on a review at MacsOnly and owner reports in my Rate Your G3 Upgrade database) - however the latest CarrierZIF/MAChCarriers are NOT PowerBase compatible.
There have been several revisions to the CarrierZIF design since my first review for increased compatibility with PowerComputing machines and Mach 5 systems I'm told. I still suggest that owners of PowerTower Pros (especially PTP 225 and PTP 250 owners) to contact XLR8 to verify
their systems are compatible. As an aid the model number of your PTP motherboard would be
nice to know (it is marked near the lower front edge of the main logic board).
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