The Mactell PowerJolt 266/266/1MB has the fastest cache chips of any recent G3 CPU card I've seen and I admire the fact they modified the heatsink to contact the cache (it would have been easier and cheaper to just make the standard one), but it's limited cache control software is and high initial cost ($1695) made it hard to recommend. However Pat Berry of MacTell informed me shortly after the review was written that they lowered the price to $1100 on 4/8/98. As of this date (4/22) the price reduction he mentioned was not reflected in their web site price list however.

This dramatic price reduction makes the card much more attractive and I've revised the previous low value rating to reflect this price reduction.

Price/Performance:
At the original $1695 list price the card was a poor value compared to cards I've tested that ran the same or higher speeds (the XLR8 266/177 for instnace). However at $1100, the card is a much better value. Based on the price reduction and comparisons with similar high speed cache cards that will run 300/300, I rate the price/performance a 9.

Summary of Ratings:

• Benchmarks: 9
• Appl. Tests: 9
• SW/Controls: 5
• Documentation: 7
• Features/Specs: 9
• Price/Performance: 9
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  Total: 48 (of possible 60)

Based on these scores, you can apply your own weighting of each category to determine if this card is right for your needs. Ratings shown reflect the market as of the review date, with prices dropping and speeds rising, they may not be valid for comparison in the future.

Where To Buy:
Mactell CPU cards are available direct and from authorized dealers like Bottom Line. As of 4/22/98, Mactell's latest price list still shows the suggested retail price of the PowerJolt 266/266/1MB card at $1695, but as mentioned above, MacTell's Pat Berry tells me the new SRP is $1100. I've not seen this price reduction reflected on the web yet, and the Bottom Line web page for this card still shows a price of $1665 as of 4/22/98. I can only assume that the pages have not been updated to reflect the price change.

Return policies vary by dealer, so be sure to ask about this before ordering. The product comes with a standard 2-year warranty.

I hope this review has provided you with sufficient information of all aspects of the product, but if you have any further questions or comments you may contact me by email at: news@xlr8yourmac.com.

For reviews of other CPU cards, or the many other types of upgrades I review, see my Reviews/Features page.