Review of Powerlogix's G3 800MHz ZIF CPU Upgrade

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Review: Powerlogix's G3/800MHz ZIF CPU Upgrade
Tests in B&W G3 vs. various G3 and G4 CPU Upgrades
By Mike Breeden
Published: 3/25/2003
(Updated 4/3/2003 for G4/550 tests)

= Links to Review Topics Pages =

Intro | Benchmarks | Apps/Game Tests | Software Controls | Installation | Specs/Design

Pros: A big boost over the original G3/350 CPU and faster than a G4/500 upgrade in most apps/game tests. No cache enabler software required in OS 9 or OS X for ZIF based Macs. Adjustable CPU speeds via switch and PL control software (750FX CPUs can have bus/cpu ratio set by software, unlike previous CPU upgrades - see Software Controls page). For Beige G3 owners, unlike G4 upgrades you don't have to use a cache enabler which can help avoid some problems that some enablers have been in those systems. Requires no firmware patch for B&W G3s that G4 upgrades do.
Logic Audio Users Note: Although I do not own/use Logic Audio, several readers that do have reported Logic Audio issues (pops/noise) with G4 upgraded PCI Macs in the past with pre-OS X versions of Logic. (Reports in that article and in CPU upgrade database reports here - although the first OS X Logic report didn't note the problem.) A G3/800 probably is a better choice for PCI macs running Logic Audio under OS 9 for instance.

Cons: For many of my favorite applications, it often wasn't that much faster than a G4/500 ZIF. For programs that have good Altivec support (like video or audio apps, except for perhaps Logic audio based on G4 upgraded owner reports), a G4/500-550 ZIF upgrade is probably a better choice if you can find one (they're getting scarce).

Compatibility: Powerlogix lists their G3/800 ZIFs as compatible with the Beige G3, All-in-One G3, G3 Server, Blue & White G3 and G4/PCI Yikes. Powerlogix indictated that although they no longer sell the "Z-Force" ZIF socketed CPU card for pre-G3 Macs, they suspect it would be compatible. However (in 2003) they also had a CPU card version of the G3/800 upgrade. (no longer made - also the G3/800 ZIF has now been replaced by the G3/1GHz (750GX) model.)

Introduction

Powerlogix loaned me a review sample of their G3/800 CPU ZIF upgrade. This review compares the performance of the PL G3/800 (750FX G3 w/512KB onchip L2 cache) in my Blue and White (B&W G3) with the results of previous review tests from fall 2001 of the OWC G4/500, G4/400 and G3/500 OWC upgrades (which were returned after that review) as well as the original G3/350 CPU. Since I no longer have most of those past ZIF modules today, not all could be included in every performance test. However I was also able to obtain a G3/500 ZIF and a G4/450 ZIF (actually a 400 overclocked to 450) for some tests using later software versions than used in the older ZIF reviews including iMovie 3.02, iTunes3, Stuffit 7.01 and CineBench2003. (OWC later sent a loaner G4/550 ZIF that I've added to the comparison test results at speeds up to 600MHz. They also cut the price for a limited time to $299.94 for readers on the G4/533-550 ZIF on the site specials page as of April 2nd.) I think the comparisons to G4s and other G3 upgrades here will give you a good idea of performance from this upgrade in several popular applications and games.

Review Table of Contents:

Benchmark Performance: Altivec Fractal demo, CineBench 2000/CineBench 2003 and GaugePro memory bandwidth.

Applications/Games Performance: Performance tests in iMovie3 (OS X), iMovie2 (OS 9), iTunes3 (OS X), iTunes2 (OS 9), Photoshop 5.5, Word 98 Scrolling, Stuffit 7.01 and games like Quake3 (Classic and OS X) and Unreal Tournament.

Software Controls: Info and Screenshots on Powerlogix's Speed Control Software (750FX is adjustable for CPU speed via software)

Installation: Pre-installation and other general info on installing a ZIF CPU upgrade.

Specs/Design: Photos and Details of the PL G3/800 ZIF upgrade.

Original (2003) List price for the Powerlogix G3/800 ZIF was $299. (Note: The G3/800 is no longer made, but as of 2007 the G3/1GHz (750GX) model is $125 on the Site specials page.) Check OWC's Site Specials page which often has upgrades at a discount for readers of this site.

Test System Details:

Apple B&W G3 revision 2:
512MB RAM
Stock 6GB Quantum IDE drive with OS X 10.1.5 installed
27GB Maxtor (1999 model set as slave) with OS 9.2
ATAPI (IDE) 6x DVD ROM and ZIP drive
ATI PCI Radeon w/9.1 ROM update (not the Radeon 7000 PCI)

Display used was an Apple 15" LCD (VGA/ADB model) which as a maximum resolution of 1024x768.

You can follow my preferred path through the review by continuing to the next page, or use the links below to jump to a specific page.

Index of PL G3/800 ZIF Review Pages
Intro | Benchmarks | Apps/Game Tests | Software Controls | Installation | Specs/Design

- or -
Back to WWW.XLR8YOURMAC.COM

Copyright © 2003 All rights reserved

No part of this sites content or images are to be reproduced or distributed in any form without written permission.
All brand or product names mentioned here are properties of their respective companies.

Users of the web site must read and are bound by the terms and conditions of use.

The Source for Mac Performance News and Reviews
Review: Powerlogix's G3/800MHz ZIF CPU Upgrade Tests in B&W G3 vs. various G3 and G4 CPU Upgrades By Mike Breeden Published: 3/25/2003 (Updated 4/3/2003 for G4/550 tests)
= Links to Review Topics Pages =
Intro \| Benchmarks \| Apps/Game Tests \| Software Controls \| Installation \| Specs/Design
Pros: A big boost over the original G3/350 CPU and faster than a G4/500 upgrade in most apps/game tests. No cache enabler software required in OS 9 or OS X for ZIF based Macs. Adjustable CPU speeds via switch and PL control software (750FX CPUs can have bus/cpu ratio set by software, unlike previous CPU upgrades - see Software Controls page). For Beige G3 owners, unlike G4 upgrades you don't have to use a cache enabler which can help avoid some problems that some enablers have been in those systems. Requires no firmware patch for B&W G3s that G4 upgrades do. Logic Audio Users Note: Although I do not own/use Logic Audio, several readers that do have reported Logic Audio issues (pops/noise) with G4 upgraded PCI Macs in the past with pre-OS X versions of Logic. (Reports in that article and in CPU upgrade database reports here - although the first OS X Logic report didn't note the problem.) A G3/800 probably is a better choice for PCI macs running Logic Audio under OS 9 for instance. Cons: For many of my favorite applications, it often wasn't that much faster than a G4/500 ZIF. For programs that have good Altivec support (like video or audio apps, except for perhaps Logic audio based on G4 upgraded owner reports), a G4/500-550 ZIF upgrade is probably a better choice if you can find one (they're getting scarce). Compatibility: Powerlogix lists their G3/800 ZIFs as compatible with the Beige G3, All-in-One G3, G3 Server, Blue & White G3 and G4/PCI Yikes. Powerlogix indictated that although they no longer sell the "Z-Force" ZIF socketed CPU card for pre-G3 Macs, they suspect it would be compatible. However (in 2003) they also had a CPU card version of the G3/800 upgrade. (no longer made - also the G3/800 ZIF has now been replaced by the G3/1GHz (750GX) model.)
Introduction
Powerlogix loaned me a review sample of their G3/800 CPU ZIF upgrade. This review compares the performance of the PL G3/800 (750FX G3 w/512KB onchip L2 cache) in my Blue and White (B&W G3) with the results of previous review tests from fall 2001 of the OWC G4/500, G4/400 and G3/500 OWC upgrades (which were returned after that review) as well as the original G3/350 CPU. Since I no longer have most of those past ZIF modules today, not all could be included in every performance test. However I was also able to obtain a G3/500 ZIF and a G4/450 ZIF (actually a 400 overclocked to 450) for some tests using later software versions than used in the older ZIF reviews including iMovie 3.02, iTunes3, Stuffit 7.01 and CineBench2003. (OWC later sent a loaner G4/550 ZIF that I've added to the comparison test results at speeds up to 600MHz. They also cut the price for a limited time to $299.94 for readers on the G4/533-550 ZIF on the site specials page as of April 2nd.) I think the comparisons to G4s and other G3 upgrades here will give you a good idea of performance from this upgrade in several popular applications and games. Review Table of Contents: Benchmark Performance: Altivec Fractal demo, CineBench 2000/CineBench 2003 and GaugePro memory bandwidth. Applications/Games Performance: Performance tests in iMovie3 (OS X), iMovie2 (OS 9), iTunes3 (OS X), iTunes2 (OS 9), Photoshop 5.5, Word 98 Scrolling, Stuffit 7.01 and games like Quake3 (Classic and OS X) and Unreal Tournament. Software Controls: Info and Screenshots on Powerlogix's Speed Control Software (750FX is adjustable for CPU speed via software) Installation: Pre-installation and other general info on installing a ZIF CPU upgrade. Specs/Design: Photos and Details of the PL G3/800 ZIF upgrade. Original (2003) List price for the Powerlogix G3/800 ZIF was $299. (Note: The G3/800 is no longer made, but as of 2007 the G3/1GHz (750GX) model is $125 on the Site specials page.) Check OWC's Site Specials page which often has upgrades at a discount for readers of this site. Test System Details: Apple B&W G3 revision 2: 512MB RAM Stock 6GB Quantum IDE drive with OS X 10.1.5 installed 27GB Maxtor (1999 model set as slave) with OS 9.2 ATAPI (IDE) 6x DVD ROM and ZIP drive ATI PCI Radeon w/9.1 ROM update (not the Radeon 7000 PCI) Display used was an Apple 15" LCD (VGA/ADB model) which as a maximum resolution of 1024x768.

You can follow my preferred path through the review by continuing to the next page, or use the links below to jump to a specific page.

Index of PL G3/800 ZIF Review Pages Intro \| Benchmarks \| Apps/Game Tests \| Software Controls \| Installation \| Specs/Design - or - Back to WWW.XLR8YOURMAC.COM
Copyright © 2003 All rights reserved No part of this sites content or images are to be reproduced or distributed in any form without written permission. All brand or product names mentioned here are properties of their respective companies. Users of the web site must read and are bound by the terms and conditions of use.