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 B.
Published: 3/25/2003

Details of the Powerlogix G3/800 ZIF Module

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

Photo of G3/800 ZIF
Powerlogix G3/800 ZIF Module (test sample)
(shown larger than actual size)
The white rotary switch in the corner of the module is used to set the bus/cpu ratio (multiplier that determines CPU speed - "9" was the setting for an 8x ratio for the B&W G3's 100MHz bus). I have no documentation of the other settings yet, but if this is the final production design then Powerlogix's manual/installation guide will have the settings for Beige G3 (66MHz bus) or B&W G3 (100MHz bus). A 12x setting would be used for the Beige G3 for instance if the system is running at the default 66MHz bus speed (66.6666...MHz actually).
ZIF NOTE: Powerlogix's CPU upgrade manuals page (Update - now located at this OWC page) has PDF manuals with an installation guide, but the jumper settings are for the G3/800 ZIF design that I had problems with in this system. (Not booting, reportedly due to the base/pin layer not being totally flat on the samples I had.) This was the 3rd G3/800 ZIF sample with a different circuit board design (w/rotary switch vs jumpers) and worked flawlessly, although perhaps my experience with the first 2/original design isn't typical. The photo above is not the same as the design shown in their PDF manual and I'm not sure which they will be shipping in quantity.
*Update* Powerlogix later replied that the production versions will have jumpers and look like the model in the PDF manual linked above. Here's a photo I took of that design:

Production G3/800 ZIF
Powerlogix G3/800 ZIF Module (production version)
(rotated/shown larger than actual size)
Bottom Side (where jumpers are)
Production G3/800 backside
The wires shown on the bottom side of this first sample may or may not be on production versions.
PL G3/800 ZIF Module

CPU: IBM G3 750FX CPU
L2 Cache: 512KB onchip (at full CPU speed)
Max Bus/CPU Ratio: 20x

Note that unlike previous G3 and G4 CPU upgrades, the 750FX CPU chip is adjustable for the Bus/CPU ratio (PLL) via software. Powerlogix provided a beta version of their utility with this feature - see the Software Controls page of this review for screenshots of that utility.
The G3/800 ZIF was totally reliable during extensive testing in applications tests and more than 40 hours of use for this review at the default 800MHz. Tests at 900MHz with the stock B&W G3 rev 2 heatsink however were not reliable after about 30 minutes of use. (Applications would quit at launch, etc...) Other samples and/or heatsink/fan combinations may have different results. (Reader reports in the Rate Your CPU Upgrade database often includes comments on running higher than rated speeds, however remember you can't assume another sample will duplicate their results.)
Carrier (ZIF socket) CPU Card Usage Notes: Powerlogix doesn't list Carrier (ZIF socket) CPU card compatiblity on their product page but I asked about this and their president Robert Jagitsch replied:

" In theory, although we haven't tested it as we don't sell a carrier anymore. I don't see a reason why it wouldn't.
Robert Jagitsch (Powerlogix) "

However note that Powerlogix sold a CPU card version of the G3/800 also. (Update - no longer made.)

For CPU Upgrade reports (any brand/mac model), search my Rate Your G3 Upgrade database.
I stress that owners of any upgrade should use it for several weeks at least before posting an entry in my database and also include before/after apps tests. If there are problems - contact the vendor immediately, they often can provide a solution or identify the source of the problem.

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

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 B. Published: 3/25/2003
Details of the Powerlogix G3/800 ZIF Module
Intro \| Benchmarks \| Apps/Game Tests \| Software Controls \| Installation \| Specs/Design

Powerlogix G3/800 ZIF Module (test sample) (shown larger than actual size) The white rotary switch in the corner of the module is used to set the bus/cpu ratio (multiplier that determines CPU speed - "9" was the setting for an 8x ratio for the B&W G3's 100MHz bus). I have no documentation of the other settings yet, but if this is the final production design then Powerlogix's manual/installation guide will have the settings for Beige G3 (66MHz bus) or B&W G3 (100MHz bus). A 12x setting would be used for the Beige G3 for instance if the system is running at the default 66MHz bus speed (66.6666...MHz actually). ZIF NOTE: Powerlogix's CPU upgrade manuals page (Update - now located at this OWC page) has PDF manuals with an installation guide, but the jumper settings are for the G3/800 ZIF design that I had problems with in this system. (Not booting, reportedly due to the base/pin layer not being totally flat on the samples I had.) This was the 3rd G3/800 ZIF sample with a different circuit board design (w/rotary switch vs jumpers) and worked flawlessly, although perhaps my experience with the first 2/original design isn't typical. The photo above is not the same as the design shown in their PDF manual and I'm not sure which they will be shipping in quantity. *Update* Powerlogix later replied that the production versions will have jumpers and look like the model in the PDF manual linked above. Here's a photo I took of that design: Powerlogix G3/800 ZIF Module (production version) (rotated/shown larger than actual size) Bottom Side (where jumpers are) The wires shown on the bottom side of this first sample may or may not be on production versions. PL G3/800 ZIF Module CPU: IBM G3 750FX CPU L2 Cache: 512KB onchip (at full CPU speed) Max Bus/CPU Ratio: 20x Note that unlike previous G3 and G4 CPU upgrades, the 750FX CPU chip is adjustable for the Bus/CPU ratio (PLL) via software. Powerlogix provided a beta version of their utility with this feature - see the Software Controls page of this review for screenshots of that utility. The G3/800 ZIF was totally reliable during extensive testing in applications tests and more than 40 hours of use for this review at the default 800MHz. Tests at 900MHz with the stock B&W G3 rev 2 heatsink however were not reliable after about 30 minutes of use. (Applications would quit at launch, etc...) Other samples and/or heatsink/fan combinations may have different results. (Reader reports in the Rate Your CPU Upgrade database often includes comments on running higher than rated speeds, however remember you can't assume another sample will duplicate their results.) Carrier (ZIF socket) CPU Card Usage Notes: Powerlogix doesn't list Carrier (ZIF socket) CPU card compatiblity on their product page but I asked about this and their president Robert Jagitsch replied: " In theory, although we haven't tested it as we don't sell a carrier anymore. I don't see a reason why it wouldn't. Robert Jagitsch (Powerlogix) " However note that Powerlogix sold a CPU card version of the G3/800 also. (Update - no longer made.) For CPU Upgrade reports (any brand/mac model), search my Rate Your G3 Upgrade database. I stress that owners of any upgrade should use it for several weeks at least before posting an entry in my database and also include before/after apps tests. If there are problems - contact the vendor immediately, they often can provide a solution or identify the source of the problem.

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 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.