"I just modified my Twentieth anniversary Mac to provide much better cooling with a PCI card, commslot and processor upgrade installed. The following is a URL to a page with photos and a description.

http://home.earthlink.net/~rvsarch/cooltam.html
--
Robert V. Snow,
Architect"

Phase 5 G4 Upgrades: European manufacturer Phase 5 has announced G4 CPU upgrades available in CPU card slot, L2 cache slot and ZIF based models. See their product page for compatibility information and pricing.
(Our CPU upgrades page has listings of reviews of G3 and G4 upgrades from various manufacturers.)

Nubus Mac G4 Upgrades: Sonnet announced G4 CPU upgrades for 6100, 7100 and 8100 PowerMacs today. Their $599 (US) Crescendo G4/NuBus is rated at 360 MHz with 1M backside cache at a 2:1 ratio. The G4 processor will run at 360MHz in 40 MHz bus machines like the 7100/80, 8100/80, and Power Computing Power 120. The current G4 CPU's 9X max bus/cpu ratio limits speeds to 270, 300, and 330 MHz in 30, 33.3 and 36.7 MHz bus machines, respectively. They list the Sonnet Crescendo G4/NuBus is compatible with the following systems:

- Power Mac 6100, 7100, 8100
- Performa 611X
- WGS 6150, 8150, 9150
- Power Computing 100, 120
- Radius System 100, 81/110

Note: Be aware that according to my information OS 8.6 and later is required for Altivec compatibility. Many Nubus Macs may be running much older OS versions. Ensure your software applications are compatible with the OS you plan to use. One Sonnet owner wrote me he was unable to return his G3 upgrade for a refund due to OS/Application compatibility issues (he did not want to upgrade to OS 8.6 due to his applications not being compatible). Verify the return policies and software compatibility of any upgrade you're considering.

Older Mac Upgrade Advice: Owners of very old Macs (Nubus or Performa models) should consider their total system performance/capabilities and future upgrade path before investing a lot of money in piecemeal upgrades. Remember there are no Nubus high performance video cards available now so you'll never be able to take advantage of the current and future high performance video cards. [Note: the chip used by the VT MP340 is hardly in the class of today's (or last year's) video chips, in fact it's probably slower than the obsolete rageII. No Opengl support, no 3D hardware accleration in any Nubus video card that I know of.] With no PCI slots, you can't add an IDE controller (today's IDE drives are a great value - 20GB drives are $200 or so and very very fast) or a modern PCI SCSI Card. If you need a faster drive, more ram and faster CPU, often the total upgrade cost is too high to be practical. In many cases, selling the older mac and putting the upgrades money toward a new/used/refurbished later model that has PCI slots, faster video/cdrom/hard drive and more upgradeable CPU may make more sense. If you're loaded with RAM and storage space and need just a boost in CPU performance to satisfy you for awhile, then a low-cost CPU upgrade can make sense. However always consider the total system performance equation when upgrading very old models.

Proformance 3 Driver Update: In case you missed it, Formac has posted a GA 5.7 control panel with OpenGL support as well as a GA 2.1.1 ROM update for the Proformance 3 graphics card. These files are available at: http://www.formac.com/public/updates/beta/Graphics/. I welcome feedback on how these drivers work with OpenGL 1.1.2 in applications (especially Lightwave 3D) and games. [The Video articles page has my previous review of the Proformance III.]

G3 Upgrades & Onboard Video: I don't get a lot of reports on this anymore since many owners are running PCI graphics cards, but as noted in one of my first 1997 G3 upgrade reviews, some G3 upgrades will show video artifacts (esp. in thousands color mode) when used with Macs like the 8500 with onboard video (this does not happen in Beige G3s or AIO G3s). As noted in the FAQ, disabling the onboard graphics accelerator extension may help as may changing (lowering) bus or cache speeds. Changing color depths also helped in the past when I saw the issue. For catalyst motherboard based Macs, always disable the '7200 graphics accelerator' before installing a G3 card based on previous reports of conflicts.

ORB Drive Benchmarks Update: Sean Collins wrote he has updated his SCSI ORB drive benchmarks to include results with ATTO Tools' benchmark.

Update on Spec. Processing/PRAM Zapping: Powerlogix sent a note they have updated their article on this topic:

"We have updated our page with more detailed procedures about PRAM and NVRAM zapping, since there is a lot of confusion about this and how it relates to the Speculative Addressing issue.

The page is at http://www.powerlogix.com/support/zap.html.

The Apple TIL (http://til.info.apple.com/techinfo.nsf/artnum/n2238) concerning the subject is not very well written and doesn't outline the steps as well as our page does, so you might want to make a link to our page. "

OS 7.5.3 Users: A reader noted that his Nubus Mac running OS 7.5.3 had some problems with a Sonnet G3 upgrade with some of his old applications (despite reading that the upgrade was compatible with that OS version he said). It was suggested that he upgrade to OS 8.5, which he didn't want to do. He was not able to return the card for a refund and wanted to warn other 7.5.3 users of the potential issues and the fact that he could not get a refund on the product. (Update: although when I contacted Sonnet last year an email indicated the did not offer 30 day MBG, that seems to have changed per a mail from Macgurus. However remember it's the dealer you bought from that controls return policies if you don't order direct from the mfr.)

Other World Computing sent a note they have some of the last SCG233 Sonnet G3/233mhz 512k Nubus 61/71/81 CPU upgrades (new w/3yr Warranty) for $199. OWC said they offer free ground shipping and $5 Fed-Ex shipping on this item (within the USA). [Note: quantities are limited and may sell out any any time. check their linked page for the latest models/pricing they have available.]

Reader Mailbag Upgrade Questions:

• Can I use an Apple 604e 250/300/350MHz CPU Card in my clone? - No, they only work in the 8600/250, 8600/300, 9600/300 and 9600/350. This is noted in the FAQ and my Mach5/9600 page linked on the Systems page. Apparently there are a lot of the showing up at auctions now - buyer beware.

• I installed a Voodoo3 card and flashed it but my Beige G3 doesn't work. Remove the Mac/VGA adapter from the onboard video port if no monitor is connected to it. The mac senses the adapter and thinks there's a monitor connected. See my www.mac3dfx.com site sidebar links on system and game compatibility for more Voodoo3 info and always check my 3Dfx message boards for discussions of 3dfx cards (and other brands too it seems).

• Is the Voodoo3 3000 worth the extra cost over the Voodoo3 2000? - See my Mac 3D card Roundup and make your own decision. In most Macs it will not be much faster than a 2000 model and costs quite a bit more usually. To see how many different brands of cards run in a wide array of systems/cpu speeds search my Mac Games Framerates database. This can help show you what to expect from a video card upgrade in Macs with similar CPU speeds as yours.

• Is there a CPU Upgrade for the 7200? Not as of this date in 1999. (*Update* in 2000 Sonnet released a 7200/8200 CPU upgrade on a PCI slot card. You can search the Rate Your CPU Upgrade database for owner reports on it. Before spending a lot of money on CPU upgrades for older macs, especially those with no CPU card slot, see this item in our FAQ).

• Is there a CPU Upgrade for my older Mac? See the sidebar links at the FAQ's front page for the best sources I know to check for very old Macs. For Nubus, 54-64-6500 and later model Macs - search my Rate Your CPU Upgrade database for almost 3000 owner reports (and growing daily). The CPU upgrades page has listings of reviews of G3 and G4 upgrades for many models of Macs also (from CPU card slot models to ZIF upgrades.)

• What should be my first upgrade? RAM, if you have 64MB or less currently. I like 128MB on any modern Mac.

• I'm having IDE drive problems with a B&W G3 See the sidebar here under 'B&W G3 Articles' or the SCSI/IDE/HD topics page for my article on slave drives with warnings on the rev 1 IDE chip. The FAQ's Apple G3 and SCSI/IDE topic areas also have tips directly related to this issue.

• My B&W G3 has the 1.1 Firmware update - can I upgrade to a G4 CPU? Yes. Newer Tech, Powerlogix and XLR8 all have firmware patches to remove the block. This is also covered in the illustrated installation page of my XLR8 G4/400 ZIF review.

I'm testing a Newer Tech G4/400 ZIF upgrade in the B&W G3 now (it also booted fine in the Beige G3, as did the XLR8 G4/400Z). The 9600/350 is running the XLR8 G4/350 MAChCarrier card review tests now. The Genesis however, has been a bear trying to get a G4 to run lately. I just installed OS 9 on it last night to see if that helps.

140GB CDROM: Jim Downs sent a note that PCextremist has a note on the development of a CDRom drive that stores 140GB of data.

For a blast from the past see what was on the front page news here one year ago.

Thursday's News Summary

• ATI Universal Installer 4.2 Notes
• $99 Rage128 PRO AGP Kits
• New Apple 15" Digital LCD
• Price Protection comments
• IDE Raid Feedback page has Turbomax/Remus/Softraid/FWB Raid reports
• Links to SCSI RAID reviews and articles
• TurboMax/OS 9 Compatibility
• iBook 6.4GB HD Upgrades
• OpenGL - Don't Panic
• Adobe Altivec Extensions Due Soon?
• ATI's Reply on VR128 Resource Manager Extension
• No More Yikes - All New G4s are Sawtooth AGP
• Faster Rage128 *Pro* AGP Standard in new G4s
• Other Net News

Wednesday's News Summary

• Reader Request: Turbomax/Softraid Feedback
• Quesa Update (Rave under Opengl/OS X possible)
• Sawtooth CPU Module Speed Settings Info
• ZIF Socketed CPU Cards Feature Comparison
• More Kenwood 72X IDE CDROM reports
• More Airport Networking Feedback
• MP Libraries - Not Just for Dual CPUs
• Tennmax Coolers price reduction
• Lightwave 3D Benchmarks site
• Homeworld Petition
• OS X Client DP2 - Motherboard Support List
• Comments on OS X and software support
• OWC CPU upgrades sale
• Sonnet lowers prices
• iMac Game Wizard/3Dfx Drivers Tips updated at www.mac3dfx.com

Tuesday's News Summary

• www.MAC3dfx.com updated with IMac GameWizard/3Dfx driver tips
• 21" Display iMac Hack
• Review of Unity DS-1 (Mac Audio)
• XLR8 USB hub with Loadmeter
• MacOS X DP2 on G3 Upgraded 7300
• More on Promise ATA/66 Mac IDE Cards
• OS 9/Coolpix PCMCIA Card Tips
• Kenwood 72X IDE CDROM Comments
• Newer Tech ZIF Socketed Cards Discontinued/Not G4 compatible
• Formac ZIF Socketed CPU Upgrades
• Other Net News

Monday's News Summary

• OWC lowers Upgrade prices
• Z-Force bus speed tests in genesis/powercenter pro/9600 350
• Voodoo3 and Lightwave 3D Tip
• RC5 Altivec Core
• Help Save Opcode's OMS (Open Music System)
• More Mac Audio/CPU Upgrade Feedback
• Voodoo3 AGP Card Reminder
• Voodoo3 2000 for $62
• OS 9/RealPC Compatibility
• Apple 250/300/350MHz 604e CPU Cards
• More PC IDE CDROM Recorder in Macs Feedback:
• More on OS 9/PCMCIA Card Compatibility
• More Voodoo3 Dual Monitor Setup Feedback
• More OS X client DP2 screenshots

For links to older news pages see the Archives page.

The recent features page has a lists reviews/articles you may have missed.

For a guide to finding answers to questions - see my Site Guide page.

Considering a G3 Upgrade? Check the CPU Upgrade Owner's Survey results and search for owner reports by Mac model and/or card brand. Readers post new entries daily and the database is updated several times a week. I urge any owners that have had problems to report this via the Survey Form. Always give the most weight to recent owner reports (dated in the listing) as in many cases problems are later found to be due to settings errors, slow L2 cache, etc.

-Freq Asked Questions