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About Power Macintosh 9600 hardware.

H

harlleysathler

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 26, 2003
72
6
Hi all,

Recently I win a Power Macintosh 9600/200MP, and I have some doubt about its hardware.

What type of memory can I pur on it? Is there some limitations of size of the bank? Can I buy a PC133 128Mb Bank and install on it?

Can I install an USB and/or a Firewire PCI card on it? What usb card works on it? Anyone? And FireWire?

If possible to install an usb or firewire card, can I mount an IDE hard disk on an usb or firewire external drawer and use on it?

Thank you all!
 
harlleysathler said:
Hi all,

Recently I win a Power Macintosh 9600/200MP, and I have some doubt about its hardware.

What type of memory can I pur on it? Is there some limitations of size of the bank? Can I buy a PC133 128Mb Bank and install on it?

Can I install an USB and/or a Firewire PCI card on it? What usb card works on it? Anyone? And FireWire?

If possible to install an usb or firewire card, can I mount an IDE hard disk on an usb or firewire external drawer and use on it?

Thank you all!
Click to expand...


No, you can't use SDRAM PC133 in it!
You need 5V 168 pins EDO or FPM dimms.
I think the cheapers place you can buy it is from OWC
http://eshop.macsales.com/Item_Specials.cfm?ID=6454&Item=OWC5MD128MBE2
They cost $16 for a 128mb dimm. The 9600 is running faster with mached pairs, so i would have bought two or four sticks. (128mb is the largest sticks you can use)
Don't spend too much money on the 9600, because its a very old machine.
There are many upgrades for the 9600 (you can upgrade it to a G4) but you are still have a slow systembus that with max run at 60mhz.

Yeah you can install a firewire and a usb card. Most usb cards work both on macs and pc. I don't know about fw cards, but I would buy it from a mac retailer. I don't recommend combo cards (usb abd fw on the same card) because pre G3 machines often have had troubles with them.

I have one of these beasts a few years ago, they're nice machines with heavy expansions oportuneties (12 RAM slots, 6 PCI slots, many drive bays, etc..)
 
Thank you!

The problem is that here in Brazil a new Mac costs much more that anyone can pay! This is the best machine that I have! :rolleyes:

Well, is there some (old or not) PC memory bank that works on this machine?

Thank you anymore!
 
PowerMac 9600 tips

The RAM for the PowerMac 8600/9600 is not the same as PC RAM, even though it looks similar (168-pin DIMM package).

It is 5 Volts, (not 3.3 Volts like most PC RAM), and it needs to be buffered, not unbuffered. The 8600 and 9600 can use either EDO (Extended Data Out) or FPM (Fast Page Mode) RAM. It is slightly faster with EDO RAM, although its best if you install all EDO or all FPM in a machine.

The largest module you can install is 128 Mb, There are 8 slots, so you can install up to 1 Gb of memory.

There are G3 and G4 accelerator boards available from Sonnet and OWC that work well. Just keep in mind that the performance won't match a G3 or G4 machine at the same MHz, because you still are held back by the slower system bus, RAM and video components.

Beware of the "300 MHz Apple 604e CPU card for 8600/9600" This Apple 604e processor only works in specific 8600/9600 motherboards, probably not in yours.

The best upgrade for a 9600 is an PCI IDE interface card, which allows you to use inexpensive high capacity IDE hard drives instead of SCSI ones. Sonnet makes a nice card called the Tempo Trio, which has IDE, USB and Firewire all on one card - worthwhile watching for one of these used.

When installing a USB and/or Firewire card, make sure first that is Mac compatible, since you are using OS9, you can't take for granted that a $25 PC card will work. Sonnet and MacAlly are reliable brands.

Be gentle with the round translucent power button on the front of the case: this is the weakest component. It pushes on a switch, and if the switch is bent or damaged, its not easy to repair. Even if you get a USB card, keep the original keyboard, because you'll need the Power On key. Also, the USB software tends to crash, leaving you without control if you are using a USB mouse or keyboard, whereas the ADB keyboard and mouse may still be operational.

Thanks
Trevor
CanadaRAM.com
 
Well,

Thank you all!

Your explanations was great!

Well, the mother board of the 9600 has 12 RAM slots. They are separated in two groups. The first with 4 slots and the second with 8.

I want to add to it an USB card to use my USB external HD and CD-R/W. I want to use the original ADB mouse and keyboard.

I'm just sorry for the PC RAM don't match... They cost much less here... but... It's the life!

Thank you again! :cool:
 
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