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GeForce 3 in Cube

bunnspecial

bunnspecial

macrumors G3
Original poster
May 3, 2014
8,371
6,508
Kentucky
I seem to be reading some conflicting information on this.

I'd been under the impression that an unmodified Mac-edition GE Force 3 was a drop-in card for the Cube. For that reason, I've been(unsuccessfully but diligently) searching for one for about a month and a half now.

Just in the past day or two, I've read that this was in fact NOT the case.

Does anyone have any experience with this specific combination of card and computer-I'm guessing that if and when I find a Mac-Edition GEForce 3(which I'm looking for because I want ADC out on my Cube), I'll probably have to pay pretty generously for it and would hate to find that it won't work in my intended application.
 
bunnspecial said:
I seem to be reading some conflicting information on this.

I'd been under the impression that an unmodified Mac-edition GE Force 3 was a drop-in card for the Cube. For that reason, I've been(unsuccessfully but diligently) searching for one for about a month and a half now.

Just in the past day or two, I've read that this was in fact NOT the case.

Does anyone have any experience with this specific combination of card and computer-I'm guessing that if and when I find a Mac-Edition GEForce 3(which I'm looking for because I want ADC out on my Cube), I'll probably have to pay pretty generously for it and would hate to find that it won't work in my intended application.
Click to expand...
I thought that the Geforce 3 was a BTO option for the Cube? Was there an OEM and a retail version of this card?
 
ctmpkmlec4 said:
I thought that the Geforce 3 was a BTO option for the Cube? Was there an OEM and a retail version of this card?
Click to expand...

As far as I'm aware, the 2MX was the only BTO option for the Cube(with the standard being a Rage 128). I could be wrong on this. The Cube 2MX is actually Cube-specific-aside from the different face plate(which can be taken from a Rage 128) the Cube 2MX has an extra-large heatsink. Part of the appeal to me of the 3 is that is has a fan oono the heatsink.

I'm not sure about there being both OEM and Retail versions, although I'm almost positive it was a BTO for one of the G4 towers(Quicksilver maybe).
 
Have to considered voicing your question on the "Cube Owners portal"?
Pretty slow forum these days but a lot of good info in the archives and I know a lot of members still reading and waiting for a question from someone to sink their teeth into.
 
jbarley said:
Have to considered voicing your question on the "Cube Owners portal"?
Pretty slow forum these days but a lot of good info in the archives and I know a lot of members still reading and waiting for a question from someone to sink their teeth into.
Click to expand...

I attempted to register, but never got a confirmation on my registration. Perhaps I should try again, or just try signing in...
 
I know which GF3s fit and which don't.

Most don't.

Look for posts by a guy named "red eclipse turbo" or something like that at Cubeowner.

He was early GF3 flasher who posted there.

From memory, the PNY and another brand made ones that fit.

The easy way to tell was a large quantity of black and gold capacitors arranged near end of card and 2 copper wrapped choke coils with an "L" of same capacitors near ports.

These cards flashed into perfect GF3 for Cube.
 
MacVidCards said:
I know which GF3s fit and which don't.

Most don't.

Look for posts by a guy named "red eclipse turbo" or something like that at Cubeowner.

He was early GF3 flasher who posted there.

From memory, the PNY and another brand made ones that fit.

The easy way to tell was a large quantity of black and gold capacitors arranged near end of card and 2 copper wrapped choke coils with an "L" of same capacitors near ports.

These cards flashed into perfect GF3 for Cube.
Click to expand...

Thanks again for the excellent info-again-"from the horse's mouth."
 
At the very end of the Cube's life, there was a CTO option to add a GeForce 3. To my knowledge, this is the only GF3 that works in a Cube with no modifications. The linked eBay auction appears to be that very model. (It was the same for the Cube as for the "big" Power Mac; with only the bracket being different.)

Sheesh, and I thought I paid a lot for my GF4 Ti 4600! (New-in-box official Apple-branded upgrade card.)
 
Anonymous Freak said:
At the very end of the Cube's life, there was a CTO option to add a GeForce 3. To my knowledge, this is the only GF3 that works in a Cube with no modifications. The linked eBay auction appears to be that very model. (It was the same for the Cube as for the "big" Power Mac; with only the bracket being different.)

Sheesh, and I thought I paid a lot for my GF4 Ti 4600! (New-in-box official Apple-branded upgrade card.)
Click to expand...

Thanks-looks like I either need to hope another will come along(or maybe that a Macrumors member will find one in their junk box that they can bear to part with for a reasonable price :) ) or just suck it up and buy the one in that listing...
 
Intell said:
I don't think so. The ATI Radeon 7500 may come close and out perform it at some tests.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

I just bought another Cube about 5 minutes ago(500mhz this time) so may try to track down a 7500 to compare them.

With that said, I seem to recall reading that the GEForce 3 can use the same faceplate as the GEForce 2/Rage 128, while the 7500 can't. Do you know anything about this?
 
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Haven't used the 6200 much,does not really feel much faster than my 7500. I still need to play around more, maybe fire up Sim City for a bit
 
Don't forget the ADC ATI 7500 has 32MB of memory compared to the GeForce 3's 64MB. At most things, I'd image the GeForce 3 be a better card.
 
I went digging in my parts box, and much to my pleasant surprise found a 7500. I recall now that it was the stock card in the first Quicksilver I bought.

In any case, as I'd read the faceplate won't work on this card. It still seems fairly secure with the top screw anchoring it.

So, at least for the time being, it's in one of my Cubes.

I still want a GEForce 3 :)
 

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Altemose said:
What is your most powerful PPC? Can you answer that one?
Click to expand...

Here's a list-not to brag but just because it's the only way I know to really answer the question. Unless otherwise noted, all listed computers are working:

68K:
Macintosh SE
Quadra 700

"Beige" PowerMacintoshes
7100
8500
233mhz G3 desktop
266mhz G3 desktop, with 400mhz processor out of a B&W overclocked to 462mhz(stable)

iMacs:

"Bondi Blue" Tray Loader(doesn't work)
Indigo slot loader
1.25ghz G4

iBooks:

366mhz Indigo Clamshell
800mhz G3 14"
1.07ghz 12" (on the way, and needs some work)
1.2ghz 12"

Powerbooks:

500mhz Pismo G3
867mhz Ti
1ghz Ti running 10.5
1ghz Ti running OS 9
1.5ghz 12"
1.5ghz 12" with mSATA SSD
A1138 DLSD 15"
A1139 DLSD 17"
(I have mSATAs in both the DLSDs also)

G3 Tower:

300mhz B&W
400mhz B&W
400mhz B&W upgraded to a 450mhz G4 and with a Radeon 9200

"Graphite" G4 Towers
450mhz Sawtooth
Dual 500mhz GigE
2x Digital Audio 533mhz

Quicksilvers:

Dual 800mhz
Dual 1ghz QS 2002
QS 2002-originally 800mhz, upgraded to a factory dual 1ghz for a while, now with a Gigadesigns Dual 1.8 running a 1.6ghz
Another QS tower assembled from spare parts, currently with no processor although it boots that I'm going to do something with one of these days

MDD:

Dual 867 FW400
Dual 1ghz FW400
2x Single 1.25 MDD2003
Single 1ghz FW800

I only have three working PSUs between the above, but all will boot with a working PSU installed. I also have a couple of other MDDs for parts.

G4 Cube
450mhz running OS X 10.4 only, and now with a Radeon 7500
450mhz running 10.4, 10.5, and OS 9
500mhz(on the way)

G5:
Single 1.8ghz, with GEForce 6800 Ultra and 6gb RAM
Dual Core 2.0ghz, 10gb RAM(work computer)
Xserve Dual 2.0ghz, 4gb RAM from the factory.

700mhz EMac

Intel:

Late 2007 Black Macbook
Mid 2009 pre-Unibody White Macbook(my Yosemite test platform)
Late 2011 13" Macbook Pro(my first Mac, bought new from the Apple Store in the Spring of 2012, and probably still my main computer)

The ones listed in bold above are the ones that get used on a daily or almost daily basis, although I do actually use the Intel Macbooks a fair bit(for example, I had the UK Basketball game streaming on my black Macbook while I was doing other work this evening). Both the Macbooks have SSDs and are actually quite peppy.

So, if I count correctly, that gives me:

2 68K Macs
42 PowerPC Macs
3 Intel Macs

And, if we break PowerPCs down by processors(including dual processors) that gives me

1 601
1 604
9 750s(G3s)
32 7400 series processors(I'm too lazy to break it down by specific processor numbers)
3 970s(G5s)
1 970FX(dual core G5)

The 2.0 dual core is easily my most powerful PPC.
 
bunnspecial said:
I attempted to register, but never got a confirmation on my registration. Perhaps I should try again, or just try signing in...
Click to expand...
When I signed up for the Cubeowner forum, I didn't receive confirmation either. I emailed the admin, Laurie, and she let me know that my registration had been approved. Have you tried logging in yet?
 
ctmpkmlec4 said:
When I signed up for the Cubeowner forum, I didn't receive confirmation either. I emailed the admin, Laurie, and she let me know that my registration had been approved. Have you tried logging in yet?
Click to expand...

I actually did and was able to post the other day...still no response to my question however.
 
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