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Good Purchase?

Nope, but that page does say Mac OS 8-9 compatibility. Which version of OS 9 are you running on that machine?
 
It maybe that something isn't configured correctly with your installation or that OS 9.1's poor-ish USB support is lacking. Have you considered upgrading to 9.2.2 via OS 9 Helper?
 
Found a copy of os9 helper but when I try to install it says I have to erase the system first before installing. The update does not allow for a fresh install. Anyone have any ideas?
 
It allows you to installed the 9.2.1 updates to the currently started OS without having to erase the system.
 
Not for me, I opened the app, selected the updates and it wouldn't allow it
 
Here is what happens:

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You need the proper update for your language of OS 9.1. If you have OS 9.1-Z (the international version), you must use the Z updates, etc.
 
That was it. So I installed it, turned all the usb extensions on and nada. Maybe this is just futile.
 
Intell said:
Exactly what chipset is it?
Click to expand...

Well, these are the best suited USB and Firewire chipsets when working with system OS9 and PCI expansion cards:

USB 1.1
for mouse, keyboard, joystick, flightstick, scanner, dongle, printer, storage sticks, floppy drive, external audio card etc
OPTi FireLink 82c861 (exclusively USB 1.1)
or
NEC D720100A (also useable for USB 2.0 applications under OS X)

Firewire 400
for external optical drive, external hard disk, video cam etc, but in particular high quality external audio interface applications
Texas Instruments TSB43 series
 

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I did some "research" on this topic.
Because my experiences with old world Macs are based on the Powermac beige G3 mainly I confirm that this Mac works flawlessly with many PCI extension cards in OS 9.2.2, be it USB, FireWire 400, UltraATA133, SATA1 or DVI graphics.
The main reason for that is the PCI 2.1 revision that was introduced with the so called "Gossamer" G3 mainboard by Apple.

However, with these old world Macs USB and FireWire PCI cards should only feature a maximum of three (external) ports, better two.

OS9 USB extensions sometimes cannot detect multi-controller (multi-bus, multi-bridge) cards correctly such like a 5-ports USB card (despite having the good NEC 720100 chipset).
In addition the power requirements of such multi-port PCI cards (500mA per port) may exceed the internal power supply of the PCI slot.

For this reason installing an externally powered OS9 compliant USB hub is always highly recommended. This one for instance works great:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/USB-HUB-4-fa...3?pt=DE_Computer_Sonstige&hash=item5193a53edf


I don't know if the PM9600 already features PCI 2.1 standard. But for older than beige G3 Powermacs it seems generally advisable to use a 2+2 USB/FireWire combo card (coming with the recommended chipsets) or two separate PCI Cards featuring 2 or 3 ports each.

I'd look for a Mac specific vintage dual port USB 1.1, OHCI-compliant, OPTi-chip based PCI card such like:

MacAlly UH-275
Keyspan UPCI-2
Belkin F5U005
D-Link DSB-500


Some proposals for Texas Instruments TSB43 -chip based FireWire 400 IEEE-1394a cards with 6-pin buspower:

HP 515182-001
Adaptec AFW-4300B (red colored circuit board)
Belkin F5U503 rev.s
 
Ih8reno said:
Would this work

http://www.ebay.com/itm/201083507492
Click to expand...

It will work, but I'd stay well away from these really cheap PCI USB cards, the build quality is awful. The board is slightly too thick to fit easily in the PCI slot and has nasty edges with splinters of the PCB material coming off. I had one very much like this in my G4 and it would constantly drop out. It has the same chipset as my other USB card (NEC) which works flawlessly.
 
harrymatic said:
It will work, but I'd stay well away from these really cheap PCI USB cards, the build quality is awful. The board is slightly too thick to fit easily in the PCI slot and has nasty edges with splinters of the PCB material coming off. I had one very much like this in my G4 and it would constantly drop out. It has the same chipset as my other USB card (NEC) which works flawlessly.
Click to expand...

I have a Belkin card in mine. I don't know the model number and frankly I don't care but I can tell you the build is solid and fits great. Check it out. I bought mine from Amazon about a year ago for under $15. I know I could of gotten a cheaper model but I like quality parts.
 
Intell said:
Those are nice old machines. You can get OS 9.2.2 on it via OS 9 Helper. I highly recommend it as it makes it more stable and you get some newer things.
Click to expand...

Definitely! I have an 8600/250 and I noticed a huge bump up in performance and stability going from 9.1 to 9.2.2. Strange how a later OS would run so much more efficiently.

I find USB and FireWire support to be much better as well.

I use mine as an Appletalk Server for my 512K and Classic II, and FTP server (to forward the 512K over the internet as a server), and of course to write 800K disk images.

Great old tower. Interesting design too. Not exactly pretty, but curious. I got mine for only €20. The seller thought it had no HDD...except it did. He just didn't see it tucked up behind the PSU! Strange place for a drive I'll admit.

When it arrived I plugged it into the tv and up came OS 9 without an issue. Stuck an old PCI USB card I there and it's the best €20 I ever spent :D
 
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