It may not be colorful, or made of aluminium...

[Fami7455]

...but the Power Macintosh G3 can pack quite a punch if you want it to.



Let this thread be dedicated to the ol' faithful Beige G3!
Post yours: Minitowers, AIOs or Outriggers, stock or upgraded! Show that love for the unsung hero of Apple's comeback!

 

[Appleuser201]

Even more exciting if someone has a Powermac G3... All in one! Some people think they are ugly but they look so cool.

Powermac G3 AIO running Classic Mac OS

OS X Jaguar on a G3 AIO!

 

[Amethyst1]

OS X Jaguar on a G3 AIO!

The presence of Dashboard implies Tiger. Still a cool pic tho.
[doublepost=1568031615][/doublepost]

!

Any interest in trying Leopard on that G4 Beigey?

 

[Dronecatcher]

Don't want to be a stick in the mud....but a G3 isn't really a G3 when it's CPU is a G4...

 

[LightBulbFun]

...but the Power Macintosh G3 can pack quite a punch if you want it to.
View attachment 856686View attachment 856687
View attachment 856688 View attachment 856689

Let this thread be dedicated to the ol' faithful Beige G3!
Post yours: Minitowers or Outriggers, stock or upgraded! Show that love for the unsung hero of Apple's comeback!

Very Cool setup! properly maxed out!

needs a Leopard shot

heres mine https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ige-xpc106-memory-controller-upgrade.2119510/

(side note interesting to see the wiebe firmware works on your G3 beige, it was nothing but a buggy mess on my G3 Beiges so I was quite happy when I got a card flashed with Firmtek firmware which works much better, and also works in System 7 to Mac OS 9.2.2 as well )

 

[Fami7455]

Even more exciting if someone has a Powermac G3... All in one! Some people think they are ugly but they look so cool.
View attachment 856738
Powermac G3 AIO running Classic Mac OS
View attachment 856739
OS X Jaguar on a G3 AIO!

Ah, the AIO! What a beauty! I had forgotten about these. I've never seen one in real life, I think they weren't even sold in my region. Boggles the mind how they fit a full PowerMac, PCI slots and all, into such a form factor.

Any interest in trying Leopard on that G4 Beigey?

needs a Leopard shot

I have Leo on an SSD hanging off the SATA bus, but performance is pretty bad compared to Tiger due to the lack of Quartz Extreme acceleration.

Don't want to be a stick in the mud....but a G3 isn't really a G3 when it's CPU is a G4...

It's a G4 machine, but I think it's still a "Power Macintosh G3". It certainly doesn't qualify as a "Power Mac G4".
As in; If you upgrade a Power Macintosh 6100 with a G3, it's still a Power Macintosh 6100. But it's a G3 machine.
I generally still call machines by their original model name until their logic board gets replaced.

heres mine https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ige-xpc106-memory-controller-upgrade.2119510/

(side note interesting to see the wiebe firmware works on your G3 beige, it was nothing but a buggy mess on my G3 Beiges so I was quite happy when I got a card flashed with Firmtek firmware which works much better, and also works in System 7 to Mac OS 9.2.2 as well )

Very nice. Mine hit 83MHz stable without replacing anything, and I was running the same config as yours for a while until I got the 1GHz card.

Interesting to know about the wiebetech firmware thing, as mine also appears to be a Rev. B machine. I can't turn it on right now to check the OFW version, since I'm in the middle of a move and the whole setup is torn apart. But I suspect that might be why it works fine on mine.
If only I had the courage to replace that flash chip so I could flash the Firmtek FW...

 

[bunnspecial]

I'm actually currently excavating my hotrod tower in my office, and will post photos hopefully in the next day or two. Mine was built several years ago by someone and used as their main system. It was given to me, and I've added my own touches as they came along.

Mine is a minitower, and has the following:

1. 1ghz Sonnet G4

2. "Jackhammer" card driving a 10K SCSI drive

3. Radeon 9200(upgraded by me from a 7000)

4. Sonnet FW/USB 2.0 card

At the moment, mine doesn't have a personality card. I was running a Bordeaux in it, but pulled that when I heard of someone else looking for one. I need to bring in another Wings card from home.

I've had a lot of fun tinkering with these over the years. Among some other prizes:

An AIO with a 500mhz Sonnet G4

My first one, an outrigger that I put a B&W card in and O/Ced it to I think 466mhz

A factory server with a couple of 10K SCSI drives(that one hurts my ears when it's running)

 

[Appleuser201]

Unfortunately, thats not my setup but it is in fact, my dream setup. A beige G3 AIO, with original mouse and keyboard and some 90's beige speakers.
Then upgrade the stock CPU to a G4, and some other upgrades such as ram to 768mb and then attempt to get Leopard on this machine.
My second beige set up will actually be a desktop PM G3, but I'll leave it stock (except for ram) and probably keep it on OS 8.5 or 9.2

I will need to locate the proper drivers for this machine after the G4 upgrade to make the installation of Leopard even possible.

 

[bunnspecial]

I'll try and get my AIO booted tonight, although I don't think I have any version of OS X loaded on it now.

I remember @LightBulbFun giving me a hard time at one point because I photographed both a somewhat uncommon computer(I know they made a ton, but a lot seem to have gone to recycling) but also stuck the also somewhat uncommon first gen Apple ADB keyboard out in front of it . I was using that particular one because it and the Keyboard II are small-I actually use the Extended II on most of my systems that see regular use(I prefer the original Extended, but they're tough to find, and the only one I have is on my Mac Pro 5,1 via a Griffin iMate)

 

[Appleuser201]

I'll try and get my AIO booted tonight, although I don't think I have any version of OS X loaded on it now.

I remember @LightBulbFun giving me a hard time at one point because I photographed both a somewhat uncommon computer(I know they made a ton, but a lot seem to have gone to recycling) but also stuck the also somewhat uncommon first gen Apple ADB keyboard out in front of it . I was using that particular one because it and the Keyboard II are small-I actually use the Extended II on most of my systems that see regular use(I prefer the original Extended, but they're tough to find, and the only one I have is on my Mac Pro 5,1 via a Griffin iMate)

I read somewhere about someone having difficulties getting any supported version of OS X on the G3 AIO (10.2 and earlier) and gave up, keeping it an OS 9 only machine. Wouldn't those problems relate to the fact that he hadn't got the right drivers and/or firmware updates on Mac OS 9?

 

[bunnspecial]

I've never really had any issue installing 10.2 on any beige system, even bone stock aside from a RAM upgrade.

I have run into issues with them being picky about RAM, or more generally I've attempted myself and known others to attempt a G4 upgrade using a Yikes! CPU. I had one at one time in my AIO, and even OS 9 was touchy with more than one RAM stick of any capacity installed. With a G3, and then later the Sonnet, it's been fine with 768mb.

I'd have to check, but my AIO might have a 10.2.8 install from a previous owner. I've had several different beige G3s running Tiger with Xpostfacto without any trouble.

The AIO is somewhat handicapped in that it is really difficult to use anything other than the onboard graphics, which are a bit lacking for later versions of OS X. There are ways to use something like a 9200, but they're not straight forward.

 

[DearthnVader]

I've never really had any issue installing 10.2 on any beige system, even bone stock aside from a RAM upgrade.

I have run into issues with them being picky about RAM, or more generally I've attempted myself and known others to attempt a G4 upgrade using a Yikes! CPU. I had one at one time in my AIO, and even OS 9 was touchy with more than one RAM stick of any capacity installed. With a G3, and then later the Sonnet, it's been fine with 768mb.

I'd have to check, but my AIO might have a 10.2.8 install from a previous owner. I've had several different beige G3s running Tiger with Xpostfacto without any trouble.

The AIO is somewhat handicapped in that it is really difficult to use anything other than the onboard graphics, which are a bit lacking for later versions of OS X. There are ways to use something like a 9200, but they're not straight forward.

setenv pci-probe-mask;-)

 

[Project Alice]

Here's my two Beige G3s. The one running in the pictures is the mini tower.
It's CPU is actually a 450Mhz from a B&W, but I don't have a jumper to change it to that speed right now.
Its using an ATA133 PCI card for booting Mac OS X Tiger. A Radeon 7000 graphics card.
(I have a DB15 > VGA adapter for that monitor).
The Desktop G3 under the monitor is a 266MHz, only running Mac OS 9.2.2. 384MB of ram, and it has the Rage 128 Pro out of my B&W. Which is still a nice upgrade from the onboard graphics.

 

[Project Alice]

Here's my B&W G4.
It's been upgraded to a 500Mhz G4. I flashed a GeForce 5200 and installed it. Quartz Extreme and Core Image both work. There is no OS 9 support but I have plenty of other macs I can use if I want to endure OS 9 for any reason. Boot drives are also on an ATA133 card. There's no USB 2.0 card but I use FW for nearly everything that USB is only use for a mouse and keyboard anyways. I also have a GigE NIC from an xserve G4 installed in it.

It also has Leopard installed on it, fully usable except USB doesn't work for some reason so I'd have to plug in an ADB mouse and keyboard to use it.

 

[LightBulbFun]

Here's my B&W G4.
It's been upgraded to a 500Mhz G4. I flashed a GeForce 5200 and installed it. Quartz Extreme and Core Image both work. There is no OS 9 support but I have plenty of other macs I can use if I want to endure OS 9 for any reason. Boot drives are also on an ATA133 card. There's no USB 2.0 card but I use FW for nearly everything that USB is only use for a mouse and keyboard anyways. I also have a GigE NIC from an xserve G4 installed in it.

It also has Leopard installed on it, fully usable except USB doesn't work for some reason so I'd have to plug in an ADB mouse and keyboard to use it.

very nice I love the 21 inch Studio display

any plans to outfit it with a GeForce 6200 for full Core image support and that translucent menu bar in Leopard?

getting USB working is on the hit list, I really need to put together a better Leopard image!

the one I currently have was originally just thrown together for @bunnspecial to do some testing with, so never really was meant to be distributed publicly LOL

 

[Project Alice]

very nice I love the 21 inch Studio display

any plans to outfit it with a GeForce 6200 for full Core image support and that translucent menu bar in Leopard?

getting USB working is on the hit list, I really need to put together a better Leopard image!

the one I currently have was originally just thrown together for @bunnspecial to do some testing with, so never really was meant to be distributed publicly LOL

I actually do have a PCI 6200 that is sitting in an old packard bell PC right now. I've debated trying to flash that one over and use it instead...
I'm fairly certain I got this Leopard image from you too lol

 

[Appleuser201]

I've never really had any issue installing 10.2 on any beige system, even bone stock aside from a RAM upgrade.

I have run into issues with them being picky about RAM, or more generally I've attempted myself and known others to attempt a G4 upgrade using a Yikes! CPU. I had one at one time in my AIO, and even OS 9 was touchy with more than one RAM stick of any capacity installed. With a G3, and then later the Sonnet, it's been fine with 768mb.

I'd have to check, but my AIO might have a 10.2.8 install from a previous owner. I've had several different beige G3s running Tiger with Xpostfacto without any trouble.

The AIO is somewhat handicapped in that it is really difficult to use anything other than the onboard graphics, which are a bit lacking for later versions of OS X. There are ways to use something like a 9200, but they're not straight forward.

You should try getting Leopard running on that thing, since you already have that G4 upgrade. Or even modern Linux. With those operating systems, and modern browsers faster than TenFourFox, these old world beige Macs can even be made into daily drivers!
It may be pushing our luck, but with Leopard installed comes the chance with maybe, just maybe, desktop YouTube working in Leopard WebKit. YouTube on a beige Mac. That's definitely exciting to think about.
[doublepost=1568085793][/doublepost]

Here's my B&W G4.
It's been upgraded to a 500Mhz G4. I flashed a GeForce 5200 and installed it. Quartz Extreme and Core Image both work. There is no OS 9 support but I have plenty of other macs I can use if I want to endure OS 9 for any reason. Boot drives are also on an ATA133 card. There's no USB 2.0 card but I use FW for nearly everything that USB is only use for a mouse and keyboard anyways. I also have a GigE NIC from an xserve G4 installed in it.

It also has Leopard installed on it, fully usable except USB doesn't work for some reason so I'd have to plug in an ADB mouse and keyboard to use it.

Since you have Leopard installed already...
I'd love to see YouTube performance in Leopard WebKit.
Please show us, YouTube at 500mhz on a Mac from the 90s.

 

[LightBulbFun]

You should try getting Leopard running on that thing, since you already have that G4 upgrade. Or even modern Linux. With those operating systems, and modern browsers faster than TenFourFox, these old world beige Macs can even be made into daily drivers!
It may be pushing our luck, but with Leopard installed comes the chance with maybe, just maybe, desktop YouTube working in Leopard WebKit. YouTube on a beige Mac. That's definitely exciting to think about.
[doublepost=1568085793][/doublepost]
Since you have Leopard installed already...
I'd love to see YouTube performance in Leopard WebKit.
Please show us, YouTube at 500mhz on a Mac from the 90s.

hahah iv been trying to get @bunnspecial to do that for years LOL


(although with a 400-500Mhz G4 I dont see that playing youtube sadly)

I actually do have a PCI 6200 that is sitting in an old packard bell PC right now. I've debated trying to flash that one over and use it instead...
I'm fairly certain I got this Leopard image from you too lol

indeed im pretty sure my Image is the only premade pre Uninorth Leopard image out there

hence my coments about needing to get USB working for the G3 BW and some iMac G3 tray loaders

 

[Project Alice]

hahah iv been trying to get @bunnspecial to do that for years LOL


(although with a 400-500Mhz G4 I dont see that playing youtube sadly)



indeed im pretty sure my Image is the only premade pre Uninorth Leopard image out there

hence my coments about needing to get USB working for the G3 BW and some iMac G3 tray loaders

Also, I just realized that FireWire doesn't work either.
I assumed the only caveat with these G4 upgraded macs were the PCI graphics. I know @dosdude1 was able to boot leopard on his G4 upgraded tray loader iMac, and the handful of G4 clamshells out there.. These are all AGP based.
Does USB (and FW for the later clamshell) not work on these?

 

[bunnspecial]

I've only run @LightBulbFun 's image on a B&W(in my case with a flashed 5200) but IIRC FW worked perfectly fine on it. I don't know why it wouldn't work on a beige G3(or older) with a PCI FW card, especially if you take care to match chipsets. It's no different from having a combo USB/FW card in a later AGP Mac, which is something I've also done pretty extensively.

 

[LightBulbFun]

Also, I just realized that FireWire doesn't work either.
I assumed the only caveat with these G4 upgraded macs were the PCI graphics. I know @dosdude1 was able to boot leopard on his G4 upgraded tray loader iMac, and the handful of G4 clamshells out there.. These are all AGP based.
Does USB (and FW for the later clamshell) not work on these?

the iMac G3 tray loader is a PCI based mac (its basically somewhere between a G3 beige and a G3 BW stuffed into an AIO form factor) Dosdude1 ran leopard on it with my image

the iBook clamshell is indeed AGP based and as such its uninorth based so leopard works OOB

 

[ifrit05]

Heads up guys, someone is selling some Sonnet Encores for the G3 towers on the bay. Just got a G3 500 MHz from the seller. Also has 400 and 450 MHz G4's on sale.

500 MHz G3: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sonnet-Enc...408338?hash=item3fbd274a12:g:EWoAAOSwoMZchtW~

400 MHz G4: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sonnet-Enc...424013?hash=item3fbd27874d:g:xvwAAOSwcwdchtoX

450 G4: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sonnet-Enc...426390?hash=item3fbd279096:g:ufUAAOSwRcZchttg

I already had a XLR8 MACh Speed G3 Accelerator for my G3 Beige but I couldn't get it to boot with the jumper settings and there is very little documentation available that is easy to follow so I gave up and bought the Sonnet 500 MHz CPU.

 

[bunnspecial]

I've used several different G4 upgrades, and here's what I'd recommend in order of least preferred to most preferred for 500mhz and lower:

1. Yikes! CPU-tempting because it's inexpensive and easy to find, but can be buggy on beiges and requires messing with jumpers

2. Powerlogix and a few others-works reliably, but requires messing with jumpers

3. Sonnet G4 ZIFs-the 7400/7410 versions use the stock heatsink(which I guess all of them do) but have Sonnet magic dust sprinkled on them so that they run at the correct clock speed without changing jumpers and work as well as a factory CPU. I have one in my AIO, and it hasn't missed a beat.

 

[Appleuser201]

Also, I just realized that FireWire doesn't work either.
I assumed the only caveat with these G4 upgraded macs were the PCI graphics. I know @dosdude1 was able to boot leopard on his G4 upgraded tray loader iMac, and the handful of G4 clamshells out there.. These are all AGP based.
Does USB (and FW for the later clamshell) not work on these?

The G4 Clamshell mod is definitely something I wanna try someday... I've heard before of someone managing to upgrade a slot loading iMac to a G4 although I imagine that would be extremely difficult..

 

[LightBulbFun]

I already had a XLR8 MACh Speed G3 Accelerator

4 dip switches on the card right?

they follow the same PLL configurations as listed in the datasheet of the MPC750 7400 7410 etc etc

on off on off should be a 4x multiplier and allow it to boot

(or might off on off on)

The G4 Clamshell mod is definitely something I wanna try someday... I've heard before of someone managing to upgrade a slot loading iMac to a G4 although I imagine that would be extremely difficult..

slot loaders are easier to do then clamshells

have you ever had to take apart an iBook?! *gets PTSD induced flashbacks*

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...iy-ibook-g3-clamshell-g4-cpu-upgrade.2105654/