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RogerWilco6502

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Jan 12, 2019
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So now that I have my iBook G3, I would like to give it some upgrades. First and foremost, I'd like to upgrade the storage from the 10GB HDD to a ~128GB SSD. Where would I be able to find a good quality PATA SSD? I would go for an SD/CF card solution, but I intend to put Mac OS X on there and I've heard that the pagefile can kill SD/CF cards easily.

Next I want to upgrade the memory. Preferrably a 512MB PC-100 SODIMM. Where would be the best place to find it for a good price?

Lastly I'd like to get a battery and CD drive if at all possible. I likely won't be able to find these new, so would eBay be the best option or would someplace else be better?
 
So now that I have my iBook G3, I would like to give it some upgrades. First and foremost, I'd like to upgrade the storage from the 10GB HDD to a ~128GB SSD. Where would I be able to find a good quality PATA SSD?

Don't bother with searching for a PATA SSD or going down the SD/CF route. :)

Instead, buy an mSATA SSD and place it inside an mSATA to PATA converter case. Much easier and cheaper - have a read of my experiences with this method here. I've successfully replaced the HDD in my Mini using this approach and I'm working on doing the same with my iBook G3.

Next I want to upgrade the memory. Preferrably a 512MB PC-100 SODIMM. Where would be the best place to find it for a good price?

eBay, believe it or not. I've just checked on there and found loads at decent prices.

Lastly I'd like to get a battery and CD drive if at all possible. I likely won't be able to find these new, so would eBay be the best option or would someplace else be better?

Replacement batteries can be found easily on Amazon and eBay. As for the CD drive, is the internal one not operational? You could buy a 5.25 FireWire enclosure and look for a IDE/PATA DVD-RW - which would allow you to watch and burn DVDs: much better than a CD drive. ;)
 
Don't bother with searching for a PATA SSD or going down the SD/CF route. :)

Instead, buy an mSATA SSD and place it inside an mSATA to PATA converter case. Much easier and cheaper - have a read of my experiences with this method here. I've successfully replaced the HDD in my Mini using this approach and I'm working on doing the same with my iBook G3.
Ok, awesome! Thank you! :D

eBay, believe it or not. I've just checked on there and found loads at decent prices.
Ok, thanks! How picky are G3s about the memory you put in them?

Replacement batteries can be found easily on Amazon and eBay. As for the CD drive, is the internal one not operational? You could buy a 5.25 FireWire enclosure and look for a IDE/PATA DVD-RW - which would allow you to watch and burn DVDs: much better than a CD drive. ;)

Ok, thank you! The CD drive isn't operational. That idea for an enclosure is an awesome one! I'll have to see what I can find in terms of FW 400 enclosures. I did just order a DVD burner for my Power Mac, so maybe I can put it in an enclosure until I find a good drive to permanently place in there. :)
 
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Ok, thanks! How picky are G3s about the memory you put in them?

That I can't answer because mine came with a Kingston module already installed. You should be able to find this out with a bit of Googling.

Ok, thank you! The CD drive isn't operational. That idea for an enclosure is an awesome one! I'll have to see what I can find in terms of FW 400 enclosures. I did just order a DVD burner for my Power Mac, so maybe I can put it in an enclosure until I find a good drive to permanently place in there. :)

If you're feeling sufficiently daring, you could take the plunge and replace the internal CD drive with a slot loading DVD one. Considering that replacing the HDD drive will involve a significant disassembly anyway, it's something you could also tackle at the same time. The drive you'd require is the Panasonic CW-8123-C and there are lots of them available on eBay quite cheaply. Here's a blog on the subject by someone who has carried out the replacement.
 
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That I can't answer because mine came with a Kingston module already installed. You should be able to find this out with a bit of Googling.



If you're feeling sufficiently daring, you could take the plunge and replace the internal CD drive with a slot loading DVD one. Considering that replacing the HDD drive will involve a significant disassembly anyway, it's something you could also tackle at the same time. The drive you'd require is the Panasonic CW-8123-C and there are lots of them available on eBay quite cheaply. Here's a blog on the subject by someone who has carried out the replacement.
Ok, thank you for the resources! I'll study them thoroughly! :D
 
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Don't bother with searching for a PATA SSD or going down the SD/CF route. :)

Instead, buy an mSATA SSD and place it inside an mSATA to PATA converter case. Much easier and cheaper - have a read of my experiences with this method here. I've successfully replaced the HDD in my Mini using this approach and I'm working on doing the same with my iBook G3.



eBay, believe it or not. I've just checked on there and found loads at decent prices.



Replacement batteries can be found easily on Amazon and eBay. As for the CD drive, is the internal one not operational? You could buy a 5.25 FireWire enclosure and look for a IDE/PATA DVD-RW - which would allow you to watch and burn DVDs: much better than a CD drive. ;)

On a side note, I’ve only seen G3 Clamshell batteries go for over 150$ on eBay, is there really no other place to find new ones? That’s 50$ more then I bought the Clamshell for itself.
 
On a side note, I’ve only seen G3 Clamshell batteries go for over 150$ on eBay, is there really no other place to find new ones? That’s 50$ more then I bought the Clamshell for itself.

This UK based company is selling batteries with reportedly 90% of their original capacity for £25 GBP. I don't know how much they'd charge for shipping to the US but it has to work out far cheaper than paying $150 USD! ;)
 
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This UK based company is selling batteries with reportedly 90% of their original capacity for £25 GBP. I don't know how much they'd charge for shipping to the US but it has to work out far cheaper than paying $150 USD! ;)

Amazing, thanks! I can’t tell if they ship to my state but at around 30$ I’ll take the risk.

I should buy at least 2 because who knows how long this will be available, such a niche.
 
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Amazing, thanks! I can’t tell if they ship to my state but at around 30$ I’ll take the risk.

You're welcome. If you do decide to go ahead with it, report back on the results. :)

I should buy at least 2 because who knows how long this will be available, such a niche.

In my opinion, to do so would be extremely prudent. I remember the suggestion of a sibling that I buy three spares of an HP laptop that I enjoyed using, in order to maintain it over the years. Spielberg switched to Avid in 2011/2012 but had stockpiled his preferred Moviola flatbed editor and the spare parts "to guard against a future shortage" and to me, such thinking is astute and anticipatory when it comes to ensuring that you can continue to use tech that you're fond of or depend upon.
 
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You're welcome. If you do decide to go ahead with it, report back on the results. :)



In my opinion, do so would be extremely prudent. I remember the suggestion of a sibling that I buy three spares of an HP laptop that I enjoyed using, in order to maintain it over the years. Spielberg switched to Avid in 2011/2012 but had stockpiled his preferred Moviola flatbed editor and the spare parts "to guard against a future shortage" and to me, such thinking is astute and anticipatory when it comes to ensuring that you can continue to use tech that you're fond of or depend upon.

The good thing about batteries is it’s actually pretty easy from a manufacturing point of view to keep producing long obsolete models. It just needs to be in spec. A specific voltage, connector, capacity, shape, etc.

The only worrying thing is demand, that would be the only reason no one would manufacture new ones in the future.

Im definitely pulling the trigger sooner or later on this, and I’ll write up a thread on the performance. Things like charging time 0%-100%, time from 100%-0%, does it last the 6 hours Apple said in the introduction, etc.
 
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@alex_free I came across this thread in the FB LEM group and immediately thought of you. It's interesting! :)

Pd2S05O.png
 
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Ive heard about this! So is it a special casing that fits the battery slot on the laptop? Or is it the original battery casing gutted?

From what I can gather within the thread, he's gutted the original battery casing. Although I suppose you could create replacements with a 3D printer, come to think of it.

I think the cells are just rechargeable double A’s.

Yeah, with a particular rating. These are the ones that OP is considering now...

90828778_10158533336054416_4155994953303982080_n.jpg
 
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Congrats to the Clamshell!
When I read the parts about reusing the opened original batteries to fit in replacements, then I'm sorry about dumping old Clamshell-batteries, that were completely dead. Especially because I didn't want to set our home on fire ...
So I've got only one fully working replacement-battery left that sit's in my Clamshell Graphite. It came at about 25 bucks 3y ago.
To be honest: currently it's just there for powering the internal clock. And for the feeling that everything is in place.
I do not like to carry the brittle Clamshell around and the Clamshell's power-adapter is save and firmly attached to the machine and I'm just using it in one place on my desk without need of mobility, so an overpriced battery would be the last thing, I'd go for now!

But a 512 MB RAM brick is somewhat essential for Tiger.
And an mSATA-to-IDE-converter too! (my Clamshell has got a 256GB mSATA devided into 3 partitions for os9/Tiger/data).
And a Vonets WLAN-To-Ethernet-bridge for both os9 and Tiger (or Edimax mini USB-WLAN-stick just for Tiger).

Does yours Clamshell sports FireWire? Then an external FireWire DVD-drive (25 bucks) would be an option.
Maybe time will make you find a fitting internal CD-drive.
(BTW: the colored outer bezel differs between the DVD and the CD-drive versions, so you won't be able to swap the CD-drive for a DVD without getting a new Bezel (and I don't know, if a DVD-bezel will fit at all...)
 
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