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The Source for Mac Performance News and Reviews
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Ratings Database |
Searchable database by Mac model/Upgrade Brand with apprx. 2600+ entries (growing daily) from G3 CPU upgrade card owners on how their G3 upgrade performed, with a 1-10 rating, speeds obtained and comments on compatibility issues. Includes overclocking reports on Beige/B&W/iMac models. Entries added daily - add yours! |
500MHz Yikes G4/400 |
Reader submitted article by on how he overclocked (w/voltage tweaks) his Yikes G4/400 to 500MHz. Caution: Voids Warranty - Don't try this yourself, you could destroy your Mac! |
in a B&W G3 |
XLR8 G4/400Z installation into a rev 1.1 firmware B&W G3. Includes how to installer the XLR8 firmware patch that removes the G4 CPU block. |
Yikes G4 Overclocking |
Reader submitted article by Todd Eddie on how he overclocked his Yikes G4/400 to 450MHz. Includes before and after performance tests. Caution: Voids Warranty - Don't try this yourself! |
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Powerlogix Z-Force |
Exclusive first photos of the long awaited ZIF socketed CPU upgrade card from Powerlogix. Amazingly compact - not much larger than a ZIF CPU module that it holds! |
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Powerlogix G4 Upgrade |
Exclusive report on G4 CPU upgrade from Powerlogix. No real world tests as in the XLR8 G4 upgrade review (below), but pictures of their new small design and comments from George Cole on the card's features. |
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XLR8 G4 Upgrade |
Exclusive report on G4 CPU upgrade from XLR8. Tests against a G3 CPU of the same speed in the Genesis using the CarrierZIF card. Benchmarks and real world apps/games. |
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Chip Design Comparison |
Reader submitted specs and details on how the two processors compare in features and design. |
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XLR8 CarrierZIF |
Beginner's guide to installing a ZIF module in a CarrierZIF. Includes notes on switch settings and compatible ZIF modules. |
Risky? |
Although very rare, there are several reader reports indicating that there is a risk of system failures from upgrading some PowerComputing systems. |
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Copper/Alum ID util |
Michiro Isobe's Utility reports if your G3 CPU is Copper or Aluminum based. Available exclusively at www.xlr8yourmac.com. |
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Reader comments and specs from Jan 99 debate on Copper CPUs, temperatures and performance. |
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on G3 Bus Speeds |
A detailed explaination from Newer Tech on why a faster bus really may not help performance in older Macs with G3 CPU cards due to wait states and the memory timing design of the older Macs. (Thanks Kent Kanja!) |
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of G3 CPU Card Upgrades |
A detailed explaination of the bus speed issues and pros/cons of the G3 CPU card upgrades. |
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Test Results |
Results of tests with dozens of G3 CPU card upgrades and systems (including Beige and Blue and White G3) in popular Mac applications. Is a B&W G3 really faster at most applications than an upgraded Mac of the same CPU speed? |
Macs vs PII/PIII |
Photoshop 5 tests between a various Macs (Apple BW/Beige G3s, Upgraded older Macs, 9600/350 overclock) and includes Pentium III 500MHz and dual PII 450 NT comparisons as well. |
| A look inside and out of the new PowerBook G3. Also a illustrated guide to adding ram. | |
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Illustrated comparison of a 512K vs 1MB backside cache G3 Cards in Unreal. |
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Illustrated comparison of the boost a G3 CPU Card Upgrade makes in Unreal. |
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Photoshop filter tests show surprising results. |
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of the IBM G3 CPU |
Ryan Tokarek's illustrated article on boosting the voltage of a G3 CPU. This article is for reference only - do not attempt these modifications. |
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the G3 ZIF CPUs |
Katsuya Uehara of Tokyo, Japan sent the details on modifications he made that allowed his PowerForce G3/400 ZIF to run 500MHz. This article is for reference only - do not attempt these modifications. |
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Audio Apps Tests |
Thad Brown tests a Umax S900 w/604e 200mhz card vs a PF G3 220/110 at various speeds. Surprising results. |
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This page has 1998 owner feedback and tips for 7500 owners installing a PowerForce G3 card. A must read before you upgrade. Also check the the FAQ for more CPU upgrade info. |
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This page has tips for owners of PowerCurve (Catalyst) motherboard based Macs (Powerwave, Powertower (not pro), PowerCenter/Pro) installing a PowerForce G3 card. A must read before you upgrade. [From 1998] |
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Illustrated Guide |
Reader created page detailing the process of upgrading the PowerBook 2400. There is also a 2400 G3 CPU Upgrade review linked below. |
MaxPowr G3 Control |
Is the 60ns memory setting faster? Should I Disable my motherboard cache? Those Questions answered in this test. |
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(Don't forget to check the Searchable Database of 2300+ G3 owner reports and growing daily. Searchable by Mac Model and Upgrade Brand) |
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500Mhz/10X G3 Review |
Detailed 7 page review of the XLR8 G3 500MHz CPU upgrade for CPU card slot Macs covers everything from installation to applications, game and benchmark performance, software controls and more. Test results from 2 systems (Genesis/9500 and 9600/350). Performance exceeds even a G4/400 in non-Altivec optimized applications. This upgrade fits 7300-9600 Macs as well as most clones (see the review for a full list). |
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XLR8 G4 Upgrade |
Exclusive report on G4 CPU upgrade from XLR8. Tests against a G3 CPU of the same speed in the Genesis using the CarrierZIF card. Benchmarks and real world apps/games. |
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Mercury 350 & 400MHz G3 ZIFs |
Detailed review covering performance, installation and real world apps and benchmark tests of OWC's Mercury 350 and 400MHz ZIFs in Beige G3 and (via a CarrierZIF card) Genesis systems. As of the review date (10/99), these are the lowest cost/MHz G3 upgrades I know of on the market. |
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450Mhz/10X G3 Review |
Just as this went to press the G4 CPUs were announced so expect prices to drop and possibly this model as well. Detailed 7 page review covers everything from installation to applications and benchmark performance, software controls and more. Test results from 2 systems (Genesis/9500 and PowerCenter Pro) |
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ZIF Review |
Review of the lowest priced 466MHz upgrade at the time of publication. Tests include Beige and B&W G3s and tests in the PowerCenter Pro at 480/240/60 with ZIF installed in the CarrierZIF base card. |
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Review |
First review of the innovative new XLR8 CarrierZIF CPU card. Detailed 7 page review covers everything from installation to applications and benchmark performance, software controls and more. Test results from 3 systems (9600/350, Genesis/9500 and PowerCenter Pro). PowerTower Pro notes also included. |
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First Look! |
First preview of the revolutionary XLR8 CarrierZIF CPU card. Read about the advantages it offeres over previous CPU Card slot designs and much more. With a ZIF Socket on the card - upgrades are easy and lower cost. |
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400/200/1MB |
Review of Powerlogix's 400Mhz adjustable ZIF Upgrade for Apple G3 (beige/AIO/B&W G3) Macs. (Reviews of their 366/183, 400/266 and 466/311 ZIFs are farther farther down this page). |
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400/200/1MB ZIF |
Review of XLR8's 400Mhz adjustable ZIF Upgrade for Apple G3 (beige/AIO/B&W G3) Macs. OS X compatibility tests included. |
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366/183/1MB ZIF |
Review of PowerLogix's affordable 366MHz ZIF Upgrade for G3 (beige/AIO/B&W G3) Macs. The review sample was reliable at 400/200 speeds. |
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466/311/1MB ZIF |
First review of PowerLogix's fastest upgrade ever - the PowerForce 466/311/1MB ZIF Upgrade for Apple's G3 Macs. Speeds as high as 550MHz were reached. |
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466MHz G3 CPU Card |
Detailed reader review of Newer Tech's 466/233/1MB G3 Upgrade for CPU Slot (PCI Macs) based Macs by Brian William Jones |
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Detailed Reader review of Newer Tech's latest line of G3 upgrades for CPU Slot (PCI Macs) and ZIF (Apple G3) based Macs by Brian William Jones |
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CPU Card |
Vimage's fixed speed G3/233 was plug and play and compatible with the Adaptec SCSI card as well. Read the review for all the details. Tested in an 8600, but compatible with most PCI Macs. |
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ZIF Review |
Read the first review anywhere of Powerlogix's 400MHz ZIF based upgrade for Apple G3s. |
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Read the first review anywhere of the first shipping G3/400MHz upgrade. It plugged and played in both test systems (9600/350, Genesis/9500) and delivered record breaking performance. Compatible with most PCI Macs with a CPU Card Slot. |
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Reader Review of Sonnet G3 CPU upgrades for the Performa 5400/6400. Thanks to Thomas Koons for the review and link. |
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Reader Review of the Vimage G3 upgrade for the Performa 6400/5400 (and 6500 I believe). Thanks to Thomas Koons for the review and link. |
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Guest Review of the new Vimage G3 CPU Upgrades in a 8500. They seem compatible with the Adaptec SCSI cards, unlike many other brands. Compatible with most PCI Macs that have a CPU card slot. |
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for Umax C500/600/Apus 2000/3000 |
Reader review from Jim Tourtouras covers installation, application and game performance, and more. Lots of photos of the card and installation are included. |
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Owner Report on Newer Tech's MaxPowr G3 for the Umax C500/600 |
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An exclusive first look at the new PowerForce G3/ZIF upgrade for Apple G3 systems. Includes 400 MHz CPU speed test results. |
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Guest Review of the Sonnet Cresendo G3 CPU Upgrade in a 6100. |
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Guest Review of Bottom Line's 300/300/1MB CPU card upgrade for PCI Macs with a CPU Card slot. |
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Excellent guest review of the RailGun 250/166 G3 CPU Card upgrade for PCI Macs with a CPU Card slot |
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Bottom Line's new G3 250/166 card is the first 1 MB cache model under $700. Tested in a PowerTower Pro but compatible with most PCI Macs with a CPU Card slot. |
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XLR8's 266/177 ran at 300/300 Speeds! Compatible with most PCI Macs with a CPU card slot. |
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Reader Review of doing his first CPU upgrade in a 8500. Compatible with most PCI Macs that have a CPU card slot. |
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First reader comments/notes on the Phase 5 G3 CPU card (first model released). |
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A review of MacTell's 266/266/1MB G3 card. Tested in a PowerTower Pro but compatible with most PCI slot Macs that have a CPU card slot (7300-9600, etc.) |
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The first G3 CPU Upgrade to break the under $500 barrier in 1998 [Now under $300] At the time of introduction, most cards were $1000). The 220/110 cards have gotten amazing owner reports of speeds over 350MHz in some cases. Compatible with most PCI Macs with a CPU Card slot. See the FAQ and Tips/Misc pages for important notes on PowerForce G3 hardware/software compatibility. |
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The First G3 CPU Upgrade in the world to offer 1:1 Backside cache speeds (the 2nd CPU card model ever shipped). This 250/250 card ran 292/292 speeds for over a year in extensive testing. For PCI Macs with a CPU Card slot. See the FAQ for Compatibility issues. |
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Newer's original 275mhz G3 CPU card w/1MB 1:1 Cache |
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& 266/177/1MB Reviewed |
Reviews of Newer Tech's G3 250/125 and 266/177 cards at various cache speeds. Compatible with most PCI Macs with a CPU Card slot. See the FAQ for important info on buffered ram types and Newer Tech G3 cards. |
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Guest Review of Newer Tech's G3 266mhz w/133mhz backside cache. Compatible with most PCI Macs with a CPU card slot. |
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Reader report detailing before/after Benchark and Battery life test results of his Newer Tech PowerBook 2400 CPU Upgrade. |
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Explanation of the speed mods on Mach 5 CPU Cards. |
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PTP 200 |
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(MB4.0 Graph blasts 30% claim) |
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| Feedback | |
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If you'd rather not use the form, please Email your comments. |
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If you have a performance oriented hardware or software product you'd like featured on this site, Contact me to submit a product for review. |
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Thanks to my better half for tolerating all the time I spend on this site.
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Copyright © Michael Breeden, 1997-1999.
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