DayStar Genesis MP

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Overview

DayStar Genesis The first multiple processor Mac OS computer, the Genesis came in dual- and quad-processor versions based on the PowerPC 604 processor.

There are three different versions of the MP 528 based on different Apple motherboard designs/

The dual-processor MP 300 could be upgraded to a quad-processor MP 600 by adding two additional CPU cards.

The Genesis MP was replaced by the MP+, which used the faster, more efficient 604e processor.

Details

MP 300 introduced 1 May 1996 at US$7,000; discontinued: 1 August 1996
MP 528 introduced 30 Oct. 1995 at US$10,000; discontinued 1 Sept. 1996
MP 600 introduced 1 Feb. 1996 at US$12,000; discontinued 1 Sept. 1996
requires System 7.5.3 through 9.1
CPU: 132 or 150 MHz PPC 604 (2 or 4) on daughter card
bus: 44-50 MHz
RAM: 16 MB, expandable to 1,536 MB using 12 DIMM slots, accepts 60 ns 168-pin DIMMs (8 slots on early MP 528s limit expansion to 1,024 MB)
Video: accepts PCI video card
L2 cache: 512 KB
hard drive: 1 GB
CD-ROM: 4x SCSI drive
ADB: 1 port for keyboard and mouse
two miniDIN-8 GeoPorts on back of computer
SCSI: DB-25 connector on back of computer
PCI slots: 6
height: 21.0 in
width: 8.5 in
depth: 22.0 in
weight: 50 lbs
PRAM battery: 3.6V half-AA

Accelerators & Upgrades

CPU daughtercards, see especially G3 Daughter Cards and G4 Daughter Cards.

Online Resources

The 25 most important Macs (part 2), Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2009.02.17. The 25 most significant Macs in the first 25 years of the platform, continued.
SATA and PCI Power Macs: No OS X joy, but you can boot OS 9, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2006.11.17. Weeks of experimention find that while you can't seem to boot a pre-G3 Power Mac into OS X from a SATA hard drive, you can at least boot OS 9 from it.
Musings on low-end SATA cards in PCI Power Macs, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2006.11.06. Thoughts on why the inexpensive SATA card might almost work in a pre-G3 PCI Power Mac.
Old Power Macs and SATA not a marriage made in heaven, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2006.11.03. The PCI SATA card said blue & white G3 or newer and Mac OS 8.6 or later, but maybe it would work in an older pre-G3 Power Mac....
System 7 Today, advocates of Apple's 'orphan' Mac OS 7.6.1, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 2006.10.26. Why Mac OS 7.6.1 is far better for 68040 and PowerPC Macs than System 7.5.x.
Preparing your PCI Power Mac for Linux, Larry Stotler, Linux on the Low End, 2006.07.26. How powerful a CPU do you need? How much memory? Do you need a faster drive controller? Are some video cards better than others?
Getting the Mac digital jukebox up and running, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2006.05.08. Connecting your PowerPC Mac to your rstereo and remote control options for running a headless digital audio jukebox.
System 7.6.1 is perfect for many older Macs, John Martorana, That Old Mac Magic, 2006.03.24. Want the best speed from your old Mac? System 7.6.1 can give you that with a fairly small memory footprint - also helpful on older Macs.
Web browser tips for the classic Mac OS, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2006.01.03. Tips on getting the most out of WaMCom, Mozilla, Internet Explorer, iCab, Opera, and WannaBe using the classic Mac OS.
The best browsers for PowerPC Macs and the classic Mac OS, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2005.12.16. Two browsers stand out from the pack: iCab 3 is modern and remains under development, and WaMCom brings Mozilla to older Macs.
How Big a Hard Drive Can I Put in My iMac, eMac, Power Mac, PowerBook, or iBook?, Dan Knight, Mac Daniel, 2005.10.24. A lot of older Macs don't know how to deal with drives over 128 GB in size. We look at three options.
Sonata SD, Sonnet Tech, 2004.06.01. First new PCI video card for the Mac in ages sells for just US$99, supports OS 7.5.3 and later plus OS X 10.1.5 and later, works with VGA or old Mac monitors, 16 MB VRAM.
Review: DayStar Genesis MP 800+, Umax SuperMac S900/250 DP RAID, ZDnet.
Review: DayStar Genesis MP 800, Exec PC.
Multiprocessing and DayStar, PC Magazine Online
Caution: All four processors do not run when using Photoshop 5.0 or E, Adobe, 2/26/99. You must remove the Adobe MP plug-in to allow DayStar's to function.
Genesis MP, Daystar
DayStar Genesis, Every Mac
Genesis MP 300, Every Mac
Genesis MP 528, Every Mac
Genesis MP 600, Every Mac
Service: Star-Teck

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