Mac Daniel's Advice

Feedback on Mac Daniel 99.01.04

Which Is Better, a 6100 or 6300?

Dan Knight

AT writes: As a 6100 user I beg to disagree!!! Given a choice between a 6100/60 and a 6300/100 I would go for the 6100 flat out.

While the 60 MHz 601 may seem slower than the 100 MHz 603, the bus and motherboard issues discussed in Road Apple make it far less efficient than any other PPC machine.

Without either an AV or HPV card, motherboard video on the 6100 just sucks - however, even that is not much worse than the built in video of the 6300. Furthermore, with the purchase of a second hand AV card (quite rare and expensive, $100-150) or an HPV card (much more common and cheap - about $50-80), the video performance will knock the socks off the 6300.

The 6100 also has built in Ethernet, a big plus for future cable modem use.

The 6100 also has full speed serial ports, either of which can support a GeoPort.

Future G3 expandability is also a plus. I know you mentioned that it does not make sense to add this $499 upgrade now, but in a few months, when the prices drop and the card should be available either NOS or second hand for around $200, it will be a viable upgrade - and it is good to know that the machine would have the bus and support systems to at least keep up with the G3 upgrade.

Mac Daniel responds: Honestly, I didn't recommend either over the other!

SK writes: I'd go with the 6100 for sure. Although the 6300 benchmarks better, the 6100 works better in everyday use. It also is G3 upgradeable, and there's a really good trade going on right now in used PDS video cards that can be used simultaneously with the G3 upgrade cards from Sonnet and Newer.

I've got a page on the 6100 <http://www.kan.org/6100/>

I use my AV version to make QTVR object movies with my video camera!

AJ writes: You said that the 6100 is just plain slow, which is entirely true. You also said the 6300 is probably a better deal. However, the real killer reason to go 6100 over 6300 is the G3 upgrade path. Spend 150-200 on the 6100, and invest the 200 difference plus $100 on that sonnet (or Newer Tech) G3 upgrade.

Mac Daniel responds: Although the G3 upgrade makes a fine addition to the 6100, buying the computer for $250-400 and planning $500 more for the upgrade isn't terribly cost effective. I'd hold off for something more powerful than either.

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