Performa 6300, 5200 Questions
Low End Mac Reader Specials
Memory To Go Special: MacPro 8 Core Memory 4GB kit $154 / 2GB kit $94, New 2008 iMac 2GB $46. MacBook Pro / MacMini / iMac Intel Core2 DUO 2GB $44 / 1GB $23--Free shipping available.
Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com
LA Computer Company: Specials on AppleCare, iMac's, Apple Batteries and Apple A/C Adapters. Also Great prices on Used Apple Computers. Call 1-800-941-7654 Click Here.
OWC: NewerTech miniStack FireWire/USB 2.0 HD & Hub Up to 1.0TB of Performance Storage + FW/USB2 Powered Hubs - convenient & sleek 6.5" x 6.5" x 1.5" Featured: 500GB $169.99; 750GB $209.99; 1.0TB $339.99
Mac users can finally play Party Poker for Mac. Not only that, they can also learn how to play PokerStars for Mac.
Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.
Compare products like desktop computers, laptops, and LCD TVs side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for a new cell phone GPS products or MP3 players. The Ciao network makes searching products easy for you.
New iMac 800Mhz Memory 4GB $98, 2GB $50. Click to Maximize your Macs...
Dan Knight - 1998.10.28
How can I speed up a Performa 6300?
VR sent this letter: My father owns a (European) Performa 6300, 48 MB RAM, 1.2 GB hard drive only half occupied. The only problem is performance. Could something not too expensive be done for such a computer?
Mac Daniel writes: According to Performa and Power Mac 5200, 5300, 6200, 6300 Issues by Scott L. Barber, the design of the 6300 was seriously compromised by Apple's desire to cut costs and was slightly different in Europe than in North America.
I have heard that the best upgrade for the Performa 6300 is Mac OS 8.1. This apparently improves stability and addresses some of the hardware issues which had hobbled the 6300 and its siblings. I suspect going to Mac OS 8.5 might further improve things.
Beyond that, my advice would be to look into a faster computer, perhaps a used Power Mac 7500 that can accept an inexpensive G3 card. But first give OS 8.1 a try - it might make all the difference in the world to your father's computer.
Feedback from VR
VR sent this letter on 28 Oct.: My 6300 with 48 MB of RAM and Mac OS 8.5 runs the best it has since I brought it in June of '96.
With 8.5, there is a slight speed improvement that I notice.
The biggest improvements come with VM and that you do not need as many third party extensions, which improves the start time. VM is greatly improved. With it on, I see very little memory leaks. The system memory also does not increase as much as it has with early OSes.
I want to upgrade my 5200
JS sent this letter: I read your article about the Color Classic and was hoping that you could advise me about upgrading my beloved Performa 5200.
In the past, I have upgrade the RAM to 48 MB, the hard disk to 2 GB, and added a video/TV tuner card.
I was thinking about buying a new G3, but I really love being about to watch tele on my Mac!
Mac Daniel writes: Your 5200 suffers some of the same design limitations noted in my response to VR (above). My first advice is to upgrade to Mac OS 8.1 or 8.5 if you haven't already done so. Users report it makes these models much smoother, more reliable performers.
Frankly, I haven't paid any attention to TV tuners for the Macintosh. I use my computer as a tool, my TV for entertainment. (Admission: I do like the occasional game of SimCity 2000.)
The November 1998 issue of Mac Addict has a review of the ixTV card from ixMicro. They also mention that they reviewed ATI's Xclaim TV card in the October issue. That gives you two options to look into.
Reader Feedback
DG sent this letter on 28 Oct: For people who have a 6300 (or older) and want to keep their beloved system more or less the same, there is an option . . . a board swap.
I have a 6200, so for $450 I can upgrade my system to a 6360, which has none of the infamous design problems of the older Performas. It involves a motherboard swap, which is easy because the motherboard of the Performa 62xx (and even the old 630) slides right out of the case. It also requires a power source upgrade, which might be a little tougher, but shouldn't be too bad. The price I'm quoting came from DT&T. They charge according to the system you want to upgrade to, and the parts you are sending back. (Note: they are not interested in defective boards that do not pass Apple's "52xx, 62xx" test.)
Now the bad news (sort of). The 6360 sports a PCI slot instead of the old PDS, which is great, but for people like me who have a PDS video card, it's kind of a bummer. Also, the older Performas used SIMM memory, and the 6360 doesn't, so any extra memory you bought before will be of no use to you.
For these reasons, I'm much better off saving my pennies until I can afford a G3. I can sell the ol' gray mare for a few hundred bucks and end up spending about the same amount as it would take to get the 6360 up to the specs I want.
Still, for somebody who has a baseline 630, 6200, or even 6300, this might be a pretty darn good option.
JB sent this letter on 28 Oct: I have a suggestion for the chap looking for a speed boost for his Performa 6300. I desired the same for my Performa 6290. The answer: Slide out the logic board from the back, and slide in a Power Mac 6500/300 logic board. (Don't forget to transfer the internal modem to the new logic board.) Once you reinstall the system software, all is perfect with no other modifications (physical or otherwise) needed. Now, I have a 300 MHz Performa 6290!
Not sure if you should upgrade your old Mac or replace it? Check the Mac Daniel index to see if we've already addressed your problem.
Recent Mac Daniel columns
- Bringing G3 iMacs and other G3 Macs into the Tiger Age, Dan Knight, 12.07. Tips on hard drives, memory, WiFi, and getting Mac OS X 10.4 installed on G3 iMacs and other older G3 Macs.
- Multiple users on the same Mac at work, Dan Knight, 11.15. How to set up a Mac so multiple users can log in and use it - and use the same pool of work files.
- 1 working eMac from 2 broken ones, Dan Knight, 11.14. A pair of matching eMacs, each with a different failure, results in one working eMac and lots of leftovers.
- Problems running Classic mode in Tiger, Dan Knight, 11.08. After upgrading to Tiger, the old Classic installation stopped working. Where to find the pieces to get everything up to date.
- More in the Mac Daniel index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: PowerBook 190cs, Aug. 1995 - The last 680x0-based PowerBook could take a PowerPC upgrade.
- List of the Day: The iPod List The iPod List is a forum to discuss the iPod, it's accessories, the iTunes Store, iTunes, and related topics.
- August 28 in LEM history: 95: PowerBook Duo 2300 - 00: Gaming on older Power Macs - 01: AppleShare on Linux - From Beebs and Acorns to Macs - 02: Sleep of Death, - Think smarter? - It's the software, stupid - 06: PowerBook 5300 reminiscence - You might be a Mac fanatic if... - Hiding complexity behind elegant simplicity
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- 10 Mac Browsers Compared, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 08.28. A look at Internet Explorer, Radon, Opera, Safari, Shiira, iCab, Firefox, Netscape Navigator, Flock, and Camino running in Leopard.
- Clone and Boot: Another Advantage of the Mac OS, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 08.28. Unlike Windows, Apple makes it possible to clone a bootable drive (Classic Mac OS or OS X) and use it with another supported Mac.
- Best MacBook Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.28. Used 1.83 GHz, $799; 2.0 black, $875; refurb 2.1 GHz, $899; 2.4, $1,099; black, $1,299; new 2.1, $1,019 after rebate; 22, $1,094; 2.4, $1,219 a/r; black, $1,394 a/r.
- Best iMac G5 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.28. Used 17" 1.6 GHz Combo, $499; 1.8 SuperDrive, $530; 2.0, $600; 1.9 iSight, $625; 20" 1.8 GHz, $580; 2.0, $650; 2.1 iSight, $700.
- Best classic Mac OS Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.28. System 6, $10; 7.1, $12; 7.5.1, $4; Mac OS 7.6, $13; 8.0, $13; 8.1, $48; 8.5, $25; 8.6, $20; 9.0, $20; 9.2.2, $20; more.
- CrossOver Strikes Out, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 08.27. Running Windows apps on a Mac without paying for Windows is great in theory, but actually getting Windows software working is another story.
- MacDrought: 4 Months with No New Macs, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 08.27. The most recent Mac update was over four months ago, and the Mac mini has been unchanged for over a year.
- Resurrecting a Dead Pismo, Spotlight Search Tip, and EasyFind a Good File Finder, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 08.27. Lots of tips on bringing a comatose Pismo back to life, a Spotlight file name search tip, and EasyFind as an alternative to Spotlight.
- Best Intel iMac Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.27. Used 17" 1.83 GHz, $625; 20", $599; 2.16, $749; 24", $950; refurb 20" 2.4, $999; 2.66, $1,299; 24" 2.4, $1,299; 2.8, $1,549; new 3.06, $2,094 after rebate; more.
- Best 15" PowerBook G4 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.27. Used 1.25 GHz Combo, $600; SuperDrive, $650; 1.33 Combo, $640; 1.5, $680; SD, $725; 1.67, $730; hi-res, $800.
- Best Time Capsule and AirPort Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.27. 500 GB Time Capsule, $294; 1 TB, $468; AirPort Extreme Card, $39; 802.11n Base Station, $166; 802.11g AirPort Express, $60; 802.11n, $98.
- Does Running OS X System Maintenance Routines Really Do Any Good?, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 08.26. Mac OS X is designed to run certain maintenance routines daily, weekly, and monthly - but can't if your Mac is off or asleep.
- Purposeful Reincarnation for Old Macs, Phil Herlihy, The Usefulness Equation, 08.26. The key is to avoid spending more on upgrades than the final use of the machine can justify.
- Best Power Mac G5 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.26. Used 1.6 GHz single SuperDrive, C$499; 1.8, $569; dual, $675, 2.0, $800; 2.3, C$899; 2.5, C$1,199; 2.7, $1,225; 2.5 Quad, $1,500.
- Best 17" MacBook Pro Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.26. Used 2.16 GHz Core Duo, $1,330; 2.33 C2D, $1,689; refurb, 2.4, $1,899; new, $2,099; 2.5, $2,558 after rebate; 2.6 Santa Rosa, $2,399 a/r; more.
- Best iPod shuffle Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.26. Refurb 3G 1 GB, $39; new 3G, $45; refurb 2 GB, $59; new, $68.
- More links in our archive.
About LEM | Support | Usage | Privacy | Contacts
Have a question?
Ask an expert!
Navigation
Used Mac Dealers
Apple History
Best Used Macs
Video Cards
Email Lists
InfoMac's Low
End Mac Forum
Favorite Sites
MacSurfer
MacMinute
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
Macs Only!
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac
Museum
DealMac
DealsOnTheWeb
Mac2Sell
ramseeker
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System
6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End
Mac FAQ
Abandonware
Petition
Mac vs. PC Info
Affiliates
The Apple
Store
Mac
Connection
MacMall
TechRestore
MacResQ
ExperCom
Crucial
Memory
batteries.com
Advertise
