Power Macintosh

Power Macintosh G3 All-in-One

• Got a G3, G4, or G5 Power Mac? Join LEM's G-List Group.
• LEM's Mac OS 9 Group is for anyone using Mac OS 9, either natively or in Classic Mode.
• Puma List is for those using Mac OS X 10.1.
• Jaguar List is for those using Mac OS X 10.2.

Overview

Details

• introduced 1998.04.03; discontinued 1999.01.01
• requires Mac OS 8 or later, 10.2.x officially supported, 10.3.x and 10.4.x can generally be installed using XpostFacto 4
• CPU: 233/266 MHz PPC 750
• bus: 66 MHz
• L2 cache: 512 KB 2:1 backside cache
• performance: 4.5/5.0 (relative to 7500/100); 767/888, Macbench 4
• RAM: 32 MB (expandable to 768MB, desktop version requires low profile DIMMs), uses 3.3V unbuffered 100 MHz 168-pin SDRAM, 3 sockets accept 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, or 256MB DIMMS
• VRAM: 2 MB SGRAM, expandable to 6 MB
• Video: supports resolutions to 1024 x 768, uses ATI 2D/3D 64-bit accelerated chip set
• hard drive: 4 GB EIDE drive. Maximum IDE drive size is 128 GB without third-party support. See How big a hard drive can I put in my iMac, eMac, or Power Mac? for three options.
• CD-ROM: 24x maximum throughput
• 3 PCI slots
• 1 Personality Card slot (matches Comm Slot II, but only works with modems)
• microphone: standard 3.5mm minijack, compatible with line-level input including Apple's PlainTalk microphone
• ADB: 1 port for keyboard and mouse
• serial: 2 DIN-8 GeoPorts on back of computer
• SCSI: DB-25 connector on back of computer
• 10Base-T ethernet connectors on back of computer
• size (HxWxD): 19.9" x 16.1" x 18.0"
• weight: 59.5 lb.
• Gestalt ID: 510
• PRAM battery: 3.6V half-AA
• upgrade path: G3 and G4 ZIF CPU upgrades (note that maximum CPU speed you can set using the J16 jumper block is 466 MHz - 7 times bus speed - unless the upgrade sets its own multiplier)

Accelerators & Upgrades

• 8x SuperDrive DVD±RW upgrade, MCE Technologies, $149. 8x4x12x DVD, 24x24x40x CD. 2 MB buffer. Requires OS 9 or OS X.
• Guide to G3 ZIF Upgrades, Low End Mac
• 333 MHz, 400 MHz upgrades for Power Mac G3, MacCPU
• see Clocking the G3 for details on tweaking the G3 motherboard

Online Resources

• Best used Power Mac G3 deals, updated monthly.
• Picking up a used Power Mac G3 or G4: Is it worth it?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.12.18. In some cases, shipping can cost more than the computer itself. Where are the best values?
• Best classic Mac OS deals. Best online prices for System 6, 7.1, 7.5.x, Mac OS 7.6, 8.0, 8.1, 8.5, 9.0, 9.2.2, and other versions.
• Best Mac OS X 10.0-10.3 deals. Best online prices for Mac OS X 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, and 10.3.
• Best Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger' deals. Best online prices for Mac OS X 10.4.
• What's the best version of OS X for my Mac?, Ian R Campbell, The Sensible Mac, 2008.02.28. Which version of Mac OS X is best for your hardware depends on several factors.
• Bringing G3 iMacs and other G3 Macs into the Tiger Age, Dan Knight, Mac Daniel, 2007.12.07. Tips on hard drives, memory, WiFi, and getting Mac OS X 10.4 installed on G3 iMacs and other older G3 Macs.
• Low End Mac's Compleat Guide to Mac OS 9, 2008 edition, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.05.12. Declared dead by Steve Jobs 6 years ago, Mac OS 9 remains fast and stable, but Classic software hasn't kept up with Web changes. What Macs support OS 9, where to buy it, and how to update to version 9.2.2.
• Environmentally responsible retirement for old Macs, Rick Lawson, Pioneers in Mac Development, 2008.06.13. After you've scavenged what useful parts you can from your old Mac, what's the most environmentally friendly way to dispose of the rest?
• Know your Mac's upgrade options, Phil Herlihy, The Usefulness Equation, 2008.08.26. Any Mac can be upgraded, but it's a question of what can be upgraded - RAM, hard drive, video, CPU - and how far it can be upgraded.
• The good, the bad, and the ugly of Apple design, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.10.15. Apple has produced some beautiful computers and iPods over the years, but also a few of the ugliest and most ungainly computers ever seen.
• Beige Power Mac G3: Maximum power then, great value now, Leo Titus LeBron V, Collection Spotlight, 2009.08.03. The world's most powerful personal computer when it was introduced in November 1997, the beige G3 still has a lot to offer anyone looking for a very low cost, powerful Mac.
• Optimized software builds bring out the best in your Mac, Dan Knight, Low End Mac's Online Tech Journal, 2009.06.30. Applications compiled for your Mac's CPU can load more quickly and run faster than ones compiled for universal use.
• Tips for installing or reinstalling Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger', Adam Rosen, Adam's Apple, 2009.06.10. Mac OS X 10.4 uses less memory than Leopard, supports Classic Mode on PowerPC Macs, and isn't supported on G3 Macs.
• Is it worth maxing the RAM in old G3 and G4 Macs?, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 2009.04.15. Increasing memory can make your old Mac faster and make you more productive, but it probably won't improve resale value by the amount you spend.
• The 'better safe than sorry' guide to installing Mac OS X updates, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.12.16. Most users encounter no problems using Software Update, but some preflight work and using the Combo updater means far less chance of trouble.
• Why you should partition your Mac's hard drive, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.12.11. "At the very least, it makes sense to have a second partition with a bootable version of the Mac OS, so if you have problems with your work partition, you can boot from the 'emergency' partition to run Disk Utility and other diagnostics."
• Every working computer is useful to someone, Allison Payne, The Budget Mac, 2008.11.19. Whether it's a PowerBook 1400, G3 iMac, or Power Mac G4, it could be all the computer someone needs.
• Attractive and ugly Macs, discontinued MacBook Pro value, and writing with TextEdit, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.10.30. Readers weigh in on the good, the bad, and the ugly of Macintosh design over the past 24 years.
• How to clone Mac OS X to a new hard drive, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 2008.10.07. Whether you want to put a bigger, faster drive in your Mac or clone OS X for use in another Mac, here's the simple process.
• Getting the most from your G3 Mac, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 2008.10.03. Most G3 Macs can be upgraded so they can run Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger' quite nicely. Here's how.
• Bumps in the road for G3 Macs, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 2008.07.28. MobileMe wouldn't synch with the Pismo, and Skype's software refused to install, but both problems were solved.
• The compressed air keyboard repair, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.07.24. If your keyboard isn't working as well as it once did, blasting under the keys with compressed air may be the cure.
• Opera trumps Safari, flashed video cards for Macs, hacking Leopard for G3 Power Macs, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.07.11. Also expectations for future MacBooks, more power than expected from a CPU upgrade, ADB and QuickCams, Snow Leopard and PowerPC, and more.
• Turn your old Mac into a web server with Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP, Jason Packer, Macs in the Enterprise, 2008.07.09. Step-by-step instructions for installing and configuring Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP on an older Mac.
• Turn your old Mac into a website server with free open source software, Jason Packer, Macs in the Enterprise, 2008.07.02. By installing Linux without a GUI, your old Mac can dedicate all of its resources to running Apache, MySQL, and PHP.
• Mac OS X 10.2 'Jaguar' can unleash the power of G3 iBooks, Carl Nygren, Classic Macs in the Intel Age, 2008.06.17. After pulling a bad stick of RAM, the Dual USB iBook didn't have enough memory for Tiger or Linux. But even with just 128 MB of RAM, Jaguar did the job.
• More G4 upgrade advice, secure disk wipes, 500 MHz iMacs with Tiger in action, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.05.09. The importance of securely clearing your hard drive before you pass on your Mac, Pismo and closed lid mode, G3 iMacs in the classroom, and more thoughts on upgrading G4 Power Macs.
• Macintosh peace of mind, PA Semi and the iPhone, $40 802.11g PCI card, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.05.01. Also Power Mac vs. Mac mini, more on DVD User Op Patch, 12" vs. 14" iBook, and VGA for a Power Mac 6100.
• Troubleshooting Eudora, backing up a Beige G3, and why Macs are green, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.05.01. Problems getting help with Eudora, backup options for a Power Mac G3, and how the long-term usefulness of Macs makes them environmentally friendly computers.
• Picking the right 'Book, clamshell iBook memories, and alternatives to SCSI-to-USB, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.04.23. Choosing a good used 'Book for Classic, remembering the clamshell iBooks, and alternate options to avoid spending $99 on a SCSI-to-USB adapter.
• 3 ways to better YouTube viewing on older Macs, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.02.06. Watching YouTube videos in your browser on G3 Macs can be painfully slow, but there are several ways to improve your YouTube viewing experience.
• WWDC Leopard on upgraded Beige G3, PowerBook vs. iBook, Leopard on an 800 MHz iBook G4, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.01.30. Also MacBook Air points to future notebooks, iPod and iPhone coverage on Low End Mac, changes in Xbench scores, and help with a Mac Classic.
• G3 and G4 Power Macs and Clamshell iBooks still useful, Ben Zalutsky, No Windows for Me, 2008.01.29. Intel CPUs may be blazingly fast, but the old G3 and G4 Macs have plenty of usable life left in them.
• Vintage Mac video and monitor mania, Adam Rosen, Adam's Apple, 2007.12.17. Vintage Macs and monitors didn't use VGA connectors. Tips on making modern monitors work with old Macs.
• Getting inside vintage Macs and swapping out bad parts, Adam Rosen, Adam's Apple, 2007.12.14. When an old Mac dies, the best source of parts is usually another dead Mac with different failed parts.
• 8 GB partition issue impacts OS 9, RAM for G3 iMacs, success with Open Firmware hack, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.12.10. Partitions over 8 GB can cause problems in the classic Mac OS, more unsupported Leopard reports, another vote against the iPhone, and millions vs. thousands of colors.
• Reasons for sticking with the Classic Mac OS, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 2007.10.30. Whether it's the simplicity, elegance, speed, or desire not to replace lots of expensive hardware, there are lots of good reasons for sticking with Mac OS 9.
• Interchangeabilty and compatibility of Apple 1.4 MB SuperDrive floppy drives, Sonic Purity, Mac Daniel, 2007.09.26. Apple used two kinds of high-density floppy drives on Macs, auto-inject and manual inject. Can they be swapped?
• AirPort Extreme interference robustness explained, 1 GHz G3 upgrade, new OS X image editor, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.09.14. Also picking the right Mac, Microsoft's wireless mouse with 1 GB of flash memory, Revolabs wireless microphone with iListen, Opera 9.5 for Mac reaches alpha 3, and more.
• The future of G3 Power Macs in the Age of Leopard, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2007.09.12. There's no G3 support in Leopard. What does that mean for those with a Beige G3 or a Blue and White G3?
• Gigabyte confusion, big letter keyboard wanted, G3 All-in-One problem, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.08.22. Also alternative printing solutions for older Macs and missing AppleWorks.
• The truth about CRTs and shock danger, Tom Lee, Online Tech Journal, 2007.05.22. You've been warned that CRT voltage can injure and even kill. The truth is that this danger is overstated - and takes attention away from a greater danger.
• Why Apple must continue G3 support in Mac OS X 10.5 'Leopard', Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2007.05.08. "We're worried about what happens if Apple unchecks that box in Xcode to include the instructions necessary to run OS X on G3 processors at all."
• Installing Ubuntu Linux on the Beige G3 Mac, John Honniball, 2005. Step-by-step guide to installing Ubuntu Linux on a beige Power Mac G3.
• Importance of G3 support in 10.5, clever USB/FireWire solution, upgrade options, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.05.01. Also the loss of the PowerBook brand, upgrading to an Intel iMac, Korg and the Mac, Quadra boot problems, and the value of a Mac Classic.
• Format any drive for older Macs with patched Apple tools, Tyler Sable, Classic Restorations, 2007.04.25. Apple HD SC Setup and Drive Setup only work with Apple branded hard drives - until you apply the patches linked to this article.
• $25 802.11g card for PCI Macs, drive support for 802.11n AirPort Extreme, Adtron ups flash disks, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.03.02. Also firmware update info for Intel Macs, washable medical mouse and keyboard, TechTool Protogo, and more.
• 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....
• Is Ubuntu Linux a sensible alternative for Mac users?, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.09.18. If your Mac can run OS X decently, is there any reason to try Ubuntu Linux? If it can't run OS X well, is Ubuntu a reasonable choice?
• Mac OS 8 and 8.1: Maximum size, maximum convenience, Tyler Sable, Classic Restorations, 2006.09.11. Mac OS 8 and 8.1 add some useful new features and tools, and it can even be practical on 68030-based Macs.
• Is the G3 still a practical choice?, Matthew Jay, Macs to the Max, 2006.08.10. Although the G3 is several generations old, it has enough horsepower for most of the things we do on our computers.
• Customizing Mac OS 9, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2006.08.01. Fiddling with themes, picking a browser, and making the Classic Mac OS work just the way you want it to.
• The ins and outs of booting Linux on the Mac, Larry Stotler, Linux on the Low End, 2006.07.31. "Old World" Macs can't boot directly into Linux. They need to boot the Classic Mac OS first, then pass control over to Linux.
• Floppy drive observations: A compleat guide to Mac floppy drives and disk formats, Scott Baret, Online Tech Journal, 2006.06.29. A history of the Mac floppy from the 400K drive in the Mac 128K through the manual-inject 1.4M SuperDrives used in the late 1990s.
• More on the best classic Mac OS browser and video capture options with Mac OS 9, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.06.28. WaMCom as the best classic Mac browser, software suggestions for OS 9 video capture, and two hardware alternatives to having your Mac do the video conversion.
• Making the move from Jaguar (OS X 10.2) to Panther (10.3), Ted Hodges, Vintage Mac Living, 2006.04.11. One advantage of Apple's "no upgrades" policy for OS X - someone can give you their old copy after upgrading without worrying about violating their license.
• What to buy when the old Beige G3 is just too sluggish, Ted Hodges, Vintage Mac Living, 2006.03.27. When your old Power Mac G3 just can't keep up with your needs under OS X, it's time to look at the used Power Mac G4 market. The difference in speed can be astounding.
• 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, or Power Mac?, 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.
• Beige G3 owner reports on TV tuners, Accelerate Your Mac, 2004.03.26. Solutions for watching television and capturing video on OS X and the classic Mac OS.
• Migration issues in moving from a Beige G3 to a Blue and White, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 2004.02.20. Using an older printer and a SCSI scanner, ejecting a CD, and dealing with a system freeze.
• Stepping up from a Beige G3 to Blue and White, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 2004.02.16. Why it was time to upgrade, benefits of the newer computer, and troubles caused by the Rev. 1 motherboard.
• Choosing between beige G3 upgrade options, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2003.04.25. Thoughts on video cards, CPU upgrades, and more.
• The value and limitations of the beige G3, Dan Knight, Mac Daniel, 2003.03.03. As used G3 prices plummet, has the beige G3 become a best buy, or are there good reasons to avoid it?
• Speeding up a beige G3, Dan Knight, Mac Daniel, 2002.10.28. Pumping up an old G3/266 with a faster processor, faster hard drive, and faster drive controller.
• OS X: 10.1.5 corrects beige G3/Radeon incompatibility, obzorg.org. "...Apple has corrected this problem with one notable limitation."
• Rage at being left behind, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2001.12.24. It's official - Apple doesn't plan to support graphics acceleration for any Mac with ATI Rage video.
• OS X and the beige G3, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 2001.12.21. OS X runs decently on a beige G3, but also cripples the floppy drive, printer port, graphics performance....
• How to install a CD-RW in a G3 All-in-One, ScienceMac, 2001.10.30. Includes lots of helpful photos.
• OS X graphics speedup with early ATI video, Mac OS X: Optimizing for Earlier ATI Graphics Accelerators, 2001.03.09. ATI Rage II+, IIc, Pro, and LT Pro faster displaying thousands of colors, not millions.
• Review: The Silencer, ScienceMan.com, 1/25/01. Making the G3 All-in-One quieter with a new fan.
• Guide to G4 ZIF Upgrades, Low End Mac
• Guide to G3 ZIF Upgrades, Low End Mac
• G3 Zone, Accelerate Your Mac!
• Hardware: Four ZIF upgrades for Power Mac G3, MacInTouch, 1/27
• Will Artemis (G3 All-in-One) return from the grave?, Steve Wood, MacTimes, 12/23
• Review: 400 MHz upgrade for Power Mac G3, Accelerate Your Mac
• Apple has discovered the cause of the dim video problem with the audio/video personality card in the Power Mac G3s. Contact Apple or your Apple dealer for a new card that fixes the problem.
• Apple Specs: Power Macintosh G3 All-in-One
• The G3 All-in-one Stop Shop

Cautions

• Power Macs earlier than the Quicksilver models do not have built-in support for IDE hard drives with capacities over 128 GB. Without a third-party solution, larger drives can only be formatted to 128 GB in these models. There are three options (as noted on Accelerate Your Mac):
  • Intech's ATA Hi-Cap Support Driver
  • A PCI IDE card that supports big drives
  • A FireWire enclosure that supports big drives
• Macs with IDE hard drive do not provide SCSI termination power, depending on external SCSI devices to provide it. For more details, see SCSI Termination Power.

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