Power Macintosh

Workgroup Server 9150

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LEM's Mac OS 9 Group is for those using Mac OS 9, either natively or in Classic Mode.

Overview

The WorkGroup Server 9150 appears to be the only Workgroup Server for which an eqivalent Power Mac model was never released.

Workgroup Server 9150 and Mac IIci
Mac IIci and Workgroup Server 9150

Built into a modified Quadra 950 case, the 9150 contains four NuBus slots and a prcoessor direct slot (PDS). Like first-generation Power Macs, the 9150 uses RAM for video (up to 615 KB, depending on resolution and bit-depth). For best performance, add a the video card instead of using motherboard video. See our NuBus Video Card Guide for information on adding a video card.

The 9150 was upgraded to 120 MHz April 1995. It was replaced by the 9500 in May 1996.

Note that so-called NuBus upgrades do not go into a NuBus slot; they derive their name from the fact that they work in NuBus Power Macs. The processor upgrades fit into the PDS, which is normally occupied by a video card on the 9150.

Details

9150/80 introduced 1994.04.25; discontinued 1995.04.17
9150/120 introduced 1995.04.13; discontinued 1996.05.18
requires System 7.1.2 through 9.1 (80 MHz), System 7.5.1 through 9.1 (120 MHz)
CPU: 80 or 120 MHz PPC 601
bus: 40 MHz
performance: unknown
ROM: 4 MB
RAM: 8 MB on motherboard, expandable to 264 MB using pairs of 4, 8, 16, or 32 MB 80ns 72-pin SIMMs, 8 SIMM sockets. It absolutely does not like 64 MB SIMMs.
VRAM: none, uses DRAM on motherboard
Video: supports thousands of colors at 512 x 384 and 640 x 480, 256 colors at 832 x 642
L2 cache: 512 KB (80 MHz), 1 MB (120 MHz)
CD-ROM: 2x (80 MHz), 4x (120 MHz)
ADB: 1 port for keyboard and mouse
serial: 2 DIN-8 GeoPorts on back of computer
SCSI: DB-25 connector on back of computer
ethernet: AAUI connector on back of computer, requires AAUI adapter
NuBus slots: 4
one PDS slot
power: 303W
height: 18.6 in
width: 8.9 in
depth: 20.6 in
weight: 36.8 lb
PRAM battery: 3.6V half-AA
Gestalt ID: 39 (80 MHz), 57 (120 MHz)

Accelerators & Upgrades

Guide to G3 Accelerators for NuBus Macs
Because the 9150 uses up to 640 KB of system memory for video, you can really boost video and system performance with a 1MB L2 cache.
210 MHz and 240 MHz MAXpowr G3 from Newer Technology, discontinued
Sonnet Crescendo/NuBus G3, 400/500 MHz G3

Online Resources

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.
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.
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?
Mac System 7.5.5 can do anything Mac OS 7.6.1 can, Tyler Sable, Classic Restorations, 2007.06.04. Yes, it is possible to run Internet Explorer 5.1.7 and SoundJam with System 7.5.5. You just need to have all the updates - and make one modification for SoundJam.
Appearance Manager allows Internet Explorer 5.1.7 to work with Mac OS 7.6.1, Max Wallgren, Mac Daniel, 2007.05.23. Want a fairly modern browser with an old, fast operating system? Mac OS 7.6.1 plus the Appearance Manager and Internet Explorer may be just what you want.
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.
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.
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.
Installing Linux on a PCI Power Mac, Part 1, Larry Stotler, Linux on the Low End, 2006.09.05. Preparing your PCI Power Mac (or clone) for Linux and getting openSUSE Linux installed.
Preparing your Mac's hard drive for Linux, Larry Stotler, Linux on the Low End, 2006.08.09. Before you install Linux, you have to partition your hard drive. A look at three different hard drive strategies for Mac Linux.
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.
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.
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.
System 7.5 and Mac OS 7.6: The beginning and end of an era, Tyler Sable, Classic Restorations, 2006.02.15. System 7.5 and Mac OS 7.6 introduced many new features and greater modernity while staying within reach of most early Macintosh models.
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.
Why you should use Mac OS 7.6 to get the most out of vintage Macs, Thomas Ahart, The Productive Mac, 2005.12.12. Although you may be able to run OS 8 or 9 on your old Mac, you'll generally find better performance using Mac OS 7.6.
NuBus Video Cards. We've added profiles for the Apple 4-8, 8-24, 8-24GC, 24AC, and Radius Precision Color Pro 24X.
Follow Up on the 6100, 7100, and 8100, Adam Robert Guha, Mac Daniel, 2000.04.27. A look at upgrade options.
72-pin SIMM memory pricing, ramseeker
Apple Specs: 9150/80, 9150/120

Caution

Apple Computer considers this computer vintage as of 2001.07.16 in the United States and 2001.07.23 in Canada. Since then, service parts are only available for units purchased in California and being serviced within California.
Never run a 7100, 8100, 8150, or 9150 without a PDS video card or a PDS terminator. This can damage the motherboard. If the video card goes bad, you can replace it with another video card or use motherboard video after installing a PDS accelerator or "Apple Terminator, PDS, WGS 81XX." Workgroup Server 8150 and 9150: PDS Needs Terminator, feedback from Mac Managers list, and personal experience.

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