XLR8 introduced its new, patent pending G3 Carrier upgrade design, utilizing its new G3 "Carrier" technology. Already heavily tested, and shipping in volume May 24th, this new design alters the paradigm of CPU upgrades by allowing users to remove the CPU (and cache) from the primary card, then upgrade with standard Power Macintosh G3 ZIF daughtercards. Users get the assurance of using one universal adapter for any standard CPU card with full compatibility today with Mac OS 8.x (including 8.6) and OS X Server. It additionally promises compatibility with future PowerPC CPU designs and OS versions due later this year.
XLR8 has expanded its exclusive MVP (Multiple Variable Processing) technology through the "Carrier" design, and enables complete bus configuration flexibility for the maximum in performance and compatibility. Users are able to configure the Carrier upgrade cards to accept any G3Z upgrade daughtercard with the simple flip of its switches.
Although the primary card design follows the form factor of the standard footprint for the PowerSurge series (7300-9600) CPU cards, the "Carrier" CPU itself utilizes a removable ZIF (zero insertion force) socket. The ZIF socket is an Intel standard socket for mounting CPUs, which has recently been adopted by Apple. The ZIF socket is designed to allow users to change CPUs in seconds without any additional tools or expertise. The new upgrades support the PowerSurge series of Apple and clone systems (7300-9600).
MACh Carrier G3 provides leading edge G3 performance for Power Macintosh systems and are fully upgradeable — installing in minutes into the standard CPU card slot. Coined as the "upgradeable upgrade", the new MACh Carrier G3 combines the "Carrier" upgrade design with XLR8’s high performance G3Z daughtercards, the MACh Speed G3Z. This fully configured upgrade allows users to perform future field upgrades utilizing standard Power Macintosh G3 upgrade cards.
Corporate users with a mixture of G3 and standard Power Macintosh systems can utilize the MACh Carrier G3 potential to its fullest, upgrading two computers for the price of one. Simply install the high performance daughtercard (from the MACh Carrier) in the Power Macintosh G3, then use the removed CPU card with the Carrier upgrade in the older PCI Mac. The user doubles the speed of both machines and upgrades the duo to G3 status, all for the cost of one upgrade.
