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Both Sonnet Technologies and Newer Technology have announced upgrades to their product lines that up the ante in the G3 upgrade wars. Both companies have announced 466 MHz G3s for PCI based PowerMacs and 400 MHz upgrades for NuBus (1st generation) PowerMacs. With both annouhncements coming in one day, we are running the two together in no particular order. According to Sonnet:
Sonnet Technologies:
Sonnet Technologies, the leading manufacturer of performance upgrade products for Apple MacintoshTM computers, announces for immediate shipment, the fastest available G3 upgrade cards for the PCI and NuBus Power Macintoshes. The new speed of 466 MHz and 400 MHz tops the Sonnet line of Crescendo G3 upgrade cards for the PCI Power Macs and NuBus Power Macs respectively. These products use the new 10x bus speed G3 processor from IBM.
The Crescendo G3 466 MHz for the PCI Power Macs are configured with 1MB 2:1 ratio backside cache, and earned an impressive MacBench 4.0 processor score of 1630. It is compatible with all of the following Macintosh models:
- Power Mac 7300/7500/7600/8500/8600/9500/9600
- Workgroup Server 7350, 8550, 9650
- Daystar Genesis
- PowerCenter, PowerCenter Pro, PowerCurve, PowerTower, PowerTower Pro, PowerWave
- UMAX J700/S900
The Crescendo G3 400 MHz for NuBus Macs comes with 1MB 2:1 ratio backside cache, and earned a notable MacBench 4.0 processor score of 1400. It is compatible with all of the following Macintosh models:
- Power Mac 7100/80, 7100/80AV, 8100/80, 8100/100 AV, 8100/110*, 8115/110*
- Workgroup Server 8150, 8150/110*, 9150, 9150/120
- Power Computing Power 120
- Radius 81/110*
* In these machines, the card runs at 366 MHz instead of 400 MHz due to the 36.6 MHz bus speed.
Pricing for the new cards is as follows:
Crescendo G3 466/1MB for PCI Power Macs US$899.95
Crescendo G3 400/1MB for NuBus Power Macs US$699.95
And from Newer Technology
Newer Technology
Newer® Technology, Inc. today announced the MAXpowr G3 400MHz/1MB/200MHz upgrade card for original Power Mac 7100 and 8100 systems. The new card contains a 400MHz processor, with 1MB backside cache running on a bus speed of 200MHz achieving a 2:1 ratio.
The MAXpowr G3 400MHz/1MB/200MHz scored 1400 using MacBench, however, actual clock speeds are dependent on the stock bus speed of the computer. A 400MHz G3 upgrade clock speed can vary from 333 to 400MHz.
Compatibility
- Power Mac 7100, 8100 (all systems, all speeds).
Newer Technology Announces New 466MHz MAXpowr G3 Upgrade for 604-Based Power Macs
New cards break 400MHz CPU speed barrier using copper chip processor technology
Newer® Technology, Inc. today announced the new MAXpowr G3 466MHz/1MB/233MHz upgrade for the 604-based Power Macintosh line. The new card breaks the 400MHz speed barrier using copper chip processor technology. The MAXpowr G3 466MHz/1MB/233MHz card contains a 466MHz G3 processor combined with 1MB of backside cache running on a cache bus of 233MHz for a 2:1 ratio. It installs easily into the Power Mac line from the 7300 through 9600 computers, as well as the upgradeable computers from UMAX, Power Computing and the Daystar Genesis MP series.
The previous maximum CPU speed limit was 400MHz derived from a calculation of bus speed and system bus multiples. For instance, 400MHz can be reached when the maximum bus multiple of 8 is multiplied by the maximum bus speed of 50MHz. With the new IBM 3.1 copper processors, a top bus multiple of 10 has been added. Using this new multiple, 466MHz can be reached by running the computer bus at 46.6MHz a much safer and reliable speed than 50MHz. Previously, the G3 upgrade card forced the system bus to 50MHz where some Macs experienced reliability problems. The bus multiple of 10 relieves this pressure on the system bus speed.
Compatibility
- Power Mac 7300, 7500, 7600, 8500, 8600, 9500, 9600;
- Power Computing PowerTower, PowerTower Pro, PowerCenter, PowerCenter Pro, PowerWave, PowerCurve;
- UMAX J700 and S900 series;
- Daystar Genesis MP series
MacBench Processor Scores
- Power Mac 7500/100 162
- Power Mac 8500/150 247
- Power Mac 9600/350 428
- MAXpowr G3 466 1650
Pricing and Availability
The MAXpowr G3 466MHz/1MB/233MHz will be available in calendar Q3 at an estimated street price of $949. All Newer Technology products are available worldwide through major distributors, with North American distribution through Ingram Micro and Merisel, as well as through national resellers such as MicroCenter, value-added resellers, on-line sources and Macintosh mail-order catalogs.
Pricing and Availability
The MAXpowr G3 400MHz/1MB/200MHz for 7100 and 8100 Power Macs will be available in September at an estimated street price of $749. All Newer Technology products are available worldwide through major distributors, with North American distribution through Ingram Micro and Merisel, as well as through national resellers such as MicroCenter, value-added resellers, on-line sources and Macintosh mail-order catalogs.
The Mac Observer: Both companies make grat products and these are significant stones cast in this battle. There are limitations to the MHz limits on upgrades due to limited bus speeds. While we are not at the end of the theoretical limits, these cards approach that end (this does not include possible G4 upgrades which would still convey significant speed improvements at the same MHz ratings).
These prices also make upgrading that PowerMac you have been holding out on a very attractive possibility, even for early adopters who upgraded with 233 MHz, 266 MHz, etc. upgrades.
Look for similar announcements during the next few days/weeks from other G3 upgrade manufacturers.
Sonnet Technologies - Newer Technology
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