PowerMac G3s and Blue & White G3s had been the only machines with ZIF sockets, and the Z-Force changes all that. PowerLogix is now taking pre-orders on the units which are priced at US$149. According to PowerLogix:
PowerLogix, the leader in Power Macintosh processor products, today announced that they are accepting pre-orders for the innovative and revolutionary Z-Force Accelerator System for Power Macintosh and clones.
As announced at the MacWorld Expo, the Z-Force System takes the best features of the popular PowerForce G3 and combines it with the easy upgradeability of a "ZIF" processor module. The Apple standard ZIF ("zero insertion force") processor module is used in all PowerMac G3s.
The Z-Force System eliminates obsolecence by allowing easy migration to future processor technology, and also offers flexibility by adapting a ZIF socket (used on the latest PowerMacs) to all older PCI PowerMacs.
The Z-Force System offers:
- Compatible with OS 8.6 and OSX
- All the features of the best-selling PowerForce G3, winner of the MacWorld Editor's Choice Award for Accelerators in the February 1999 issue
- The first "upgradeable upgrade." Move up to the latest processors such as G4, by just plugging in a new processor module
- Provides new life for Apple processor modules removed from upgraded PowerMac G3s
- Money savings. Purchase a processor module that fits your budget, because there is no penalty for upgrading at a later date to a faster processor.
- Standardization. Use one style of processor module in all your PowerMac G3s and PCI PowerMacs.
The PowerLogix Z-Force G3/G4 is available for the following PowerMacs and clones: 7300, 7500, 7600, 8500, 8600, 9500, 9600, PowerBase, PowerWave, PowerCurve, PowerCenter, PowerCenter Pro, PowerTower, PowerTower Pro, UMAX J700, and S900. The ZForce is also compatible with the Mach 5 versions of the 9600 and 8600 systems.
The Z-Force requires an Apple ZIF processor module of any speed, or a PowerLogix PowerForce G3 ZIF processor module of any speed. The best features of the PowerForce G3, such as variable bus ratio and variable bus speed, work even with the Apple modules for the ultimate in configurability.
The Z-Force will be shipping in 3 weeks according to PowerLogix. Preorders are being accepted for US$149.