In my previous article I talked about memory
upgrades for low RAM Macs. This time I'm talking about impractical Mac
upgrades.
Drum roll please....
Welcome to the world of last chance upgrades.
As usual, I was helping out in a grade school (yes, same one as
last time) when my computer buddy and the
person who runs the lab, Mrs. Risk, pointed out two 5260s which refused to boot. I took to them. I
inserted the CD, and it booted. The rest was easy.
Later that night I thought about another computer which was broken,
a 5400. The CD wouldn't work - the
drive wouldn't open, for that matter. I thought, why not upgrade the
5260 to a 5400.
That's where I am now.
Only a few Macs have official upgrade path. These are the models
(see list below).
- PowerBook 520/520c/540/540c/550c
100 MHz with 8 MB RAM (others include 167 & 182 MHz)
- PowerBook Duo 210/230/250/270c/280/280c
100 MHz with 8 MB RAM
- PowerBook 190/190cs
100 MHz 8 MB RAM
- PowerMac 7200
7300/7500/7600 motherboard plus daughter card
- Quadra/Centris 610/650
40-66 MHz PDS card, 100 MHz 1 MB L2 cache from Sonnet
- Quadra/Performa:/LC 605/630
? MHz PDS card, 100 MHz 1 MB L2 cache from Sonnet for Quadra
- Quadra 700/800/900/950
50-80 MHz PDS card, 100 MHz 1 MB L2 cache from Sonnet
- Some All-in-One Performas & LCs,
II/IIx/IIcx/IIci/IIsi/IIvi/IIvx
Apple/Daystar Upgrade
For others you'll have to go at your discretion. Some ideas for
speed boosts:
- LC/LCII: LCIII or any LC motherboard (such as Quadra 605) that will
fit the case.
- Color Classic/Colour Classic II: 5400, 5500, educational G3. Many
others include Japanese 603e & G3
- 7200: 7500 motherboard (cheaper than 7300 or 7600 upgrade)
- 128K/512K/512Ke: Plus motherboard
- 128K/512K/512Ke: Plus motherboard + Sonnet Upgrade
- Plus/SE/Classic/SE 30: Upgrade card
- II/IIx/IIcx/IIci/IIsi/IIvi/IIvx: 68030/68LC040/68040 Upgrade/ Cash
card
- Many others but mostly 68k Macs.
So far the only Mac without an upgrade is the Sawtooth G4. Sonnet
& Newer both make upgrades for the Yikes! G4.
Share your perspective on the Mac by emailing with "My Turn" as your subject.
