Power Computing PowerCenter

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Overview

The PowerCenter was available in low profile, desktop, and tower configurations, with speed ranging from 120-180 MHz using the PPC 604 processor. The CPU was on a daughtercard for ease of upgrade.

Variants

PowerCenter 120. 120 MHz 604 processor
PowerCenter 132. 132 MHz 604 processor
PowerCenter 150. 140 MHz 604 processor
PowerCenter 166. 166 MHz 604 processor
PowerCenter 180. 180 MHz 604 processor
PowerCenter 210. 210 MHz 604e processor

Details

introduced: 1996.04.29
requires System 7.5.2 through 9.1
CPU: 120-210 MHz PPC 604
performance: 510, MacBench 5 (210 MHz)
bus: 40-60 MHz
RAM: 8 MB, expandable to 256 MB using 168-pin 70 ns or faster FPM DIMMs (non-interleaved) in 4 DIMM slots
Video: 1, 2 or 4 MB VRAM, supports 512 x 384 to 1280 x 102
L2 cache: 512k, upgradable
hard drive: 1GB or larger SCSI
CD-ROM: 4x or faster SCSI drive
ADB: 1 port for keyboard and mouse
two miniDIN-8 GeoPorts on back of computer
SCSI: DB-25 connector on back of computer
ethernet: AAUI and 10Base-T connectors on back of computer
PCI slots: 3
power: 200W (145W for low profile model)
size (HxWxD), low profile: 4.4"x16.8"x16.0"
size (HxWxD), desktop: 6.0"x16.0"x16.0"
size (HxWxD), tower: 15.0"x7.0"x16.0"
weight: 21.0-22.0 lb
PRAM battery: 3.6V half-AA
Gestalt ID: 108

Accelerators & Upgrades

CPU daughtercards. See our Guide to G3 Daughter Cards and Guide to G4 Daughter Cards

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.
Purposeful reincarnation for old Macs, Phil Herlihy, The Usefulness Equation, 2008.08.26. The key is to avoid spending more on upgrades than the final use of the machine can justify.
PCI Power Macs great for Mac OS X 10.2 and 10.3, Jonathan Haack, My Turn, 2007.10.30. Thanks to XPostFacto, you don't need a modern Mac to run OS X, just a Power Mac with a G3 daughter card.
Hacking Mac OS 7.6.1 so many Mac OS 8 apps will run, Max Wallgren, Mac Daniel, 2007.10.30. With a little ResEdit work and a second copy of your System Folder, you can run a lot of OS 8 apps with Mac OS 7.6.1.
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.
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.
Power Computing: Fighting back for the Mac or stealing Apple's customers?, Tom Hormby, Orchard, 2007.02.20. Power Computing, the first company to sell licensed Macintosh clones, seemed more interested in stealing Apple's high-end customers than expanding Mac the market.
SATA and PCI Power Macs: No OS X joy, but you can boot OS 9, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2006.11.17. Weeks of experimention find that while you can't seem to boot a pre-G3 Power Mac into OS X from a SATA hard drive, you can at least boot OS 9 from it.
Musings on low-end SATA cards in PCI Power Macs, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2006.11.06. Thoughts on why the inexpensive SATA card might almost work in a pre-G3 PCI Power Mac.
Old Power Macs and SATA not a marriage made in heaven, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2006.11.03. The PCI SATA card said blue & white G3 or newer and Mac OS 8.6 or later, but maybe it would work in an older pre-G3 Power Mac....
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.
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.
The ins and outs of booting Linux on the Mac, Larry Stotler, Linux on the Low End, 2006.07.31. "Old World" Macs can't boot directly into Linux. They need to boot the Classic Mac OS first, then pass control over to Linux.
Preparing your PCI Power Mac for Linux, Larry Stotler, Linux on the Low End, 2006.07.26. How powerful a CPU do you need? How much memory? Do you need a faster drive controller? Are some video cards better than others?
Getting the Mac digital jukebox up and running, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2006.05.08. Connecting your PowerPC Mac to your rstereo and remote control options for running a headless digital audio jukebox.
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.
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.
How big a hard drive can I put in my iMac, eMac, or Power Mac?, Dan Knight, Mac Daniel, 2005.10.24. A lot of older Macs don't know how to deal with drives over 128 GB in size. We look at three options.
Sonata SD, Sonnet Tech, 2004.06.01. First new PCI video card for the Mac in ages sells for just US$99, supports OS 7.5.3 and later plus OS X 10.1.5 and later, works with VGA or old Mac monitors, 16 MB VRAM.
My Experience with my Power Center 132, Orion Lawlor
Upgrade, one man's story, Wayne R. Parker
"...it's the story of my experience upgrading Intrepid, my beloved ... Macintosh clone, transforming it from a creaky two-year-old has-been into a thoroughly studly, modern Macintosh that can hang with the best Apple currently offers, without spending too many of my hard-earned dollars."
PowerWatch PowerCenter page

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