Guide to G3 CPU Upgrades for G3 Power Macs
Updated 2003.05.11
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If you have
a Power Mac G3, whether the original beige model
or the blue & white one, moving to a faster
CPU is as easy as removing the current one and inserting a new on in
the zero insertion force (ZIF) socket.
Benchmark scores are MacBench 5 (note that these are roughly 7%
lower than MacBench 4 scores). For comparison purposes, the beige
Power Mac G3/300 has a CPU score of 1000, the
new $1,600 blue & white G3/300 scores 926
(due to a smaller L2 cache), the G3/350 reaches
1145, and the top of the line G3/400 hits
1310.
Be sure to read That extra
10% to help you decide which upgrade provides the best value for
you.
The information is as accurate as I can find, but specifications and
availability are subject to change; I suggest you check with the
manufacturer to verify current models. Prices may be outdated. (Prices
are in $US, and no price is listed for discontinued upgrades.) In fact,
models are added and discontinued so often, it's impossible to keep
track of which models are current.
NOTE: Not all upgrades are compatible with the Blue
G3.
Discontinued accelerators are listed for historical reasons.
| Manufacturer |
CPU
Speed |
Cache
Size |
Cache
Speed |
MacBench
5.0 rating* |
Estimated
Street Price |
Estimated
Value**
|
metabox
joeCARD Z
adjustable bus
discontinued |
500 MHz |
1 MB |
250 MHz |
|
|
|
phase5
G3 Power Booster
discontinued |
466 MHz |
1 MB |
233 MHz |
|
|
|
| 450 MHz |
1 MB |
225 MHz |
|
| 400 MHz |
1 MB |
200 MHz |
|
PowerLogix
PowerForce
ZIF
adjustable bus
updated 9/11/07 |
500 MHz |
1 MB |
250 MHz |
|
|
|
|
1 GHz |
1 MB |
1 GHz |
|
$140 |
|
|
1.1 GHz |
1 MB |
1.1 GHz |
|
|
|
XLR8
MACh
Speed G3z
adjustable bus
discontinued |
500 MHz |
1 MB |
250 MHz |
|
|
|
| 466 MHz |
1 MB |
233 MHz |
|
| 450 MHz |
1 MB |
225 MHz |
| 400 MHz |
1 MB |
200 MHz |
1341 |
|
9.00
|
| 366 MHz |
1 MB |
183 MHz |
1228 |
|
|
| 333 MHz |
1 MB |
167 MHz |
1117 |
|
3.29
|
| 300 MHz |
1 MB |
200 MHz |
1005 |
|
|
* Processor score from MacWeek or Macworld when
possible, but most MacBench ratings are from manufacturers. End user
results may vary based on a number of factors including bus speed and
OS used.
** Estimated value is MacBench rating divided by
price. Higher numbers represent more bang for the buck.
Reviews & Overviews
This page created May 19, 1999 and updated
occasionally.
