Power Macintosh G3 (desktop)

One of the last "classic" Power Macintosh computers, the desktop Power Mac G3 codenamed Gossamer was packed with features. In ith base configuration, it has PowerPC G3 233 or 266Mhz CPU, DIMM expandable RAM and both IDE and SCSI controllers. In its best option there was 300MHz CPU, more RAM, advanced multimedia card (instead of simple sound card), more VRAM and DVD drive. Some units had also SCSI RAID compatibility. Like in many Macs, early units have ROM slots, it's a short DIMM module.


Model No: M6508

Year: 1997
Discontinued: 1999
CPU: PowerPC G3 266MHz
RAM: 64MB
Max. RAM: 768MB
RAM Type: 3 slots of 168-pin DIMM
Hard disk: 6GB IDE, 3.5" SL
Floppy drives: 1 1.4M 3.5"
Other drives: 24x CD-ROM
Graphics: ATI 3D Rage
Sound: Stereo
Display: External, 15-pin connector
Dedicated OS: Mac System 8

Maximum OS: Mac System 10.2.8

Expansions:  - ADB.
 - 3 DIMMs for RAM Expansion
 - ROM DIMM slot (early models)
 - Processor in socket
 - 3 PCI slots
 - Internal SCSI and IDE connectors.
 - Multimedia expansion slot.
 - Video memory SODIMM slot

 

Peripherals in collection:
 - ADB keyboard and mouse

Connectors:  - External SCSI
 - Ethernet network
 - 2 serial (RS-422) ports for printer and modem
 - 15-pin video connector
 - ADB connector for keyboard and mouse
 - Speaker output
 - Microphone input
 
 
 
 
 
 

I got my unit from the same recycling as Power Mac 7300 and it comes from the same editorial. It's in good condition, maybe except power switch whose springs were broken. It's not a critical failure, but it makes power switch act much quicker than with good springs.
 


Overclocking

Overclocking is quite simple, as it requires only jumper manipulation. Remember that this not only voids warranty but may prevent all service procedures of the unit! So if you overclocked and have bad blocks - it's your fault. If you have crack on power switch - it's your fault. If big Godzilla jumps from the unit - it's your fault.

Near the battery, there's a 9-jumper block J16 with sticker "Warranty void if removed". These control CPU bus frequency and multiplier. Just configure it according to the table. Usually one step is enough, so 266MHz units may run quite well at 300MHz without changing bus clock, they sometimes suffer small overheating. Changing bus clock should be taken as last resort, as it clocks all components too.
Another component which may slow the computer down is the backside cache, which always runs at half of CPU speed. If you overclock 266MHz to 300MHz, the backside cache will overclock from 133 to 150MHz. If it's made of poor chips, it may make system unstable. Finally, overclocking from 266 to 300MHz gives about 10-15% increase in performance.

Bus Clock
PCI Clock
CPU Clock
Multiplier
P1
P2
P3
P4
P5
P6
P7
P8
P9
Notes
66MHz
33MHz
200MHz
3
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
66MHz
33MHz
233MHz
3.5
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
0
0
G3/233Default
66MHz
33MHz
266MHz
4
0
1
0
1
1
1
1
0
0
G3/266Default
66MHz
33MHz
300MHz
4.5
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
66MHz
33MHz
333MHz
5
0
1
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
66MHz
33MHz
366MHz
5.5
0
1
1
0
1
1
1
0
0
66MHz
33MHz
400MHz
6
0
0
1
0
1
1
1
0
0
66MHz
33MHz
433MHz
6.5
1
0
1
0
1
1
1
0
0
66MHz
33MHz
466MHz
7
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
0
0
70MHz
35MHz
210MHz
3
0
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
70MHz
35MHz
245MHz
3.5
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
1
1
70MHz
35MHz
280MHz
4
0
1
0
1
1
1
0
1
1
70MHz
35MHz
315MHz
4.5
1
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
1
70MHz
35MHz
350MHz
5
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
1
1
70MHz
35MHz
385MHz
5.5
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
1
1
70MHz
35MHz
420MHz
6
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
1
70MHz
35MHz
455MHz
6.5
1
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
1
70MHz
35MHz
490MHz
7
1
1
0
1
1
1
0
1
1
75MHz
30MHz
225MHz
3
0
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
0
75MHz
30MHz
263MHz
3.5
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
1
0
75MHz
30MHz
300MHz
4
0
1
0
1
0
1
1
1
0
75MHz
30MHz
337MHz
4.5
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
75MHz
30MHz
375MHz
5
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
75MHz
30MHz
413MHz
5.5
0
1
1
0
0
1
1
1
0
75MHz
30MHz
450MHz
6
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
1
0
75MHz
30MHz
487MHz
6.5
1
0
1
0
0
1
1
1
0
75MHz
30MHz
525MHz
7
1
1
0
1
0
1
1
1
0
83MHz
33MHz
250MHz
3
0
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
83MHz
33MHz
292MHz
3.5
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
83MHz
33MHz
333MHz
4
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
83MHz
33MHz
375MHz
4.5
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
83MHz
33MHz
416MHz
5
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
83MHz
33MHz
458MHz
5.5
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
83MHz
33MHz
500MHz
6
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
83MHz
33MHz
541MHz
6.5
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
83MHz
33MHz
583MHz
7
1
1
0
1
0
1
0
0
0