PowerLogix Info

This page contains all the info I have gathered on PowerLogix's G3 upgrade for the 6400
Return to The 6400 Zone Home page

11/19/1999 FLASH: Power Logix has reportedly stopped all production on the L2 G3 upgrades for our Macs? No news as to why? BUMMER :(

7/23/1999 PowerLogix enters L2/G3 arena!: well its about time! PowerLogix has announced that it has released its line of L2/G3 upgrades for the 6400/6500 and 4400 type Macs. From the letter it seems they are shipping the 4400 now and the 6400/6500 next month. I also noticed a 7220 version? None of the other L2/G3 vendors made one for any 72xx series as this Mac was supposed to not be able to work with it? I see they only mentioned the 7220 so I guess this was the one model close enough to work? Also note they have a 400Mhz version too but no listing as to if its 400Mhz on the 6500 only? I will write for more info and see if I can get a card to review :) Stay Tuned!

[" MACWORLD EXPO, NEW YORK -- JULY 21, 1999 -- PowerLogix today
announced new models of the award-winning line of PowerForce G3 processor upgrades. The new lineup includes G3L2 cards for 603e-based machines such as the PowerMac 4400, as well as the new 466 MHz PowerForce G3 utilizing the IBM 466 PowerPC processor with 10:1 bus ratio.

The PowerForce G3 466 compliments the award-winning, best-priced lineup of G3 processors for original PCI PowerMacs. (Compatible machines listed below.)

The complete PowerForce G3 Lineup includes the following models and list pricing:

-PowerForce G3 233/512K $249
-PowerForce G3 300/1Mb $399
-PowerForce G3 400/1Mb $599
-PowerForce G3 466/1Mb $799 *NEW*

The PowerForce G3L2 lineup includes the following models and introductory list pricing:

-PowerForce G3L2 240/512K $199 *NEW*
-PowerForce G3L2 320/1Mb $399 *NEW*
-PowerForce G3L2 400/1Mb $599 *NEW*

In addition the PowerForce G3 ZIF completes the full line of G3 processor cards. The ZIF model is designed for PowerMac G3s of all types.

-PowerForce G3 ZIF 466/1Mb $629

All models ship with cache running at half the processor speed.
COMPATIBILITY:
PowerForce G3 models are compatible with Power Mac 7300/7500/7600/8500/8600/9500/9600, Workgroup Server 7350, 8550, 9650, Daystar Genesis, PowerCenter, PowerCenter Pro, PowerCurve, PowerTower, PowerTower Pro, PowerWave and UMAX J700/S900.

PowerForce G3L2 models are compatible with PowerMac 4400, 5400, 5500, 6400, 6500, 7220, Performa 5400, 5500, 6360, 6400, 6500, UMAX/SuperMac C500, C600, and Motorola StarMax 3000, 4000, and 5000.

PowerForce G3 ZIF is compatible with all PowerMac G3s, including "Blue & White" G3s as well as the G3 "All-in-One". (Due to the architecure of the B&W G3, the G3 ZIF will operate at either 450 or 500 MHz in those machines.)

AVAILABILITY: All PowerForce G3 and G3 ZIF models are shipping now. The PowerForce G3L2 will ship this month for PowerMac 4400, 7220, and Starmax 3000/4000, and in August for the remaining models."]

7/30/1999 PowerLogix's L2 G3 and the 7200: David writes that the 7220 model they mentioned in the press release is not to be confused with the 7200. Thanks David.

[Tom -
FYI, the 7220 is the model number for the 4400 series in Europe. It has nothing to do with the old 601-based 7200 series...much to the confusion of everyone, I'm sure.]

• Update - David later writes that it is not Europe but Australia. Thanks for the update.

[The 7220 was sold in Australia, not Europe. It's still identical to the
4400, though...for all the info, check here:

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/powermac/stats/powermac_7220_200.html]

More PowerLogix info on their L2 G3's: Larry found this site which doesn't have much info but sure makes it look like they are going to produce them. Thanks Larry.

9/11/1999 Reply from PowerLogix on their L2 G3 cards for the 6400: I know a lot of you are waiting to hear about PowerLogix's G3 upgrades for our computers and so was I. I sent tem an email and got a reply today. Some very good news for 6400 owners too!

[>Hello, my name is Thomas Koons and I host the web site called "The 6400
>Zone" and would like to ask you a few questions on your L2 G3's. I know
>they are not ready yet but could you please try to answer to the best of
>your knowledge.
>
>1. are the CPU's copper or aluminum based? If possible could I get the
>brand name (IBM or Motorola)?

Only 333MHz and faster processors are copper. We use both Motorola and IBM chips depending on availability.
>
>2. does the 400Mhz CPU run at 400Mhz in the 6400? (40Mhz bus)

Yes.
>
>3. do you plan on using the new 10x bus G3's to make a 400Mhz G3 for the
>6400 if not already?

Yes.
>
>4. any known incompatibilities?
>
Not at this time, but the cards are still in beta.

>5. I know this my be a little pre mature but do you have any plans for a
>L2 G4 card?
>
It is doubtful that these machines will be able to run G4 due to the slow bus speeds.

>6. If possible I would like to test your fastest upgrade for the 6400. I
>have tested and reviewed Vimages and Sonnets L2 G3's in the past and
>would like to add yours to my web site. You can read the other reviews here.
>http://members.aol.com/tmk12v/Vpower240_review.html
>http://members.aol.com/tmk12v/Sonnet_L2G3_review.html

I will add you to my list for review cards.
Sincerely,
Robin

Marketing Coordinator
PowerLogix R&D, Inc.
3921 Steck Ave., Ste A-105
Austin, TX 78759
512-795-2978, ext 106
http://www.powerlogix.com]

Just incase you read over it they said the 400Mhz version will run 400Mhz in the 6400 due to the new 10x G3 CPU's! This is great and what is even better is that its only $599 right now! This makes it not only the fastest but then lowest priced fastest G3 upgrade for the 6400. I hope they can send me one soon so I can review it :) Also note they said the G4 would probably not be a wise upgrade path for the 6400/6500. Read on to find out why?

B&W G3 owners in uproar over blockage of G4 upgrade path!: Many of you have probably read by now that many B&W G3 owners are very angry over the fact that it seems Apple may have disabled their ability to upgrade to a G4 CPU. Whether this is true or not you may want to read this article posted on The RMRP that basically says the G4 is just to fast for the current line of Macs. Only the 400Mhz G4 comes slow enough to not make the mother board of the B&W G3 a bottle neck. Also if you read reports that others have posted on the web about Apples lowend 400Mhz G4 you'll notice they all refer to it as a "tweaked" B&W G3 mother board to run the G4 CPU. I don't know how much tweaking they did but maybe they are using the same mother board design but with some upgraded chip sets on it for the G4? This would make sense as Apple as stated the G3 was not marketed as upgradable and maybe it wouldn't even be worth it unless you were happy with just a 400Mhz G4? These are just my opinions and I too wish they would just let the CPU upgrade vendors worry about G4 uprade failures and returns rather then getting all this negative press. Who knows, maybe it might still be worth it even if you couldn't run the altivec optimised code due to bus saturation?

9/17/1999 Clarification on Power Logix's fastest L2 G3 offering: I received word from Power Logix on the speed settings of their 400Mhz L2 G3. It seems in a 6400 it WILL have a 10x bus ratio to get us 400Mhz and in the 6500 is will run an 8x ratio to get 400Mhz. This is a good choice for 6400 users right now as I don't think IBM or Motorola will make anything higher then a 10x ratio so 400Mhz is it for us. I can't wait to test it!

11/12/1999 Power Logix stops production on L2 G3 cards?: I heard from several users that PL will not be making their L2 G3 cards now so I emailed them and here is the reply I got.

[Yes, I was told yesterday that we have cancelled further development on this card. Unfortunately, I was given no further information.

Sincerely,
Robin


I just got anemail from a 6400 user that got an email from Power Logix that says you are stopping the L2 G3 production? is this true?
Tom]

I asked if he ever got an answer to let me know. I guess we're back to Sonnet and Newer only again :( OUt of these my choice is Newer as it is much more stable and hasn't had as many complaints but it does have a more serious Geo modem issue as many people get a port busy or some other port error.