komodo

From Computers Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search

The 350 MHz Rev. A blue and white Power Macintosh G3 is picky about its ATA configuration.

Specs

Model ID
PowerMac1,1
CPU
PowerPC 750 @ 350 MHz
L2 Cache
1 MiB
Bus Speed
100 MHz
Boot ROM Version
1.1.1f4
Storage
12.76 GB Quantum Fireball CX13.6A
Optical Drive
Matshita CR-587
Zip Drive
Iomega Zip 100
FireWire
400
GPU
ATI Rage 128 (ATY,Rage128)
VRAM
16 MiB
RAM
1024 MiB (4x 256 MiB)

Quirks

  • The fan may or may not rattle loudly.
  • Because this is a Rev. A model, "newer" ATA drives exhibit data corruption. Even the stock 6 GB drive from a tray-loading iMac G3 is "too new". Classic Mac OS will pretend to install just fine, but Mac OS X will abort the installation because it knows something is wrong.
  • Open Firmware can't boot from hard disks connected to the CD-ROM drive and Zip drive's ATA cable, even though it can boot from CD-ROM drives on that cable just fine.
  • When installing prerelease versions of Mac OS X, temporarily remove RAM until total RAM is 512 MiB.

History

  • 2020-07-06: The computer arrives at my parents' place from an eBay seller. One handle on the back bottom is broken. The hard disk is dead.
  • 2020-07-06: ⚠️ A bit of plastic from the clock battery holder is chipped away when removing the clock battery.
  • 2020-07-06: Attempts at using different hard disks I have on hand fail due to the data corruption issue.
  • 2020-07-10: 📈 The RAM the computer came with is replaced with four 256 MiB sticks (256 -> 1024).
  • 2020-07-17: 📈 I replace the dead hard disk with a period-correct 13.6 GB Quantum Fireball. No data corruption is observed.
  • 2021-12-27: The CD-ROM drive might be dying?
  • 2021-12-27: ⚠️ Part of the already-damaged back bottom handle breaks off while closing the side panel.
  • 2023-07-26: The computer is temporarily transported back to my parents' place.
  • 2023-07-26: ⚠️ Much of the remaining portion of the already-damaged handle breaks away.
  • 2023-09-18: The computer is transported to the new home.