Alligator

The computer in all its glory.

The Grape Rev. C tray-loading iMac G3 is the first computer that was added to my old computer collection.

Specifications

Model ID

iMac,1

CPU

PowerPC 750 (2.2) @ 266 MHz

L2 Cache

512 KiB

Bus Speed

67 MHz

Boot ROM Version

1.3.f2

RAM

384 MiB (256 MiB + 128 MiB)

Storage

6 GB WDC AC26400B

Mouse

Present

Keyboard

Present, but the spacebar hugs the bottom, and there are electrical issues. If a short occurs, the keyboard will often reset itself. Sometimes, it can freeze the computer, seen in both Classic Mac OS and Mac OS X.

Box

Yes!

Ethernet

100 Mbps

Modem

56K, V.90

ROM Revision

$77D.44B5

Optical Drive

Matshita CD-ROM CR-173

GPU

ATI Rage Pro (ATY,RagePro_C ATY,GT-C)

VRAM

6 MiB

Display

1024x768 @ 75 Hz

Quirks

• The optical drive has trouble with 24x-burned CDs. 8x-burned CDs are OK.
• The optical drive rattles with some discs. This affects both pressed discs and burned disks.
• The CRT used to pop several times an hour when I first got the machine, but this has gotten much better with time.
• When changing the RAM configuration, the computer will boot once before refusing to boot for several hours. Refusal to boot is seen as the power light remaining orange.
• The computer does not appear to recognize more than 384 MiB of RAM. This is greater than Apple's maximum of 128 MiB but lesser than the unofficial maximum of 512 MiB.
• The boot partition must start and stop within the first 8 GiB of storage.
• Unlike most other later New World ROM PowerPC Macs, there is no boot device selector when holding Option on boot, and Open Firmware can't read USB mass storage.
• If you want to open or close the side door, you oftentimes need to apply some downward pressure.
• Apparently an "internal" 3.5" floppy disk drive can be installed in it!
• When the computer is shut down, a faint noise can be heard from the CRT. When the computer is unplugged, the noise persists for a few seconds.
• Mac OS X Server 1.2 v3 and the Mac OS X Developer Previews can be installed just fine. Just tick the unsupported computer checkbox.

History

• 2019-10-31: A classmate, Dennis, who works at a computer recycling place gets the computer.
• 2019-11-03: Dennis transports the computer to his dorm building.
• 2019-11-03: I transport the computer to my dorm building.
• 2019-11-04: 📈 The firmware is updated to the latest version.
• 2019-11-08: The computer is transported to my parents' house.
• 2019-11-08: ⚠️ Because the screw holding the clip which a cord fed through refused to be unscrewed, the clip is bent enough so the cord can be threaded out.
• 2019-11-08: 📉 The clock battery is removed.
• 2019-11-08: 📈 A 256 MiB RAM stick is inserted (32 -> 288).
• ????-??-??: ⚠️ Some clips on the bottom of the keyboard are broken during disassembly. Online sources say this is expected.
• ????-??-??: The majority of the coffee stain on the keyboard is cleaned, improving the reliability of the keyboard.
• 2020-03-21: 📈 A 256 MiB RAM stick replaces the stock 32 MiB stick, but only 128 MiB is recognized (288 -> 384).
• 2020-08-??: The computer is transported to my apartment.
• 2021-??-??: 📈 The stock 6 GiB hard disk is replaced with my grandpa's 14 GiB hard disk.
• 2021-??-??: 📉 My grandpa's 14 GiB hard disk dies and is replaced with the stock 6 GiB hard disk.
• 2021-??-??: The VRAM stick is reseated to resolve an issue where the computer sometimes boots thinking there is less VRAM than there should be.
• 2023-07-21: The computer is temporarily transported back to my parents' place.
• 2023-09-18: The computer is transported to the new home.

References

• Media:Apple Service Source - iMac.pdf