Not sure if this is the right area again, so sorry for inconvinience.
I have a "old" performa(cant say the exact make because i cant remember, it looks like an iMac - all in one). It's running OS 7.6.1.
I want to upgrade it to OS 9.1 and add a 56k modem into it. Where can i get the OS update cheap, and how can i install a 56k modem? What would i need to do it?(that includes modem too, i'm not sure what one would work best)
Thanks,
Ash :macos:
It would be a good idea to find out which performa you have and how much RAM you have. There were a variety of Performas that looked iMacish ranging from a 16mhz 030 model to a 250 mhz 603 PPC. If we don't know what you have any advice we give you may be worthless.
Also if you have a really old Performa it might be almost as cheap to upgrade to a newer machine that has everything you want alredy and more.
Watne
A performa 5200, as to the ram i'm not sure.
Ash
Your performa is designated a "Road Apple". Meaning it is one of the worst and/or most compromised Macs ever built. To save money, Apple used random parts from older 68k Quadras to build the motherboard, severely crippling the potential performance of the PPC 603 proccesser. Even if you max out the RAM to 64MB, OS9 is gonna run dog slow. If you wan't to continue using that machine, you have a few options: replace the motherboard with one from a 5400/5500/6400, or Max out the RAM and install a lesser OS, such as 7.6.1/8.1.
A few good places to find info on your system:
http://www.lowendmac.com/ppc/5200.shtml
http://www.lowendmac.com/roadapples/x200.shtml
. . . word processor, etc. Does it have the Video System Card or a TV Tuner module installed? Look for a set of RCA jacks and a co-ax connector on the backplane. If it came with the IR Remote Control, that'd be a good indicator.
For the modem, you'll need an external serial modem. The internal was a dog and you'll want to use the Comm Slot for an ethernet card anyway. Don't expect much performance, even with a 56k capable modem, the machine itself will be slow.
jt
To my knowledge it doesnt have a remote but i've found recently that if i press the standby button on my TV remote it turns it on.
I got given this mac by my uncle some time last year, he had no use for it anymore. Thats why i don't know about the RAM. He's a bit of a mac fanatic, he's recognised as the person to come to about Macs at the uni where he works in london. If you can suggest anything that might help my problem then i can ask him to get it - he has a basement of Mac odds and ends that he doesnt use.
Ash
To find out how much RAM you have, move your pointer to the apple in the upper left corner and drag down to "about this computer" or "about this Mac"
Wayne
The remote function is for the TV tuner some Macs had built in. It will turn the Mac on and off though without the tuner card installed.
What you need is a 54/5500 or 64/6500 logic board to put in the 5200.
Maybe your uncle has one.
An external modem is the way to go with the 5200 for sure and can be found pretty cheap now. A common internal PC modem will not work in a Mac.
Tell your uncle what you want to do with the Mac and he should be able to hook you up with whatever you need or will know what to get.
Adding RAM to Max it out is always a plus.
Krow
Thanks, I'll email him and see what he can do. I'll reply here with how it all goes.
Ash
Here's a link to a nice site with more info on your 5200:
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_performa/stats/mac_performa_5200cd.html
There is an extremely helpful forum there as well.
Krow
I had one of those, w/ the TV card. I gave it to my brother and he uses it as a TV all the time.
Ok, spent about 30 minutes earlier taking the logic board out of a 6200 and trying it in the 5200. Didnt make any difference untill i took the memory from the 5200 and out it in the 6200 logic board.
With the 5200 it looked like this:
Built-In Memory: 16, 384k Largest Unused Block:57, 384k
Total Memory: 66, 648k 66, 648k used as RAM on Scratch
With the 6200 logic board it now reads:
Built-In Memory: 65, 536k Largest Unused Block:57, 343k
Total Memory: 66, 888k 66, 888k used as RAM on Scratch
I put the 2xSuperPCmemory (unsure of size)from into the 6200 logic board.
I kept the ethernet card from the 5200 in the mac, just put it in the 6200 board. It's a CS Twisted-Pair Card. Could have used CS Thin Coax card. Don't use ethernet anyway so it doesn't matter to me.
There was something else, located to the left of the memory (if you look at it as you take it out) which i kept from the 5200 board.
Also i took the time to look at the hard drive and it's size. It's a Segabyte 8.4 Gbyte HD.
Whether that is any use to my situation(installing OS 9, and a modem) or whether its just hopeless. It seems to run faster now, boots up quicker.
Ash
Ok readign things online on various site(probably shouldn't believe everyting you read, but nvm) i've come to reliese that QO 9 may not be the best choice to run on my performa. In that case does anyone know where i can get a copy of OS8.1 or 8.5 to install. Prefereably free, i've looked but to no avail.
Ash