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PowerBook G3 Q&A - Updated January 12, 2010
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Is the CPU on the PowerBook G3 upgradable? How is it mounted? Are third-party processor upgrade cards available?
Apple provides complete instructions for installing memory in the PowerBook G3 models. However, Apple does not consider the processor module to be a "customer-installable part" and declines to provide replacement instructions. Consequently, EveryMac.com does not recommend that users attempt to upgrade the processor themselves.
Nevertheless, the processor in all PowerBook G3 models is soldered to a daughtercard. As this daughtercard is removable, accessing and swapping out processor daughtercards is fairly straightforward for those who have experience upgrading notebooks and enjoy tinkering. However, as the ROM also is soldered to the daughtercard, this still posed a challenge to upgrade the processor.
The feasible way to upgrade the processor in these models essentially is to replace the existing daughtercard with a new one with a faster processor and another ROM.
Several companies did just this, either by requiring a user to remove the existing processor daughtercard and mail it to the company to have the existing processor de-soldered and a new one soldered in its place, or later, after obtaining a stash of replacement ROMs, selling "hacked" daughtercards with new processors.
A complete list of PowerBook G3 compatible upgrade cards from Daystar/XLR8, FastMac, Newer, PowerLogix, and Sonnet remains archived in the Pre-Intel Upgrade Cards section of EveryMac.com.
The always excellent iFixit has instructions to swap processor daughtercards in the Wallstreet/PDQ, Lombard, and Pismo models, respectively, should you run across an upgrade card on the resale market.
Does the Apple logo "glow" on the PowerBook G3 models?
The white Apple logo on the back of the "Bronze Keyboard/Lombard" and "Firewire/Pismo" models does "light up" when the display is on. This has no impact on the battery life or on the amount of heat generated.
Some late model "PDQ" PowerBook G3 models also have this capability, whereas earlier models do not.
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