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Power Macintosh G3 Q&A - Published February 22, 2010
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How can you visually differentiate between a Revision 1 and Revision 2 "Blue & White" Power Mac G3 model?
The "CMD" chip in the left rear corner of the motherboard can be used to differentiate between a revision 1 and revision 2 "Blue & White" Power Mac G3. The CMD chip on Rev. 1 logic boards is PCI646U2 and on Rev. 2 logic boards is 646U2-402.
On the resale market, revision 2 motherboards tend to be preferred due to fewer issues with MacOS X and large hard drives.
What type of modem is provided by the Power Mac G3?
All Power Mac G3 models were offered with an internal 56k modem as an option. None were installed by default.
Can USB and Firewire be added to the "Platinum" Power Mac G3 models?
Yes, USB and Firewire ports can be added to the Platinum/Beige Power Mac G3 models with a compatible PCI card.
Site sponsor Other World Computing may still have a vintage USB or Firewire PCI card or two.
Please double check to ensure a particular USB or Firewire PCI card of interest is compatible with both your Mac and your operating system.
Was the iMac keyboard and mouse really standard with the "Blue & White" Power Mac G3 models?
Yes. In an apparent last-minute move to cut costs, Apple decided to use the standard iMac G3 keyboard and "hockey puck" mouse with the "Blue & White" Power Mac G3 series.
However, because the Blue & White Power Macintosh G3 models have an ADB port as well as two USB ports, the options for alternate input devices are virtually limitless. However, Apple warns that if you have two similar input devices plugged in at the same time in both formats, results are "unpredictable". In other words, if you have both an ADB-based and USB-based mouse plugged in at the same time, the movement of one mouse may effect the other. So don't do that.
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