Processor Swapping, G3s and G4s

I don't know a good comprehensive swapping guide off the top off the top of my head, but the short answer is that, no, you won't be able to do what you're asking, which I assume is take the CPU module from a stock 533Mhz machine and plug it into a B&W G3.

There are at least three different kinds of CPU card plugs on "recent" (drawbridge case) Apple boxes. The B&W used a "ZIF" socket, which was only used on the very oldest and slowest (400Mhz or less) PCI-bus G4s. Any G4 with an AGP slot uses a completely different and incompatable module. Further, there are incompatibilities between the various G4 generations. (Apparently the CPU socket changes orientation, making it difficult or impossible to fit the "wrong" module into the case, and of course newer machines have higher bus speeds then older ones.)

If you're looking for a CPU any faster then 400Mhz for a G3 you're going to need to look at third-party ZIF upgrades. You can get a 500Mhz+ G4 from companies like "Sonnet" easily enough, but you'll pay through the nose for it if you buy it new, of course.

--Peace

First of all is it just the processor or is it a whole card? If it's just a processor you will need to purchase a card from eBay or switch out a processor on another card.

To find out which model it goes with, I would post a pic of the card or processor or give more info describing it.

First of all is it just the processor or is it a whole card? If it's just a processor you will need to purchase a card from eBay or switch out a processor on another card.

It takes BGA rework equipment to get the CPU chips on and off the CPU cards, so I suspect we're dealing with a complete module. ;^>

According to references, a 533Mhz CPU must of come in a "Digital Audio" machine. (The G4 generations boil down to "Sawtooth", "Gigabit Ethernet", "Digital Audio", "Quicksilver", and "Mirror Door".) "Digital Audio" and better have 133Mhz (or 166Mhz, for the fastest Mirror Doors) busses, while the others have a 100Mhz bus.

So my guess is you're limited to the later boards, unless you're willing to resolder the resistors on the card to change the multiplier. As for physical compatibility, I can't say. Some upgrade CPUs are universal. (Except for "Mirror Door". No one seems to make upgrades for that. Just a guess, but the fact that those use DDR memory may mean that their CPU cards are electrically different.)

Look at the installation manuals for one of those Universal upgrades. That'll probably give you some idea of what the differences are.

--Peace

It takes BGA rework equipment to get the CPU chips on and off the CPU cards, so I suspect we’re dealing with a complete module. ;^>

Unless you by directly from Motorola.

::)

Edit: It's supposed to be a roll eyes.

Unless you buy directly from Motorola.

You'll still need the BGA rework equipment to get the CPU onto a Macintosh CPU card, so the point stands. ;^>

--Peace