connecting a performa 6400 to a iBook G3 700 mhz

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connecting a performa 6400 to a iBook G3 700 mhz

I could use some ideas on how to access my performa 6400 by hooking it up to my G3 iBook. I don't believe the Performa has a pci card.

Performa 6400/200 9.1 OS, Mac OS 8.6 or Earlier, iBook G3 700mhz OS X.4

Posted on May 15, 2008 12:31 PM

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Answer 1

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

22,201 points

May 15, 2008 12:56 PM in response to prplnite1

With an appropriate Ethernet card installed, a network connection would have been the best way.

Another possibility would be a modem connection (dial-up Internet or modem-to-modem).

A USB floppy drive attached to the iBook would allow you to use 1.44 MB floppies for transfers of a limited number of smaller files.

It should also be possible to (temporarily) remove the Performa 6400/200 hard drive and install it in an external FireWire enclosure.

Jan

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Answer 2

May 15, 2008 5:48 PM in response to prplnite1

That particular Mac could also have a comm slot II Ethernet card installed, without filling the PCI slot. Do you see the distinctive 8-wire RJ-45 twisted-pair Ethernet connector near the top or bottom of the backpanel? (Looks like a telephone jack on steroids.)

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Answer 3

prplnite1 Author

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May 16, 2008 9:40 AM in response to Jan Hedlund

Hi Jan,
Thanks for the post and I think I will go with the ethernet card. I want to browse the performa's hard drive to see what is on it. I would like to keep it since it has been a faithful friend for awhile.
Bob

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Answer 4

prplnite1 Author

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May 16, 2008 9:44 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hi Grant,
Thanks for the help. I'm at work right now, but I will check the back of my performa when I get home. I seem to remember seeing the ethernet connector at the bottom of the back panel. I should also take the back panel off and do a little cleaning in there. Again, thanks for the tip.
Bob

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Answer 5

May 16, 2008 9:55 AM in response to prplnite1

The motherboard slides out the back after you take off the protective plastic overpanel. It may have 2 or 3 Phillips screws. If you find yourself removing more than 3 screws, you are probably dis-assembling something unnecessarily.

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Answer 6

Jeff

Level 6

12,058 points

May 16, 2008 5:43 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Yes, there are (2) machine screws (one at each end) that secure the motherboard to the chassis. The third (inboard) machine screw secures the vertical PCI riser card and doesn't need to be removed. On the 6400/6500s, the plastic I/O trim panel remains attached to the metal fence, so that everything pulls out as a unit.

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Answer 7

May 16, 2008 5:50 PM in response to Jeff

Thanks, Jeff. Your insight is always helpful !

I have only worked on the 5400 and 5500 versions of those Macs, with the removable plastic panels, and mistakenly assumed the 6400 and 6500 worked the same way. My bad.

The comm II slot would end up at the bottom of the row of connectors on those Macs, right? On the 5500 it goes in flat like a tray.

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Answer 8

Jeff

Level 6

12,058 points

May 16, 2008 7:18 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Yes, the COMM slot is at the bottom of the vertically-oriented motherboard, so the card is parallel to the floor of the chassis. Not so long ago, one could find a dozen of those motherboards listed at eBay, but now - I was fortunate to find one. Even with a G3 processor upgrade, the seller of this motherboard will have to settle for substantially less than his Buy-It-Now price.

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