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what RAM does a Power Macintosh 9600/200MP use?

I recently got a Power Macintosh 9600/200MP (dual 200Mhz PPC 604e).
it has 224MB of RAM now, which works, but if possable I'd like to upgrade it a bit.
preferably to 768MB, but, there is one problem, I don't know what RAM I need.

the page about the system specifications on support.apple.com#specs only show this:
RAM Slots: 12, 168-pin DIMM
Min - Max RAM: 32 MB - 768 MB
Min RAM Speed: 70
RAM Sizes: 8, 16, 32, 64 MB
here is a problem, I took out one module (has 2x 64MB and 6x 16MB) to take a look at the info on it, it only listed a brand and product number.

that should be enough to find it, but when I searches I read something about it being SIMM modules, problem is, SIMM's are only with up to 72-pins, and this machine used 168-pin DIMM modules.
the specs for the module also said it was EDO RAM, which where indeed SIMM modules, but there is no DIMM EDO RAM (AFAIK).



so, anyone here who knows what RAM this machine needs?

eMac (education only), Mac OS X (10.5.8), 1.0GHz G4, 2GB, 40GB, DVD-RW, 1TB FW eHDD

Posted on Feb 28, 2011 11:15 AM

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6 replies

Feb 28, 2011 11:55 AM in response to foxofinfinety

The two online RAM vendors I use exclusively for Mac RAM have the right stuff:

PowerMac 9600 RAM at Other World Computing

and

PowerMac 9600 RAM at Data Memory Systems

I have a 7600 that takes the same RAM as the 9600 and has similar architecture (but only eight RAM slots) and, as I never plan to run anything higher than OS 8.6 on the old soldier, I prefer non-EDO RAM. The EDO works OK if the computer is tricked into running OSX but the non EDO (also called FPM) is best for OS9 oand older.

Note that, since the Apple specs were written, you can use 128MB modules,I have two in my 7600 and they work flawlessly. Theoretically, you could have 1.5GB RAM but I don't think OS9 will address more than 1GB.

I've used only these two vendors for about a dacade and am very plesed with their stuff. Computers that were upgraded years ago still have the RAM I bought form these two firms.

I believe that Other World Computing ships to Europe. If that does not work for you, I suggest you make contact with a Mac User Group ("MUG") and see what vendors they trust. You local MUGs are listed here:

http://appleusergroups.com/locator/find/locate.cgi?country=16

Apple cannot know which groups are active if the group does not stay in contact with Cupertino, so some may be inactive. Still, one of those listed may be your best resource.

Feb 28, 2011 12:51 PM in response to foxofinfinety

Rather than installing 768 MBs of RAM, some of that money would be better spent on replacing the 604e/200 DP with a (used) third-party G3 or G4 processor card. Excess memory would be overkill, whereas the processor card upgrade would give that 9600 a noticeable speed boost. If you do so, remove the L2 cache card from the motherboard. The faster 300 MHz and 350 MHz 604ev processor cards found in the 9600/300 and 9600/350 Power Macs aren't compatible with the motherboard used in a 9600/200. The 9600 supports memory interleaving, so if you have pairs of identical DIMMs, install them in corresponding slots B6~A6, B5~A5, B4~A4, etc. The 5-volt DRAM can be either EDO (60ns) or FPM (70ns), although I preferred EDO with a 2K refresh rate in my older PCI Macs.

Mar 1, 2011 7:30 AM in response to Allan Jones

from what I read on support.apple.com Mac OS 9 should be able to address up to 1.5GB, so the maximum for this machine.

see [Power Macintosh: Memory Configurations|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2362|Apple KB - Power Macintosh: Memory Configurations] footnote 6: "Although 2 GB can be physically installed, a maximum of 1.5 GB is recognized by Mac OS 9. Mac OS X will see the entire 2 GB."
so 1.5GB should work just fine.

Mar 1, 2011 7:37 AM in response to Jeff

true, but what upgrade is compatable and what would those cost?

I work at a computer store so we do sometimes get old computers in for parts, sometimes with part one of us (the team at the store) can use, in which case we can sometimes replace it with something we have that the store has more on then that.
e.g. if we get some of the RAM I'd need for this in, but we need SDRAM, which I have several modules of, I can trade those modules, after asking my boss of course, but usually as long as we bring back something the store can use its no problem.

although it would be worth considering to get A faster processor card.
but then I do need to know which, I did find a 450MHz G4 processor card on ebay for $17.50, but would that processor card work with this machine?
and if not, which will?

Mar 1, 2011 4:43 PM in response to foxofinfinety

Your 9600 can only use an Apple-compatible PowerPC processor (made by Motorola or IBM), integrated on a card that fits the processor slot on your motherboard, so that limits the number of available options. Unfortunately, those processor upgrade cards for older PCI Power Macs (7300/7500/7600/8500/8600/9500/9600) have been phased out of production, due to lack of demand. Sonnet made some good ones, such as this (used) 400 MHz G3 processor card at eBay (US). Keep in mind that the system bus speed in your 9600 is 50 MHz, so a G3-upgraded 9600 will never be as fast as a 1998-vintage G3 desktop or mini-tower, which has a faster bus speed (66 Mhz) and uses SDRAM. As for the 9600's memory, you're looking for 168-pin, 5-volt DRAM, not 3.3-volt SDRAM. While OS 9.x can theoretically address up to 1.5 GB of memory, you'd probably never use half that amount in real world, pre-OS X application usage. The 450 MHz G4 processor card that you saw at eBay is probably a pull from a G4 mini-tower, but the hardware connection type is completely different and incompatible with the processor slot found in the old PCI Power Macs.

Mar 2, 2011 9:20 PM in response to foxofinfinety

foxofinfinety,

Since you say that you work at a computer store, here is what you want to watch for when an old computer comes in. Check any and all old macs on the list Jeff gave you to see if they have the RAM you are looking for. If you compare the RAM against that which goes into a G3, the chips look almost identical, except, there is a tiny difference in the gap location.

If someone has already removed the memory modules, the easiest way to tell them apart is the number of chips on the board. The RAM for a G3 has eight chips. The RAM for the (7300/7500/7600/8500/8600/9500/9600)machines has nine chips. They are arranged as four on the left and four on the right with a smaller chip in the middle.

Jim

what RAM does a Power Macintosh 9600/200MP use?

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