how much memory can a beige G3 powermac desktop take?

buy a stick of this, should be good to go!

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/100SD256168/

It will take up to 256 MB in each slot so a total of 768 MB - the official spec is 384 MB because when it was new there were no 256 MB modules in existence and Apple don't update the official specs to take account of larger memory modules becoming available. If you install a 512 MB module in a slot it will only be recognised as 256 MB as that is the hardware's limit per slot.

You'll need 168-pin SDRAM modules, best to go with some that are proven to have worked in a Mac as they tend to be fussier than PCs about cheap generic memory that should be compatible from its spec but sometimes isn't - the cheapest option is probably to look for some that have actually come out of a Mac or specifically state Mac compatibility. Make sure they are low-density ie have chips on both sides of the module otherwise your Beige will only recognise half of the capacity ie a 256 MB high-density stick will usually be recognised as only 128 MB.

Every model of beige G3 will take 3 * 256MB. Just as everyone has stated, the specs were never updated when larger memories became available late in the product life and after it had been discontinued.

If you buy from a Mac-centric vendor, buy the DIMMs for its big brother, the Blue & White G3. They are identical in every regard except they are rated for PC100 instead of the older PC66. If you ever decide to do a processor upgrade or overclock, these slightly faster (and no more expensive) DIMMs will work on a slightly faster bus speed setting.

The desktop model has a height limit -- the "upstairs" closes very close to the tops of the modules. Some older used modules may be too tall, but any you buy new should fit fine.

Everything above all sounds good but I thought you had to have a version C ROM to use 3 x256. Just a thought.

That is what the official Apple documents say -- because only the model with the rev C ROM was still available for testing when they did their tests. Readers are assuring you that it ain't so, EVERY model will accept 3 * 256MB DIMMs.

I found an Apple Hardware Developers' document written later in the lifespan of the Beige G3 that clearly stated there is no 384MB limit for any logic board revisions.

Part of the "Rev A v. Rev B/C" RAM myth was perpetuated by Crucial, who never updates RAM capabilities after the original specs were written.

Like the others who responded, I've NEVER seen a post here where a Rev A Beige G3 would not support 384MB RAM if the proper RAm including form factor (low-pro for the desktop variant) was used.

Most of my Beiges were Rev A Desktop & Towers, all supported 768MB with the shorter 256 sticks.

People posting from the UK seem to have trouble finding sources for Mac RAM at reasonable prices. I would try Other World Computing ( http://eshop.macsales.com ); although located in the US, they ship to the UK. If their site loads with UK pricing, you should be able to quickly figure out what the delivered cost with VAT should be.

I would go with this one from OWC:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/100SD256168/

With regards to the memory is there any particular brand I should go for.

Brand is less important than finding a Mac-savvy RAM vendor with good service. I have many sticks of no-name RAM I bought from the above firm; some have been in service over ten years and are still working.

I use Kingston memory in mine which works well - I have found some Macs to be fussy when it comes to memory so I would recommend looking on eBay for some memory modules that specifically say they have been removed from a Mac, this will be the cheapest way to get memory that is certain to work in your machine although you may be lucky with cheaper generic modules or ones that have come from a PC as in theory as long as they are low-density they should work, but I have found this to not be the case at least with the Power Mac G4, the Beige G3 has always accepted the memory I've tried with it.

These are GREAT machines for learning hardware. The math is easy, the mechanics are easy, and the layout and design is also easy. There were 3 known versions of the ROM DIMM: A, B, C... and there was an actual REV. D, but it was purely a crossover and deemed experimental and never saw the mainstream market.
Apple's posted RAM specifications (once posted) do not get updated. That does not mean that you can't add larger RAM modules, that simply means that the specs. posted were the specs. at the time of posting and RAM manufacturing advances continue.
You can and should fill it up with (3) 256MB modules.

Good to see your keystrokes, Jon!

Allan

Very true, I certainly learned a fair bit about this hardware and Mac OS X by upgrading mine and persuading Leopard that it wanted to run on it 🙂

Allan,

It has been waaay tooo long since I've actually sat down and "tinkered", but **** it's fun to come back and use that part of the brain again. Ahhh... it's as good as always in seeing yours as well. Thanks/___sbsstatic___/migration-images/migration-img-not-avail.png
I've had troubles with a G5 Dual 2.5GHz/PCI-X (June 2004/Late 2004). My Beige G3 overeclocked is still running perfect as always. The G4 (AGP's) and (Gigabit Ethernet) are able, as is one of my favorites, the Quicksilver Dual 1.0GHz (2002).
If I can steady the G5, I would love to trim down on some of these computers use the G5 as the main, but it's not running properly and I can't figure out why.
GRRRRRRRRRR The more I read in the G5 (tower) forum, the more I think that Macs and IBM "have" reached their limits — Intel just doesn't seem to have the same types of problems, but over all, computers are crazy fast these days and it's nearly out of control/___sbsstatic___/migration-images/migration-img-not-avail.png I don't know... I'm just ranting. I really just want my G5 tower to work flawlessly, just like the other Macintoshes, but it's not. 😟
But, Allan, as always... it's good to see you as well, sir. 🙂