How to get at 8600 mobo?

#1 Sun, 13 Apr 2008 - 18:03 68kMLA

A dumb question for the group. I've got a couple of 8600's here and need to get at the mobo to upgrade ram, but can't figure out how to get that side of the case open. Opening the PCI side of the case is trivial, but the other side??

#2 Sun, 13 Apr 2008 - 19:02 68kMLA

The 8600 is one of the easiest cases to open. With the side panel off, which you figured out already, there two green latches inside. Flip those up and you'll be able to rock the part of the case containing the power supply and drives up to reveal the insides of the case. It's very neat how it's done.

Run your mouse over the case in this movie to show how it opens.

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/powermac/media/easytower_movie.html

#3 Sun, 13 Apr 2008 - 23:20 68kMLA

Thanks for the help. That is a slick case design!

#4 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 - 00:21 68kMLA

Yes it is.

It's why I love my BeigeG3 so much.

Except the area where you rung the IDE / SCSI cables through. Those slots are way too small and they pinch / cut the cables. This is easily solved with a dremel.

Just remove everything from the case first so you don't get metal filings in slots and whotnot, cut and vacuum.

So whatcha got going on in your 8600? They are great machines.

#5 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 - 03:26 68kMLA

Well, here's what's currently on the 8600's:

No. 1--8600/300 with the 604eMach V card, 288 MB Ram, 4 GB Quantum Fireball with OS 9.1 and a 1.2 GB Quantum Fireball with OS 7.6.1.

No. 2--8600/200 with 270MHz G3, 240 MB Ram, 4 GB Seagate HD with OS 9.1.

Apple Extended II keyboards on both.

The Ram numbers are a little unusual because I had a pile of various capacity Dimms here and just had to match the FPM and EDO sticks.

The onboard video doesn't work on the 200 because there's no video ram installed but it has a video card that works.

I just got these in the last week so am still playing with the setup. When I got 9.1 on the 8600/300 and plugged in an ethernet cable it came right up on my LAN, even talked to the Intel iMac without coaching. Surprised the heck out of me; usually that takes a little finagling.

The 200 was a freebee from Orion...thank you, thank you.

#6 Tue, 15 Apr 2008 - 21:22 68kMLA

One interesting (to me) tidbit: neither one of these 8600's has a ROM Simm in the slot, yet they boot right up. I always thought there had to be a ROM, but obviously don't understand many things about Macs.

#7 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 - 00:15 68kMLA

In some Macs, the ROM SIMM slot is only there in the event that an updated ROM is released, which would override the onboard ROM. The basic rule is that if the Mac works, don't worry about it.

#8 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 - 01:27 68kMLA

Thanks. I wasn't going to worry about it too much, since they obviously work.