Thread

Apple Workgroup Server 9650/350 (Maxed!)

Apple Workgroup Server 9650/350 (Maxed!) Hardware 16 posts Nov 19, 2012 — Nov 21, 2012

#1 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 - 03:20

So for years I've been looking for a Workgroup Server 9650/350 they never come up for sale, I doubt there are many left. I finally found one locally (bought a lot of 5 PowerMacs and G3s to get it). So once I got it home I decided it was time to make it the computer I really wanted when it was new

So heres what I did to it:

12 Brand new (all matching) 128mb memory sticks (Thats a TOTAL OF 1.5GB RAM IN A PRE-G3!!)

1 ZIP drive upgrade kit

1 2gb Jazz Drive upgrade (this was quite hard to find - just as hard as the computer)

1 24x CD-ROM (Someone had a 12x in it for some reason)

1 Heavy Duty AVID Cooling fan

1 10/100/1000 Ethernet card

1 WiFi Base to allow this computer to be "semi-WiFi"

1 Sonnet USB/FireWire 400 Card

1 ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 256MB DDR PCI DVI/VGA Video Card w/TV-Out (for OS 9 US only)

1 16mb Video card VGA/Mac Monitor port

1 SCSI Ultra Highspeed SCSI Card (for internal and external drives - fastest one for Mac OS 9)

1 PC Compability Card (w/ cable) with a 166mhz PC on a full size PCI card

1 And of course one new pram battery (not maxell)

I wanted a super fast PPC Mac that wasn't a G3. Truth be told I have $650 into this machine, sounds crazy doesn't it? Well you try to find everything :lol:

If anyone has ideas to upgrade it more I am always open :beige:

#2 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 - 03:23

Also its not as yellowed as it looks thats florescent lighting for you. Also I have a 1 9gb SCSI Hard Drive and 1 Ultra 9gb SCSI in her. More pics coming soon for your viewing pleasure

#3 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 - 03:53

i fixed the picture up for you a little good buddy!

#4 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 - 03:58

nice pickup!

those jaz drives are like the holy grail of iomega products lol

#5 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 - 04:03

I've got a 9600 I use as my primary System 7 dev machine, and I use the Radeon 7000 w/64MB of RAM to be able to use 1920x1600 DVI. Does your Radeon 9200 work from ROM? Or does it only work after the driver loads?

I'm also using the Sonnet SATA card with an SSD. It's a nice upgrade from SCSI IMO.

#6 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 - 04:09

System 7 Works with the Sonnet SATA card?? If so I'd be getting that, I have my drive with 3 partitions Mac OS 7.6.1 and Mac OS 9.1 and Windows for the PC Card. if that works with my computer let me know, and it will be time to chuck the HD's

#7 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 - 04:10

Oh and yes I remember wanted the Jazz drives sooooo much just to expensive, but now I can afford them

They use to be the best thing in town because the other systems weren't common so getting expendables for them was hard

#8 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 - 04:12

@ uniserver Thanks!! Thats how it looks!!

#9 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 - 19:05

Do you have the full AV card or just the audio? That'd be a nifty upgrade. And a 4MB VRAM to max out the onboard video. You know, just because you can.

A perfect companion would be an Apple ColorSync 20 monitor, but that'll be difficult to find.

#10 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 - 21:02

1 2gb Jazz Drive upgrade (this was quite hard to find - just as hard as the computer)

really? I have one sitting in my 'random old mac crap' drawer.

only have one 2GB disk and no computers to use it on. (have an external 1GB and loads of 1GB disks though)

#11 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 - 21:11

Its one of those things where if you needed or wanted one, trying to get one out there on the bay or cl is slim Pickens.

Now if i happen to need a Parallel 100mb Zip drive they are a dime a dozen

#12 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 - 21:16

Yeah, I just counted 18 on fleabay, (three were the green, rest were white)

#13 Tue, 20 Nov 2012 - 04:14

The A/V card only works on the 8600 as far as I know. Not sure on the video memory though.

As for the Jazz drives external ones will not work internally. And they have to be 50pinScsi. Also need the bezel just for the Jazz. You find one of those and I'll buy a spare

#14 Tue, 20 Nov 2012 - 04:54

Wow, that's some serious money you've put into that beast! With true passions, money is no object.

#15 Tue, 20 Nov 2012 - 12:46

The 18 on eBay were internal drives... I didn't keep the bezel to mine, just the drive. (Was out of a beige G3 tower)

#16 Wed, 21 Nov 2012 - 00:57

Wow, that's some serious money you've put into that beast! With true passions, money is no object.

If you take your time, you can "max out" a 9600 very cheaply. I've a 9650/350 and love it, it's also filled to the gills with good stuff

Off eBay I bought a pile of 128MB sticks (~ 2GB in total) for < $50, PCI graphics card was flashed, other PCI cards free. Most I spent was $80 on a 1Ghz Sonnet G4 upgrade. Thing flies.