Sawtooth in B&W G3 case

[andropov]

My old PowerMac G3 B&W Rev.A logic is dead. I'm thinking about buy a new one, but I prefer to use a early Sawtooth logic (AGP graphics) because of the faster memory bus, fixed IDE controller, AirPort card, Target disk mode and other improvements, but I don't want to modify the original case for the back plate or something.

In fact, the only difference in early Sawtooth models is the position of audio ports, but I never use it, I can cut one of them (or both) if the logic doesn't fit. But I'm worried about the mounting points of the logic. I will need to make holes on the case or the early Sawtooth has the same mounting points?

And, finally, what's about B&W power button? It uses the same pinout as the Sawtooth? Or I need to buy a Sawtooth power button? (I can startup the system with the power button on USB keyboard, but I prefer to have both working).

Thank you and sorry about my bad english!

[reddrag0n]

This was posted on Applefritter...

I've just done this very thin

I've just done this very thing. Today, in fact.

The back panel I replaced with some plastic, cut to shape. Beyond the audio ports, the Firewire ports are in a different location as well.

I used a standard ATX PSU, since the G3 I had didn't come with a power supply. I snipped the power supply wires based on the article here.

PCI/AGP line up fine.

I cut a PC floppy cable up and wired a cable from the g4 10-pin front panel interface to the G3's 20-pin interface. Use the link above, plus search XLR8 Your Mac for B&W G3 to ATX for pinouts for both interfaces.

The main modification to the case is there's a logic board mount on the B&W G3 that doesn't exist on the Sawtooth. It's near the G4 CPU area. I twisted the mount off. Rather brute force, and it might have done okay to stick a bit of black tape overtop, but suit yourself.

The secondary IDE is in a different position, but that's not too much of a deal to shift.

I still need to mount a fan at the side of the heatsink, as the G3 doesn't have that big 120mm fan and vent bracket inside that the G4 case has.

edit: I'd forgotten another change I had to make...
A previously installed ATX PSU when the case still contained a G3 required filing the blue plastic around AC outlet. The ATX PSU had slightly larger plastic fairings around the outlets that prevented it from sitting flush against the G3 case.

And this will help with the ports info
Apple KB HT3082

[andropov]

Well, I can make a little hole in the back plate for the Firewire ports, and antoher hole for audio. It seems to be easy.

Then I'll buy a new Sawtooth board and a Quicksilver processor and I can try to flash a PC's AGP video card that I already have.

Thank you!

[reddrag0n]

you will need to attach a +12v wire to the 4th mounting hole on the processor or it won't work in the sawtooth.

[andropov]

Yes, I know that. I can use a 12V wire from the molex port of the zip drive. In fact, I'm currently using the 5V port of the molex for two CPU fans.

I need to resold the secondary IDE port too, I think. Or I can buy a faster NewerTech 1.6Ghz CPU, and I can use the original secondary IDE port. What do you think? Newertech or Quicksilver CPU?

[reddrag0n]

What speed is the QS cpu? Since in a Sawtooth board, the cpu speed will drop from 133 MHz FSB to 100. So a 933 will act like a 900.
Also the Newertech cpu can be switched to work on either and they will work at 1.6 no matter the FSB.
L3 cache will always beat out L2 cache, but the raw cpu speed will also take into account. If you do go with the Newertech, go with a 7448 Cpu instead of the 7447. Higher L2 (1 MB vs 512 K)

[andropov]

A 933Mhz QS processor. 933*(100/133)=701Mhz if I use it on a Sawtooth. And I need to resold the IDE port.

In the other way, I'm thinking I can use that:
eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/MAXG47S1600/

It only has got 512K of L2 cache, and it isn't the most powerful option, but I need to put it into a B&W case, (not good at cooling), and this Newertech CPU card have a perfect heatsink for my actual cooling setup (if I remove the stock fan of the processor). Other CPU have got the fan on the top, and I wouldn't fit on a B&W case (the same chasis as the G4 AGP graphics), and, if they fit, the fan will throw the hot air directly to the chassis. Not really a good cooling setup. It may cause overheating in a B&W case.

Only the dual 1,8GHz Newertech is based on a 7448, and most sawtooth doesn't support dual processors... Do you know any 7448 one core CPU upgrade card?

[reddrag0n]

From the Newertech site...

7448 1.8 GHz

7448 2.0 GHz