Power Macintosh G3 All-in-One
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| Power Macintosh G3 All-In-One (Justin Bakke, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5) | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Apple Computer, Inc. |
| Type | All-in-one desktop computer |
| Released | 3 April 1998 |
| Discontinued | January 1999 |
| CPU | PowerPC G3 (750) at 233 or 266 MHz on a removable processor module; 512 KB L2 cache |
| Memory | 32 MB SDRAM standard; three 168-pin DIMM slots; 384 MB maximum |
| Storage | ATA hard disk; 24x ATAPI CD-ROM; 1.4 MB floppy drive; optional 100 MB SCSI Zip drive |
| Display | Built-in 15-inch multiscan colour CRT (13.8 in viewable, 0.28 mm dot pitch), 640 × 480 to 1024 × 768 |
| Sound | 16-bit stereo; two front speakers and two front headphone jacks |
| ROM | 4 MB on a ROM DIMM |
| Power | 90-264 V AC; 300 W maximum |
| Dimensions | 19.92 × 16.08 × 18.00 in (498 × 402 × 450 mm) |
| Weight | 59.5 lb (27 kg) |
| OS / Firmware | Mac OS 8.1 to Mac OS X 10.2.8 |
| Predecessor | Power Macintosh 5400, Power Macintosh 5500 |
The Power Macintosh G3 All-in-One is the version of the beige Power Macintosh G3 (Beige) with a built-in 15-inch display, sold only to schools. Apple's developer note says it was available only through Apple's North America Education channel, for the United States and Canada.[1] Apple's specification page gives 3 April 1998 as the introduction date.[2] It uses the same logic board as the desktop and minitower, in a pull-out tray, and its case earned it the nickname "Molar Mac".[3][4] It replaced the Power Macintosh 5400 and Power Macintosh 5500 in schools.[3]
Models
[edit | edit source]| Processor | J16 jumper block | Processor module | Usual configuration (Wikipedia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 233 MHz | Red | 661-1460 | Floppy drive, 4 GB hard disk |
| 266 MHz | White | 661-1461 | Floppy and Zip drives; Whisper (audio) or All-in-One Wings (audio and video) personality card |
Jumper colours and part numbers are from the Service Source.[5][3] Apple's overview gives the hard disk as 4 or 6 GB; its specifications chapter gives 2 or 4 GB, with 6 GB as a build-to-order option.[5]
Specifications
[edit | edit source]| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | PowerPC G3 at 233 or 266 MHz; 64-bit 66 MHz bus; 512 KB L2 cache on the processor module |
| RAM | 32 MB standard, 384 MB maximum; 168-pin 3.3 V unbuffered SDRAM DIMMs, 10 ns |
| ROM | 4 MB on a 160-pin ROM DIMM |
| Video | 2 MB SGRAM, expandable to 4 or 6 MB with an SGRAM SO-DIMM; built-in monitor at 640 × 480, 800 × 600 and 832 × 624 at 32 bits, 1024 × 768 at 16 bits |
| Expansion | Three PCI slots for 7-inch cards (three cards, two 25 W cards, or one 15 W and one 25 W card); PERCH slot for the I/O card; modem slot on the I/O card |
| Ports | SCSI (DB-25), two GeoPort serial, ADB, 10BASE-T Ethernet, external monitor port, sound in and out |
| Drives | One internal bay for a 3.5 or 5.25 in device up to 1.625 in high; ATA hard disk; 24x ATAPI CD-ROM; 1.4 MB SuperDrive; optional 100 MB SCSI Zip drive |
| Electrical | 90-264 V AC, 50-60 Hz; "300 W maximum continuous, 200 W peak output" as printed |
| Size and weight | 19.92 × 16.08 × 18.00 in (498 × 402 × 450 mm); 59.5 lb (27 kg) |
Apple's specification page also gives 300 W.[2] Wikipedia gives the weight as 60 lb.[3]
Hardware
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Chassis carrier and logic board
[edit | edit source]The logic board, drives and I/O card sit in a chassis carrier that pulls out of the back of the case. Loosen its four screws, pull it half way out, unplug the front panel cable, RGB cable, main power cable and drive power cable, then press up on the tabs and pull it out.[5] Memory, video memory and PCI cards can be reached by pulling the tray out until it stops.[1]
The logic board is Apple's beige G3 board (service part 661-2063, "Logic Board, PMG3, 3-Slot"), with the same voltage regulator card (922-3292), ROM DIMM and processor jumper block.[5] Jumper J28 sets the board for the power supply fitted. The Service Source says the All-in-One's supply differs from the desktop and minitower supplies and that a missing or wrong jumper stops the computer starting, but does not say which position it uses.[5] A 68kMLA member who works on these says the All-in-One, desktop and tower boards are identical and only the tower has the jumper set differently.[6]
Display and power supply
[edit | edit source]The upper case holds the 15-inch CRT, the analog/video board (661-2041), the CRT video board and the power supply board (661-2042). The power supply board feeds the logic board through the main power cable and the analog board through cables P908 and P913, and a ribbon cable (P906) links it to the I/O card, front panel board and analog board.[5] 68kMLA members say this hardware came from an LG monitor design: LG made the CRT and analog parts, and the flyback transformer is an LG part, 6174Z-1009A on one owner's list and 6174Z-1009D on another machine.[6][7][8] The video signal for the built-in monitor comes from the Audio or Audio/Video I/O card in the PERCH slot over a ribbon cable.[1]
Display adjustments
[edit | edit source]Geometry can be set from the Monitors & Sound control panel. Service adjustments of cutoff and white balance use Apple's Display Adjustment Utility and Display Service Utility, with the display at 640 × 480 and warmed up for at least 10 minutes; Apple calls for the cutoff adjustment whenever the CRT or analog/video board is replaced.[5]
Known faults
[edit | edit source]- Flyback transformer failure: the picture distorts with audible zapping, the CRT does not light, or the machine shuts down as soon as the flyback is powered. Owners compare it with the same LG flybacks in the tray-loading iMac G3.[9][8]
- Cracked solder joints on the 20-pin power connector on the power supply board, and on the flyback.[9][8]
- PRAM battery leaks on the logic board.[6]
- No start with no RAM or bad RAM: several "dead" machines started once known-good DIMMs were fitted.[6][10]
- Original hard drives that have failed.[10]
Fault-finding is on Power Macintosh G3 All-in-One Troubleshooting. Before any work in the upper case, read CRT Discharge Procedure.
Maintenance and repair
[edit | edit source]- Power Macintosh G3 All-in-One General Maintenance
- Power Macintosh G3 All-in-One Troubleshooting
- Power Macintosh G3 All-in-One Capacitor Replacement Guide
- Power Macintosh G3 (Beige) Capacitor Replacement Guide for the logic board
Documentation
[edit | edit source]- Power Macintosh G3 All-In-One Service Source: Apple's service manual.
- Power Macintosh G3 Documentation: the developer note covering the All-in-One, desktop and minitower, and the logic board schematic.
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Related pages
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Apple Computer, Power Macintosh G3 Computers developer note ("Includes Power Macintosh G3 All-in-one, desktop, and minitower computers", revised 8/13/98), hosted here as File:Power Macintosh G3 Computers Developer Note (1998).pdf (see Power Macintosh G3 Documentation). Chapter 1: the All-in-one is available only through the Apple North America Education channel for distribution in the United States and Canada; tilt-and-swivel base, stereo speakers, two front headphone jacks, built-in 15-inch multisync display with digital geometry controls in the Monitors & Sound control panel, front volume control; Mac OS 8.1; pull-out logic board tray held by four captive screws (pp. 22-23); ATI Rage Pro; RGB signals from the Audio and Audio/Video I/O cards to the built-in monitor over a ribbon cable; display mirror output up to 1024 by 768 at 16 bits on the external DB-15 port; DIMMs up to 1.5 in high. Chapter 3: display modes for the built-in monitor and external monitors (Table 3-1).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Apple, "Power Macintosh G3 All-In-One - Technical Specifications" (retrieved 2026-10-02). G3 at 233 or 266 MHz; 512 KB L2; 300 max watts, 90-264 V, 50-60 Hz; battery 3.6 V lithium; 3 PCI slots; 3 DIMM slots, 32-384 MB, 10 ns; built-in multiple-scan tilt-and-swivel colour display, 15 in (13.8 in viewable), 0.28 mm dot pitch; introduced 4/3/1998, discontinued 1/1/1999; Gestalt ID 510; 59.5 lb; 19.92 × 16.08 × 18 in; 4 GB minimum hard disk, ATA; 24x CD; Mac OS 8.0 to 9 and X up to 10.2.8.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Wikipedia, "Power Macintosh G3" (retrieved 2026-10-02). The All-In-One was introduced in April 1998 to replace the Power Macintosh 5400 and 5500 and sold only to the education market; its tooth-like shape earned it the name Molar Mac; translucent top and rear; slide-out logic board tray, recessed rear I/O, dual front headphone jacks; 233 MHz with floppy drive and 4 GB hard disk, or 266 MHz with Zip drive, floppy drive and a Whisper or All-in-One Wings personality card; last Macintosh with an internal floppy drive; 60 lb; shipped with Mac OS 8.1; sold alongside the iMac to schools until discontinued. History only.
- ↑ 68kMLA forum thread "G3 AIO Power Supply Jumper", September 2012. mcdermd: the Mac/PS2 power supply jumper sits above the PCI slots near the Cuda reset button; his beige G3 desktop board is the same part, 820-0991-A, as the one in the AIO; coius moved an AIO board into a minitower; the monitor connects through the personality card's header with clips. Community experience.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Apple Computer, Power Macintosh G3 All-In-One Service Source, hosted here as File:Power Macintosh G3 All-In-One Service Source.pdf (see Power Macintosh G3 All-In-One Service Source). PDF page numbers: Basics pp. 2-28 (features pp. 4-6; Cuda chip p. 7; Resetting the Logic Board pp. 8-9; SDRAM pp. 16-17; SGRAM p. 18; internal locator p. 21; rear view p. 22; logic board p. 24); Specifications pp. 29-41; Take Apart pp. 42-120 (chassis carrier pp. 43-46; logic board pp. 66-69; CRT EMI shield pp. 70-72; power supply pp. 73-78; analog/video board pp. 79-83; CRT pp. 90-95; fan p. 96; thermistor p. 98; chassis with cables pp. 100-101; processor module pp. 102-111; housing pp. 114-118); Troubleshooting pp. 121-147; Adjustments pp. 148-172; Upgrades pp. 173-179; Exploded View pp. 184-187.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 68kMLA forum thread "Power Macintosh G3 All In One (Molar Mac) Power Supply, Analog Board, And Deflection Board Recap List", November 2023 to November 2024. jajan547: the beige G3 and the AIO share the logic board; the power supply, CRT, analog board and deflection board come from an LG monitor; his machines chirped and restarted with the supply clicking; posted a recap list as a PDF attachment (revised May 2024); some machines had battery damage, so pull the boards out; the AIO needs ADB soft power (keyboard power key) to start; with the LED on, a black screen and the fan running and no chime, add RAM. Phipli: the AIO, desktop and tower boards are identical and only the tower has the PS2 jumper set differently; the jumper inverts the soft-power logic. wottle: two machines that would not start needed only RAM; afterwards the analog board and flyback crackled; fitted a G4 processor card from a Yikes G4 and ran it at 400 MHz by jumpers. Durosity: replaced the flyback and the C5404 transistor "that's known to fail" and recapped most of the power and analogue boards; R726 on the analogue board ran very hot. Community repair report.
- ↑ 68kMLA forum thread "G3 AIO analog board/psu cap list", July 2022 to February 2023. bsteckler: capacitor values for the G3 AIO neck board and analog board (values only, no designators); flyback 6174Z-1009A (LG part); recapped preventively; 3lectr1cPPC: the AIO takes a beige desktop or tower board as long as the personality card is good. Community repair report.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 68kMLA forum thread "Molar Mac - Dead Display", September 2026. sciencegirl100: an AIO boots with an external monitor when the personality card is pulled; flyback model 6174Z-1009D (a 6174Z-1003D did not work for another owner); a mark on the upper case possibly from flyback arcing; reflowing the flyback's solder joints brought the CRT back, though it sometimes cuts out. Community repair report.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 68kMLA forum thread "G3 AIO 'Molar' issues - Flyback? Caps?", August-September 2024. Durosity: with the internal video connected the AIO gave no chime and no LED, the supply clicked a relay and hissed, and the analog board buzzed and cut out; with the internal connections removed the logic board worked with an external monitor; replacement flyback HVT/LOPT 6174Z-1009A sold by Technotronic Dimensions; after replacing the flyback and every capacitor, and the CRT, the fault remained. Daniël: LG made the CRTs for the AIO and the tray-loading iMac, both with poor flybacks; overheating cooks the winding lacquer and causes internal arcing, image distortion and, when bad enough, immediate shutdown. Torbar: reflow the 20-pin connector on the power supply board, whose joints tend to crack. LightBulbFun: check heavy boards for cracks after shipping. Durosity: the supply also powers the analog board; with the analog board disconnected the system boots. Community repair report.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 68kMLA forum thread "G3 AIO Molar Macs wont start", September 2021. NickNick: two AIOs with green LED and fans running but no picture; new RAM brought one to life with the CRT crackling; the other needed a replacement logic board and processor, and its old board had corroded resistors around a crystal near the processor; beachycove: original IDE hard drives nearly always need replacing; reseat the logic board tray, because bad contact is common in AIOs with a tray logic board; clean contacts with an eraser or isopropyl alcohol. Community repair report.