Irvine, Calif.-based Mac upgrade maker Sonnet Technologies Inc. has released new processor upgrades aimed at many PCI-based Power Mac and compatible models.
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The new Crescendo/PCI upgrades utilize a PowerPC G4 processor operating at 700MHz and a PowerPC G3 processor running at 500MHz, respectively.
Sonnet explained that the new Crescendo PC G4 700 upgrade overcomes a limitation of older designs that prevented them from working more than nine times the speed of the bus in the host system. Sonnet’s engineers have also resolved voltage requirements, signal compatibility and heat dissipation issues that would have otherwise prevented this card from working properly. The card also supports AltiVec/Velocity Engine-enhanced applications and will work with Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X (if used with Sonnet’s PCI X Installer).
Sonnet also said the new card resolves compatibility issues with heavily loaded six-slot systems, still used by music and video pros. It’s even compatible with certain Power Computing clones that were previously restricted to G3 processor upgrades only.
The list of compatible systems includes:
The new Crescendo/PCI G4 700 costs US$349.95 and will be available starting October 15.
The Crescendo/PCI G3 500/512 is another processor choice for folks looking for a value-priced upgrade. Sonnet said it’s the first 500MHz upgrade for PCI Mac owners to cost less than $150 — it retails for $149.95.
The G3 500/512 model supports almost the same systems at the G4 700 (although Sonnet has omitted the multi processor models from the list), and will also work with Mac OS X when used in conjunction with the PCI X Installer — a software package available from Sonnet as a downloadable add-on for $29.95.
Like its higher speed and higher priced cousin, the G3 500/512 will be available in mid-October.