Mac upgrade maker Sonnet Technologies is showing off some new products that may interest users of aging iMacs and PowerBooks. The company has announced the Crescendo/WS G3, a processor upgrade card aimed at “Wall Street” PowerBook G3 systems. They’ve also introduced the HARMONi, an upgrade that provides older iMacs with a faster processor and a FireWire port.
Crescendo/WS G3 boosts speed on older PowerBook G3s
The Crescendo/WS G3 incorporates a 500MHz PowerPC G3 processor with 1MB of Level 2 backside cache. Sonnet indicates that the card provides double the performance of a stock Wall Street PowerBook. The Wall Street PowerBook model was the first PowerBook G3 in the black casing that was refined and used in later, faster, and better equipped models with bronze-colored keyboards.
The Crescendo/WS G3 is the first upgrade Sonnet has developed for these systems, and the company claims that the upgrade is compatible with the PowerBook’s existing hardware, software, RAM and peripherals. The company supports the upgrade’s use with Mac OS 8, Mac OS 9, and Mac OS X.
Compatible Mac models include “Wall Street” PowerBook G3 systems with clock speeds from 233MHz to 300MHz. The upgrade is expected late in the third quarter and carries an estimated price of US$399.95.
HARMONi brings faster processor, FireWire to early iMacs
Sonnet has also announced the HARMONi, a combination processor upgrade/FireWire card for older iMac. Sonnet claims the HARMONi card doubles performance on these systems — the card is equipped with a PowerPC G3 processor clocked 500MHz and equipped with 256K Level 2 backside cache operating at full processor speed.
The card also incorporates a FireWire port, which enables users of original Macs to utilize DV camcorders, CD-RW drives and other FireWire-equipped peripherals. The FireWire port enables original iMac owners to use Apple’s iMovie software to edit digital video.
HARMONi is compatible with iMacs operating at 233MHz through 333MHz (Rev A-D models), and like the Crescendo/WS supports existing hardware, software, RAM and peripherals. It works with Mac OS 8.1 through Mac OS X.
Expected for release in early Q4, the HARMONi G3/500/FireWire combo card will cost US$299.95.