FastMac on Tuesday announced a G4 processor upgrade for CRT-based Apple iMacs equipped with slot-loading optical drives. The US$199.95 upgrade replaced the iMac’s existing CPU with a Motorola 7410 CPU running at 550MHz with 1MB of Level 2 cache. FastMac estimates the CPU upgrade can result in a 3 to 4x boost in processing speed.
FastMac claims the upgrade is 100 percent compatible with Mac OS X and Mac OS 9, and guarantees its work for one year. Compatible systems include slot-loading iMac G3’s clocked at 350 – 450MHz, as well as iMac G3 systems running at 500MHz excluding Apple’s “Flower Power” and “Blue Dalmatian” models.
The US$199.95 upgrade program requires you to send the motherboard of your iMac in to FastMac for upgrade. For an additional $30 ($229.95) you can use FastMac’s advance exchange program instead — they’ll send you a working, upgraded motherboard to install in your iMac, and you can send back your iMac’s working original motherboard afterwards.