• Hello MLAers! We've re-enabled auto-approval for accounts. If you are still waiting on account approval, please check this thread for more information.

Performa 630 compatible CD drive

B

belzrebuth

6502
Hi,
I'm very close to get a Performa 630 which didn't come with a CD drive installed. Is there any aftermarket SCSI drive I can install to make up for that or I need to use a 300i Apple drive.
The Apples ones are selling for a lot of money and the computer itself is in the 20-30€ range so a unit without a CD drive wouldn't worth it IMO if I can't use another drive.
Is there anything special about the Apple drive custom firmware or something?
 
As far as I remember you can use pretty much any SCSI CD ROM or CD writer drive in a Performa 630. Depending to the device and the system software version you might need to add additional driver software or slightly tweak the system software to enable operability with a non apple branded CD drive. Years ago I set up a Quadra 840AV with internal both a CD-ROM and a CD-Burner (after some chassis modification to mount two 5.25" drives). Both optical drives were non Apple branded and the system software was Mac OS 8.1. Both drives were very well usable, as intended, and at least one of them was bootable, as well. Mac OS 8.1 will run very well on a Performa 630 as long as a sound amount of RAM is present in the RAM slot(s). Details on required memory specification are given here: Apple Memory Guide (page 22). In addition to this source you might note that more recent 72 pin SIMMs with up to 128 MB might work as well (60ns or 80ns, non parity type, no matter if FPM or EDO, support for single-banked or double-banked depends to the size (MBs) of the memory module and the actual mainboard and slot number used). Some of those SIMM are large and could interfere with the case on inserting the motherboard drawer. Better go for low profile types that will fit into other machines well, also. Those SIMMs are sometimes advertised as compatible with Amiga Blizzard computers and will fit nicely into the Performa 630.
More information on proper choice of memory modules for your machine is given here: Quadra 605 Upgrades. Memory-wise the Quadra 605, Performa 475 and Performa 630 series computers appear to be mostly compatible. If you are annoyed from the extended cold boot duration of a Performa 630 with installed 128MB module, just disable the memory test (invoke the control panel »memory« with the Option-key depressed and tick the appropriate checkbox.
 
Thanks so much for the elaborate reply.
So I guess it would be safe to get one without the drive.
I would max the RAM anyway.
Besides the CD drive is there anything I can do with the 630 that the lc475 I already got can't do?
There are pretty comparable in terms of specs although the 630 is newer.
 
Yeah, any SCSI CD-ROM drive should work, though you will need that funky Apple adapter board that fits into the SCSI and power molex and adapts it for the 630's edge connector. You can probably buy those on eBay, but they might be pricey too, dunno. :(

Here is a picture of one taken from a certain someone's (not mine) eBay auction:
s-l1600.jpg

The 630 is sort of neat in that it can be very easily modded from 33 to 40MHz by moving 2 small resistors on the mainboard, making it a (relatively) speedy 040 machine.
 
TimHD said:
How so? I wouldn’t mind trying that!
Click to expand...


belzrebuth said:
Besides the CD drive is there anything I can do with the 630 that the lc475 I already got can't do?
Click to expand...

They're quite different Macs, the LC475 has that cool classic pizza style form factor, but the 630 is a consumer AV Mac capable of video input, DOS compatibility card, TV tuner ... onboard video speed isn't as flash on the 630 and it's a bit of a mashup of designs but in terms of vintage capabilities, its amazing now.
 
Okay, I got the machine. The listing was a bit shady as it didn't have any inside pictures so I may only receive a motherboard and a power supply at worst.
It was 35€ so I don't really mind if it is fixable.
From what I've seen the battery is not an issue here as in other Apple motherboards as it seems enclosed in a plastic case.
The computer was advertised as faulty or whatever with the "no means to test" excuse so I'll consider the power supply as non-working already.
I only read about that adapter above after I purchased it so maybe the CD rom drive will be a no-go if it needs a rare adapter of some kind.

If I manage to get it going I will consider the upgrade options.
I'll let the thread know what the condition of the machine is when it gets here.
Hopefully someone could assist me in getting the machine to boot, for starters:)
 
Good pickup, should hopefully be a good get.

The 630 has both SCSI (CD-ROM with dongle on back, not hard to source) and IDE (hard disk but single drive not master/slave dual config) implementation. If you have trouble finding a SCSI CD-ROM drive, at a pinch you could put in any old IDE CD-ROM and try that, booting up off external SCSI.
 
I have a 630 bumped to 40MHz and it's nice having a compact 040 machine with built-in CD and floppy with external SCSI support. With a CommSlotI Ethernet card, it's on the network too. Not the best computer back in the day, but a good retro 68k Mac in 2021!
 
A Comm Slot Ethernet card permits to use a second graphics adapter in the LC PDS. Thus you can have both fast Etehrnet and a second display.
 
I love my Performa 630CD! I can say that the 128MB ram sticks definitely work. I've got one in mine right now.

One struggle with the CD-ROM you may run into goes along with that adapter mattsoft pictured above. Not only do you need the adapter, you need a SCSI drive that has it's SCSI and power connectors in the exact same place as the Apple drive. If it doesn't the drive won't slot into the chassis' connector and the drive won't fit in the bay. Some drives, particularly ones for the PC market, had the connectors in different places. So unless you can get a very short (depth-wise) SCSI drive and make your own adapter, you'll have to hunt for one with the right connector layout on the back.
 
Here's a link to where I got my 128MB RAM upgrade.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/173937782283
As noted above, it is taller that the smaller capacity RAM sticks, but it doesn't interfere with the Performa 630CD chassis. There's room for the logic board to slide in and out with no issues.
I don't have the AV add-on card. So I don't know if it would interfere with it or not.
 
Thanks!
I definitely need some extras for my LC475 as well.
I'm not too optimistic about finding a CD-ROM drive but with the modern SCSI solutions (especially RAscsi with it's realtime CD image mounting capability) it might not matter that much.
 
Here's a picture of the back of my Apple CD-ROM drive. I popped the gray edge connector/adapter out of it so you could see where the connections are. Hopefully that will help you source another drive that will fit. Seems like as long as the power connector is bottom right and right next to the SCSI connector, you'd have a pretty good chance of it fitting. Note that there is also a separate edge connector for the audio connection on the left side. You can see it plugged into the drive in matt's picture above.
AppleCDROM_rear.jpg
 
Interesting, I think the back of a SCSI CD-ROM drive I've already got has the same connector arrangement.
Will need to find it though.
The 630 is still on the road but should arrive soon.
I don't know what might be wrong with it cause it was advertised as untested.

I definitely have an IDE to CF adaptor, maybe a IDE to SD adaptor as well so we will soon find out if it works cause often times "untested" machines have no or broken hard drive.
Really hoping for some ram to be there!
 
Let me know if you can get that IDE-to-SD adapter working. I have two (same model) that I can't get to work. I'd love to find one that does.
 
I'm not surprised since IDE to SD is not a straightforward conversion as the IDE to CF is.
I will let you know as soon as I try it.
 
belzrebuth said:
I'm not too optimistic about finding a CD-ROM drive
Click to expand...
Whereabouts are you? Since you mentioned the cost of the Performa in €, I'm guessing Europe? I'm in the UK - which is not longer in "Europe" thanks to the idiot Brexiteers (don't get me started!) - but I do have a few Apple SCSI CD drives. PM me if you're interested.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Performa 640cd dos compatible
Replies
11
Views
2K
adespoton
adespoton
eharmon
Atto SiliconExpress IV Continued
Replies
5
Views
330
eharmon
eharmon
R
PC Setup DIMM Patch: large DIMMs (32 or 64 MB) with the 12" PC Compatibility Card.
Replies
1
Views
519
NJRoadfan
N
Ajaxermd
Apple IIGS Getting CD-ROM to play music CDs
Replies
3
Views
1K
nathall
nathall
Snial
SCSI Yamaha CDR400t-NB CD-R drive, Mac OS 8.1 compatible?
Replies
18
Views
4K
LaPorta
LaPorta
Back
Top