Are PCI Powermacs hard to find now?

[Unknown_K]

I browse eBay before I head to bed every night and today, I looked at what was going on with PCI Powermacs (7500/8500/8600/9500/9600 in specific) and there were not that many machines to be found (mostly just parts from units).

Did they all turn to dust since the last time I looked?

 

[Phipli]

I browse eBay before I head to bed every night and today, I looked at what was going on with PCI Powermacs (7500/8500/8600/9500/9600 in specific) and there were not that many machines to be found (mostly just parts from units).

Did they all turn to dust since the last time I looked?

They've generally not been collectable which means people haven't saved them or don't bother listing them.

I've sort of been looking for a desktop (7500/7600/7300) casually (i.e local collection, cheap) for a out 5 years and haven't seen one. I'm not bothering because I have a 7600 logic board and they're basically just an 8500 with bits missing, but I do a fair amount of testing cards and end up using an 8600, which is a bit of a faff to put cards in and out of compared to the outrigger case. I'd use a beige G3, but I want to do my testing in the 604 era machines.

That said, if you're not looking for a specific model machine, and not offensively unwilling to spend much money on one, there are usually a few for sale on UK eBay.

The 8600/9600 towers are absolutely solid. The outriggers do tend to have some problems with the power button and the slot cover, but are mostly OK unless abused.

PSUs are PSUs and I've had some fail.

8500/9500 cases are some of the most fragile and bits fall off them if you look at them, unless you're extremely lucky to have one that hasn't gone brittle.

 

[Byrd]

Did they all turn to dust since the last time I looked?

Chunks of plastic pieces and e-Waste I imagine. Amazed at all the iMac G3s that still keep popping up, but presume the beige gets chucked while the odd ones live on. "Strange or be forgotten"; see song by Temples.

They're great machines and cheap to upgrade I've had had a soft spot for the beige 7x00 and G3 case.

 

[finkmac]

i'd say no. it's just that ebay is not a very good measure of these things anymore.

 

[lobust]

8500/9500 yes, rare to find a good one. 8600/9600 pop up occasionally in complete order, but not common.

7300/7500/7600 seem to be pretty commonplace on ebay though still, at least here in the UK...

 

[Durosity]

To the music of Feargal Sharkeys immortal tune.. “A good powermac these days is hard to find, so please be careful with its case so finnnnneee”

 

[CuriosTiger]

I browse eBay before I head to bed every night and today, I looked at what was going on with PCI Powermacs (7500/8500/8600/9500/9600 in specific) and there were not that many machines to be found (mostly just parts from units).

Did they all turn to dust since the last time I looked?

Not that hard, but eBay may not be the best place. If you're looking for something specific, perhaps try a WTB post in the marketplace forum here?

 

[volvo242gt]

I browse eBay before I head to bed every night and today, I looked at what was going on with PCI Powermacs (7500/8500/8600/9500/9600 in specific) and there were not that many machines to be found (mostly just parts from units).

Did they all turn to dust since the last time I looked?

There are some still out there... Might need to check Farcebook Marketplace and CL, though.

@Phipli I bet you could adapt the guts of a 7600 to a beige G3 desktop case... Might have a hole where the personality card was located, but the ports should line up and the PS should drop in place.

 

[Unknown_K]

Not that hard, but eBay may not be the best place. If you're looking for something specific, perhaps try a WTB post in the marketplace forum here?

I was looking for myself, I have plenty, but some people were looking for systems and I went browsing to see how common they were and was surprised at what was listed.

The only beige Powermac I would be interested in would be a 9150 and good luck finding one of those these days (and even if you could find one the price would be way more than I could spend).

 

[mikes-macs]

You'd be surprised at what you can find at your local transfer station or landfill. These things are too fragile, heavy, and expensive to ship so people just junk them. Let's face it, these are not nanotechnology. Many assume you would need the bulky heavy Apple CRT Monitor for them and all those thick cords to get any use out of them. People who hoard these and then discover that they're taking up too much space and then need to downsize for whatever reason. Without a plan in place, these hoarders need to get rid them fast so unfortunately they take them to the dump.

 

[RepairManiac]

We receive recycles every business day and I have yet to see one of those models.
Even have a standing request from the largest local recycler "to hold any Macs for me" and its been "crickets"
I did a search of our service database from that time period and almost every PM8500 & above was either from a business or school. So I'd imagine most of these were scrapped out making them a rare sighting now.
Not sure why a PM7500 shouldn't show up every now and then because that was a popular model.

 

[CuriosTiger]

We receive recycles every business day and I have yet to see one of those models.
Even have a standing request from the largest local recycler "to hold any Macs for me" and its been "crickets"
I did a search of our service database from that time period and almost every PM8500 & above was either from a business or school. So I'd imagine most of these were scrapped out making them a rare sighting now.
Not sure why a PM7500 shouldn't show up every now and then because that was a popular model.

What's your location? Sadly, most have probably already been junked.

 

[RepairManiac]

What's your location? Sadly, most have probably already been junked.

PA in a "white space" (non metropolitan area). People run computers here until they are obsolete.
We have a small computer museum of about 35 computers. Have Apple II stuff, Mac SE/30, Mac IIci then NO Desktops until G3 series! Still looking. Have some PowerBooks so we are not completely void of the mid 90's.