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1400c w/ NuPower 233

LCARS

Well-known member
Well, my "for parts" eBay find is full of surprises: a NuPower 233 G3 card & ViewPower 16 card. No additional RAM, oddly for those upgrades. However, that does raise a few questions. I had been planning on running 7.5.5 but if MacTracker is correct, the G3 upgrade requires 8 at a minimum. Is that true?

I found the NuPower G3 driver at Macintosh Repository. Or rather it was introduced to me when I was searching for relevant reviews of the upgrade. Does that software have to be installed to realize the upgraded speeds?

Secondly, has anyone installed or removed a ViewPower card? I'm trying to remove it to access the memory slot and it seems like the case has to come apart. I thought I'd ask before I start dismantling such a nice example.

Lastly, does anyone have any RAM?

Thank you :)
 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
Nice find, one of my 1400 PartsBooks came with a G3 card as well. The ViewPower 16 I got complete-in-box, so I can be some help eventually when I unpack everything again after all my carpets are replaced.

Memory info I can do off the top of my head. You'll have to be on the lookout for a memory module that doesn't conflict with the VidCard. The passthru connectors for stacked user cards are problematic in terms of trying to occupy the same cubic. The factory card comes in two different capacities. Those can be swapped if you've got the lesser of the two.

If you're very lucky, there are cards out there that will give you the full 64MB without interfering with the ViewPower 16.
 

LCARS

Well-known member
Thanks @Trash80toHP_Mini . Wow, nice find! When you do unpack it, I would be grateful to hear what you learn. After my first look, it struck me that there wouldn't be enough space. I'll take another look. These are curious RAM modules. Its nice that Apple moved away from this style by the Wallstreets.
 

3lectr1cPPC

Well-known member
My 1400c/117 has the ViewPower 16 card and to remove it you have to unscrew 2 screws on either side of the video out port on the back. Then it should just pull up and slide right out.
When I first opened up my 1400 that far a few days ago I saw newertech and freaked out for a second before realizing what it was.
 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
ViewPower 16 (ViewPOWR16?) is a video expansion card that outputs high resolutions and medium ones at 16bit. The Apple VidCard is 8bit. IIRC it's max resolution is lower as well. The board is so large that it occupies some "user card" memory cubic when stacking lower capacity modules.
 

LaPorta

Well-known member
Wow, didn't know about that! I have the Apple video card...I thought it only mirrored the screen, but was surprised to find that it extends onto another monitor, too!
 

LCARS

Well-known member
@3lectr1cPPC Thank you! I didn't initially see the plastic frame hiding the screws. Voila, was able to move it out easily.

Unfortunately, I don't think this is the pass-through card. I can see that it will limit memory. There's a 24MB RAM module and another, smaller one, with four chips that I assume is 4MB?

My task now is getting the new hard drive in. What a fiddly setup to try to connect the IDE connection while its in the sled. Unless I'm doing it wrong, it seems easier to forgo the sled.
 

3lectr1cPPC

Well-known member
No problem, I'm glad to help :)
I've replaced the hard drive in mine before. I wouldn't forgo the sled, it can be a bit fiddly, but you can pull up a bit on the hard drive ribbon without damaging it. It's just a question of that, along with doing it at *just* the right angle to get it in place. Good luck on getting your 1400 up and working! I'm a bit jealous of that processor upgrade and RAM upgrade. Mine just has the stock 16MB and it really chugs on Mac OS 8.1.
 

LaPorta

Well-known member
Easier, faster, and quieter replacement:


Drop one of those in with an SD card in place of the HD. Works perfectly in my 1400. Just use some sort of double-sided adhesive to stick inside. No drive sled needed, either.
 

LCARS

Well-known member
@Trash80toHP_Mini Yikes, sorry for my delay. I didn't really understand the video card at that point. I thought that a video card with a pass through might allow another RAM module to fit.

Thanks, @LaPorta I might go down that route. The 7200RPM drive that I bought on eBay doesn't like its bearings are flawless anymore.
 

Franklinstein

Well-known member
Most G3 cards will work with System 7.5, unlike G4 upgrades (early versions of G4 upgrades will often work but without Altivec (needs OS 9 minimum or possibly a lot of hacking under 8.5) and without that there's not a ton of reason to use a G4). I usually put 7.6.1 or 8.1 on G3 upgraded machines.
Nice find on the vid card. I don't think I have ever had any expansions for the 1400 series so I'm a smidge envious. Not that they're strictly necessary since PC cards are a thing, and I have several awesome PC cards (such as the Vimage PC Card, 10/100 Ethernet, and wifi cards) so it's easy for me to sour-grapes it and say it's better to not have internal cards anyway.
 
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