New PowerMac G4/G4 Server Setup

[LaPorta]

After years and years, I finally was able to put together my dream setup from the turn of the millennium: G4 tower plus 17" Studio Display. I've had the tower for a good 10 years or so, but the display I recently got, compliments of @Torbar. One funny thing about the Studio Display: in OS 9, it won't display 640x480, 800x600, or 1024x768 properly. It appears that the thing is out of sync. This is an Apple-standard card, running through the DVD to ADC adapter. in OS X it works just fine. I used SwitchRes 2 to find a mode of each resolution that actually did work...but I couldn't figure out what the difference was that made it work since both the built-in and custom ones appeared to have the same refresh rate. Any one else have a problem like this before?



I also got about over a year ago a G4 Server tower for free in non-working condition. Today, I was able to fire it up. All that appeared to be wrong is that it has what looks like a 105MB SyQuest drive in it, and the thing erroneously reads as an unreadable disk to OS X, and causes freezes intermittently. Detaching it from the IDE bus solved the problem. Not sure what is up with it, but I have no need of SyQuests....so if someone wanted it I'd happily sell or trade. It also has the Ultra SCSI card in it. Not sure what to do with that, or if "regular" SCSI equipment would attach to it.

A few questions regarding the server: any chance I could take out the SyQuest and just lug the hole with a generic panel? Any one have one they could spare? How about replacing that with another DVD drive and another factory-standard DVD drive panel?

 

[MrFahrenheit]

I had a G4 Server at my work. I own a G4 Digital Audio 533 (Dual CPU) model. I have a PCI SATA card, and I boot mine off a 150GB SSD, and I have a 2TB Western Digital Black SATA drive for my files. Mac OS 9 also dual boots from the same SATA SSD.

I put a Fujitsu Magneto Optical (IDE) into the lower bay, and I put an Apple OEM superdrive in the DVD bay. I got a DVD/Zip panel replacement on eBay, and I use the MO drive with the Zip slot. I then have SCSI MO drives on my old beige, and I move files back and forth with 1.3GB MO disks. If that isn't enough, I also have an Iomega Jaz SCSI 1GB connected to an Adaptec SCSI card, and I move files with Jaz disks as well.

A G4 tower, with a SCSI card, is quite a powerful bridge.

 

[herd]

Nice setup! What are the machine specs? I have also enjoyed building dream setups that were beyond my means when they first came out.

Is the "server" version of the G4 tower just a SCSI card and a Sever version of OS X?

You can get blank covers for that other bay, but I'm pretty sure it's a 3.5" bay--so no DVD drive. I think they typically came with ZIP drives. You could put a 3.5" hard drive there, but that IDE bus is slower than the other one on the logic board.

 

[MrFahrenheit]

Nice setup! What are the machine specs? I have also enjoyed building dream setups that were beyond my means when they first came out.

Is the "server" version of the G4 tower just a SCSI card and a Sever version of OS X?

You can get blank covers for that other bay, but I'm pretty sure it's a 3.5" bay--so no DVD drive. I think they typically came with ZIP drives. You could put a 3.5" hard drive there, but that IDE bus is slower than the other one on the logic board.

That model of G4 Server would likely have shipped with Mac OS 9 and AppleShare IP 6.

 

[LaPorta]

I am going to try and get the original software (IP 6) installed on there. Right now I have 10.4 with 9.2.2. The AirPort card does not appear to be functioning properly: it registers, but no networks appear. Perhaps the antenna came disconnected or something.

You are right re: the bay: I neglected the 3.5 form factor. The best I can do is cover it then.

As for the SCSI card: do I need any software for it? What drives could I connect to it?

Yes, all this was beyond me back when. As long as I can remember, I longed for a Power Mac with external monitor. As an aside, this was how it went: had Performa 6300, wanted 8600 with 17" AppleVision. Had original iMac, wanted B&W G3. Had G4 iMac, wanted Quicksilver G4. Had 2006 MacBook Pro, wanted Mac Pro. Had 2010 iMac, STILL wanted Mac Pro with dual 27" screens. Then I gave up when they became trash cans and then cost $7,000 as towers again. I guess it never was to be.

Anyone have ideas re: that screen resolution thing? Is it something about the base frequency the ATI DVI card in those machines uses versus what an ADC-based card would?

 

[MrFahrenheit]

If the SCSI card was factory (I can't tell at the moment) it should function without any drivers at all.

However, my G4 Server that I used at work had a different SCSI card installed by Apple. That one had a 68 pin connector, but it was still able to boot and use the card without any special drivers.

 

[LaPorta]

I believe this is 68 pin as well. Probably the standard, because the printed description on the back of the machine lists SCSI card. Can I just get some sort of 68 to 50 pin adapter?

 

[MrFahrenheit]

I believe this is 68 pin as well. Probably the standard, because the printed description on the back of the machine lists SCSI card. Can I just get some sort of 68 to 50 pin adapter?

That should work just fine. But SCSI can be finicky. I've seen strange issues with conversions over the past 18 months. I guess there are just too many 'standards'.

 

[joshc]

Those Studio displays are still beautiful today, excellent design.