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Restoring Quadra 630

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I plan on restoring my Q630.

It needs a new OS, and new HD.

I could use more RAM too. Would any 30 pin simm work?

Also, where can I find TV Tuner card?

Thanks

 

Danamania

Official 68k Muse
The lowest system for a 630 is supposed to be 7.1.2P - which likely means (as with most macs) it'll be a version specific to that machine, and the first generic system to work on 630s may be a 7.5.x

That's not always the case, of course, but if you don't find a working 7.1 straight off, don't be too disappointed!

Dana

 

The Macster

Well-known member
You can probably find updaters to get you up to 7.1 after that.
7.1.x was a paid update from 7.1.x and they haven't released 7.1.x for free download. They have released 7.5.5 as a download though, so why not just use that? (as it's much better anyway) 7.6.1 is available on the web too though not as an "officially" free download, and Quadras can even run 8.1 if you have 12+ MB of memory.

 

MacMan

Well-known member
The 630 has one 72-pin SIMM slot that can take anything up to a (single banked) 64MB SIMM and reputedly can even work with some 128MB SIMMs (very rare). Your best bet is to find a 72 pin 32MB SIMM as most of those seem to work fine.

The hard drive is of the IDE variety meaning that it is very easy to find cheap replacements. There may well be an upper limit on capacity in the 630 but to be honest a 1 or 2GB hard drive will be ample for most System 7 setups. As for the OS, I would strongly recommend System 7.5.3 / 7.5.5 - both free from Apple. The Quadra 630 will fly with that and 36MB total RAM and there are loads of applications out there that require 7.5 or up.

 

beachycove

Well-known member
What would be really good to do with a LC630 is to quieten down the power supply.

Has anyone attempted a fan transplant in one of these little beauties?

 

Franklinstein

Well-known member
What would be really good to do with a LC630 is to quieten down the power supply.
Has anyone attempted a fan transplant in one of these little beauties?
These things don't have "power supply" fans, they have a single system fan, located in the center-rear of the top of the case. They're standard box fans, (I'm pretty sure they're 12cm), so you can replace them with any similar fan of the same size and voltage. The only thing you'd really have to do is splice the new fan into the old fan's power cord, as the old fan had a fairly long cord going from its mount location to a jack on the power supply.

I personally don't mind the mild noise from a good, high-CFM fan like those found in the 630-form machines. Besides, most of the ones I've seen are really good ball-bearing Minebea/NMB or Nidec fans, so unless you desire complete silence in your work space, there's really no need to replace them - they last nearly forever.

 

alk

Well-known member
The 630 has one 72-pin SIMM slot that can take anything up to a (single banked) 64MB SIMM and reputedly can even work with some 128MB SIMMs (very rare). Your best bet is to find a 72 pin 32MB SIMM as most of those seem to work fine.
The 631 and 640 actually have two RAM slots. The second one can only use single-sided SIMMs (one bank only, I suppose). I don't know what the max capacity is.

All 630, 635, 636, 637, and 638 boards are otherwise identical, and they should all have the empty pads for the second RAM slot. A person accustomed to soldering could possibly install the second slot all by himself.

Peace,

Drew

 

~tl

68kMLA Admin Emeritus
The 630 has one 72-pin SIMM slot that can take anything up to a (single banked) 64MB SIMM and reputedly can even work with some 128MB SIMMs (very rare). Your best bet is to find a 72 pin 32MB SIMM as most of those seem to work fine.
The 631 and 640 actually have two RAM slots. The second one can only use single-sided SIMMs (one bank only, I suppose). I don't know what the max capacity is.

All 630, 635, 636, 637, and 638 boards are otherwise identical, and they should all have the empty pads for the second RAM slot. A person accustomed to soldering could possibly install the second slot all by himself.

Peace,

Drew
Just to complete the picture, the 630 DOS also has two slots...

 

Quadraman

Well-known member
The 630 has one 72-pin SIMM slot that can take anything up to a (single banked) 64MB SIMM and reputedly can even work with some 128MB SIMMs (very rare). Your best bet is to find a 72 pin 32MB SIMM as most of those seem to work fine.
The hard drive is of the IDE variety meaning that it is very easy to find cheap replacements. There may well be an upper limit on capacity in the 630 but to be honest a 1 or 2GB hard drive will be ample for most System 7 setups. As for the OS, I would strongly recommend System 7.5.3 / 7.5.5 - both free from Apple. The Quadra 630 will fly with that and 36MB total RAM and there are loads of applications out there that require 7.5 or up.
This is why I have a Performa 631CD. It has two memory slots. :p

 

Danamania

Official 68k Muse
I tried another 128MB which caused chimes of death, as did two different 32MB ones - the 16MB was the largest I could get it to boot with, in the 2nd slot. (single banked slot, not single sided, too)

Dana

 
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