Getting G3 Whisper Perch USB working

[croissantking]

I think the main thing that makes this project intriguing are the possibilities for a tighter integration than is possible or practical with a regular PCI card (the ability to power the machine on using the power key on the early Apple USB keyboards and being able to boot from a USB disk being two things that come to mind).

Absolutely, I’d like to experiment with populating the soft power circuit if I can find a reference for it - maybe an early iMac logic board.

I’d dismissed booting from USB as impossible since not even early iMacs or B/W G3s/Yikes! G4s can do this.

I kind of want one, if only for the supposedly improved sound chip they use (Burgundy instead of Screamer). I seem to recall that the Burgundy sound chip was subsequently used in a later model of something, an early iPod, maybe? Or maybe it was something else known as Burgundy? Perhaps this notion is a fabrication of my tired mind?

I didn’t know there was a difference in terms of the sound chip. Is the Screamer the ‘Crystal’ chip you can see on most personality cards? What benefit does the improved chip have?

 

[just.in.time]

I’d dismissed booting from USB as impossible since not even early iMacs or B/W G3s/Yikes! G4s can do this.

I have booted my tangerine iBook G3 from USB, I’d always figured these other machines could do it as well. It was incredibly slow to boot and install Mac OS 9 of course, being a USB 1.1 port.

 

[NJRoadfan]

The Bordeaux card seems to have pads to support two USB ports vs. one. I don't think there is a meaningful difference in the sound chips. Tray loading iMacs have the "Burgundy" sound chip too. Overall the DACs in the Crystal chips are pretty lousy.

 

[croissantking]

The Bordeaux card seems to have pads to support two USB ports vs. one.

Googling for this now with intrigue. Do you have some hi-res photos that show this?

 

[Powerbase]

Apple probably left it off so they could keep it as a "feature" of the probably-already-being-developed B&W G3.

Dont forget their intentional and unnecessary G4 block in the B&W G3s firmware too. Gotta get people to buy them new G4s.

 

[NJRoadfan]

https://www.issunaz.com/home for high res photos.

 

[croissantking]

https://www.issunaz.com/home for high res photos.

Wow, you are quite right! What an odd looking pad. The dual socket must be very tall, thin and fragile. Is it an off-the-shelf part?

This would be the ultimate personality card, if populated.

There is also something interesting at J5.

 

[zefrenchtoon]

There is also something interesting at J5.

A berg connector to give more power to usb ports ?

 

[croissantking]

I have booted my tangerine iBook G3 from USB, I’d always figured these other machines could do it as well. It was incredibly slow to boot and install Mac OS 9 of course, being a USB 1.1 port.

This makes sense, doesn’t the clamshell iBook have a Uni-north chipset with USB integrated into it? I think the ones that can’t boot are those with an older Grackle chipset and discrete USB chip.

A berg connector to give more power to usb ports ?

Probably, yes.

 

[Phipli]

For interest the simple Wings card vs the USB one...

No "AIO Video", "AIO" connector not there, replaced by a 34 pin unpopulated connector and a 26 pin populated connector.

Retains the 10 pin connector (J9) has a keyed 4 pin connector, unpopulated.

Different P/N and brand on the main sound chips.

They seem to have tried to keep the chip and connector silkscreen the same, even at least some minor components (U2, U17, J9, J10, C120, VR2 etc). This suggests they started from the same circuit and moved them about.

One is (C) 1997 the other 1998.

 

[croissantking]

For interest the simple Wings card vs the USB one...

No "AIO Video", "AIO" connector not there, replaced by a 34 pin unpopulated connector and a 26 pin populated connector.

Retains the 10 pin connector (J9) has a keyed 4 pin connector, unpopulated.

Different P/N and brand on the main sound chips.

They seem to have tried to keep the chip and connector silkscreen the same, even at least some minor components (U2, U17, J9, J10, C120, VR2 etc). This suggests they started from the same circuit and moved them about.

One is (C) 1997 the other 1998.

I genuinely used to think these personality cards were boring. ‘Only two types’… then I learned about the Bordeaux and later still, about all the USB stuff.

 

[croissantking]

This suggests they started from the same circuit and moved them about.

Using KiCad?

 

[Phipli]

Using KiCad?

Nah, EasyEDA

 

[Phipli]

I genuinely used to think these personality cards were boring. ‘Only two types’… then I learned about the Bordeaux and later still, about all the USB stuff.

My dad and I have 7 G3s between us and I've never seen a Bordeaux. They can't be very common.

 

[croissantking]

My dad and I have 7 G3s between us and I've never seen a Bordeaux. They can't be very common.

I’d guess they came with the ones that had a DVD drive fitted, which may have even been a BTO option.

 

[olePigeon]

My 8600 came with one.

 

[croissantking]

My 8600 came with one.

With a personality card?

 

[olePigeon]

With a personality card?

Yeah, the Bordeaux card or whatever it's called for the 8600. Had a full suite of A/V input and output.

 

[Phipli]

Yeah, the Bordeaux card or whatever it's called for the 8600. Had a full suite of A/V input and output.

That isn't the same, the 8600 had built in AV capabilities, there wasn't an option card. There was just a short lead to some sockets on the case, and it was a part of all 8600s. What ports you got varied between 8500 / 8600 / 7600 / 7300 / 7500, as did the chips fitted to the board.

They just look similar to a Wings card from outside the case.

The 8600 didn't come with built in MPEG decoding that the Bordeaux had either sadly.

 

[Phipli]

For interest the simple Wings card vs the USB one...

No "AIO Video", "AIO" connector not there, replaced by a 34 pin unpopulated connector and a 26 pin populated connector.

Retains the 10 pin connector (J9) has a keyed 4 pin connector, unpopulated.

Different P/N and brand on the main sound chips.

They seem to have tried to keep the chip and connector silkscreen the same, even at least some minor components (U2, U17, J9, J10, C120, VR2 etc). This suggests they started from the same circuit and moved them about.

One is (C) 1997 the other 1998.

Sorry, I meant Whisper card here, not Wings. I always struggle with alliteration.