Power Mac 6100 Soft Power Mod

[LC_575]

Is it possible to get the 6100 to boot and shutdown like other Macs?

 

[trag]

Probably. But you would probably have to replace the power supply and add some components to the logic board. The CUDA chip 343S0780 (IIRC), a little sixteen pin (again, IIRC) SOIC controls the start up circuitry on those machines, I think. I'm pretty sure it's present on the 6100, 7100 and 8100, so the 6100 is not missing a major component. However, there may be some loose components, like logic gates or transistors that the 6100 lacks.

If I were attempting such a modification, I'd start with a comparison of the 7100 and the 6100. But again, you'd need a different power supply. Something like one of the Sparkle ATX supplies might fit.

 

[LC_575]

It would be a very interesting mod. Has anyone here ever attempted such a thing before?

 

[Dennis Nedry]

I don't doubt that you could find a soft power signal on the logic board somewhere that changes when you get to the shutdown screen, maybe right on the CUDA chip that trag mentioned. If you defeat soft power on a Mac, or if your capacitors have leaked just right, you DO get the "safe to shut down" screen. To get soft power to turn ON the Mac, that may be a bit more tricky.

 

[ccmac]

I used a Sophisticated Circuits PowerKey with my 6100 which brings back the ability to turn on the 6100 with the keyboard power key.

http://www.sophisticated.com/products/powercontrol.html