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General discussion

RAM question - probably a silly one.

Oct 28, 2007 10:25AM PDT

Hi everyone. I have an iBook that is a little cramped at the moment with 128MB of RAM. It works wonderfully - until I hit the internet. From then on it becomes spinning beach ball heaven, and viewing Youtube videos is rather difficult. Ironically, I have my other laptop with 1.2GB of RAM, and I was wondering if I could take a 256MB stick out of it and put it in my iBook? Only problem is the specs:

the iBook takes SDR 144 pin RAM PC 66.
the other laptop has DDR RAM 200 Pin PC2700.

I'm skeptical, but on the offchance of the RAM being compatible, should I give it a try in my iBook? I really don't want to purchase more RAM, I've bought quite enough recently for this computer.

Discussion is locked

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Sorry no.
Oct 28, 2007 10:32AM PDT

SDRAM and DDRAM are incompatible. The sticks do not plug into each other sockets from memory so you're safe from trying it.

I'd shop around for a stick of ram for that machine...

Bob

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Nope.
Oct 28, 2007 10:33AM PDT
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Thanks everybody.
Oct 29, 2007 3:41AM PDT

I had suspicions that it wouldn't work, but thanks for confirming. I did indeed shop for more RAM (I'm adament that this will be the LAST purchase concerning this machine for quite some time) and bought a nice 512MB stick off eBay for a good deal, which should take the machine up to a healthy 578 MB of RAM.

Thanks! Happy

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Well hopefully that should improve your G3's performance.
Oct 31, 2007 7:48AM PDT

On the subject of G3's, anyone know where to get the SE version with the 466Mhz? I know, I'm a sucker for vintage Macs Wink. Come on, OS 9 is great, I just need an old but good machine to run it on.

LOL. eBay hasn't been too promising so far. I'll figure it out. I'm not interested in terribly used or terrible condition models. If only I could find one with the original box, HD, battery (no, battery's probably a goner), restore disks, etc... Probably not. Needs good cosmetic condition with no scratches or missing keys, as I have seen firsthand what that looks like (ouch).

I'm just messing around though Happy. I just hope I'll find one of them.
-BMF

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The iBook that I bought...
Oct 31, 2007 11:33AM PDT

was in immaculate condition. It still smelled new. This is the Indigo 366 Firewire model. OS 9 is not that great, and crashed consistently for me, hence why I got OS X. It did not come with disks however I bought an OS 9 CD shortly afterwards, so now I have OS 9 and X Cds. Most of the iBooks on eBay either won't come with disks, or will be in poor condition, or without a battery etc... a battery is another purchase I had to make. you will be very lucky to find one with everything. In the end I gave in and just bought the one I have. I have a youtube video of it:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbRaCnOuN94
and here with OS X:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aLUxF_f2Sk

Perhaps they will help influence your decision. I must admit I was not originally that fussed about OS X, but with OS 9 being so old, incompatible and unstable (for me) I naturally wanted to try X and ever since loved it.

I actually must have had a memory blip when I bought my RAM. I bought 256 - not 512. god only knows how I went from thinking I had 256 to 512. I blame the insomnia, or the drugs LOL.

Seriously though, OS 9 on these isn't that great. I haven't booted into it once since I got OS X, but it does come in useful for classic.

Obviously I will see the full potential of this machine when I get more RAM. The only thing that is stopping me using it as my everyday machine is the speed of Youtube videos, and if I can fix that, it will be my main machine. Not bad for a 6 year old mutha!

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Nevertheless, your vid makes me envy the pristine condition
Oct 31, 2007 12:28PM PDT

that your iBook is in. I can't remember seeing such a nice one. Perhaps OS X would work okay, though perhaps Classic is just messed up on your machine. You could go with installing a nice pair of higher capacity flash drives if you haven't already, so you could have 2 silent, what, 8GB drives? I'm not sure if you can, but I think stuff like that is all over the net.

You put Panther on that thing right? Looks great for an old iBook. I envy it so Sad . Where'd you get it? A similar model like that would complement my G4 flat panel and my new Intel MBP nicely. I used to think they were junk, but now I just like them so. Well... if you could give me any advice on where to get a good conditioned one, I'd be happy to listen to your posts. I'm still leaning towards an indigo SE model. I think yours is the Blueberry, since the Indigo was an SE and the 366Mhz models were the first gen of iBooks. But I'd be happy to go with either Happy . Thanks for your inputs.
-BMF

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Mine is definitely Indigo.
Oct 31, 2007 12:39PM PDT

The blueberry and orange iBooks were the first 1999 models, IIRC. They had 300MHz, 32MB of RAM, 3.5GB hard drive, a kind of translucent look and no firewire. My least favourite.

The Indigo (what I have) and Graphite iBooks were Firewire, 64MB of RAM, 366MHz, 6 or 10GB Hard Drive, and had a white opaque look instead of the previous more translucent look.

The lime iBooks, and some special edition graphite models were the same as the ones above but I believe they were branded "SE" (Special edition) versions. They had a 466MHz and a DVD drive. I would have liked one of these, and almost got one, but they went too expensive. The one I have (trust me it is Indigo) is sort of in the middle. Also the first iBooks only had 4MB of video, the later ones (mine) had 8MB. The earlier ones also shipped with OS 8.6 where as the later ones shipped with 9.0.4

As you can see I did my research before buying one.

WIKI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBook

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My bad, cause there was an Indigo 466Mhz too.
Oct 31, 2007 12:54PM PDT

Or so I thought. Oh. Okay, the page now says it was 366/466Mhz, and I don't recall it being that way. Nvm.
-BMF

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Does it count if I overclock it?!!
Oct 31, 2007 12:58PM PDT

I could try and set the record for squeezing 100Mhz out of a g3... and not blowing it up LOL.

In a few years time when this machine is actually past it's useful life I actually plan to rip it apart and do some serious modding. I could use a board from a new apple laptop that would fit it, a nice big and fast Hard disk and maybe a DVD drive.

Maybe I could overclock it though...

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The SE models had DVD drives, or some did,
Oct 31, 2007 1:19PM PDT

but over-clocking a 466Mhz may prove better anyhow. More power + speed = happy iBook. If only it could get to 867Mhz and I could stick 512MB of RAM with a good video card... Ah but the G3 has had its time. The G3 Power Mac is a different story though.

Where'd you get such a nice iBook? eBay? Hard to find such nice ones on there. Let me know please...
-BMF

You know, outfitting a G3 iBook with all the goodies would be great... Sticking in some high capacity flash drives for better performance, storage, battery life, and sound reduction... higher speed optical drives, running Panther or Jaguar... for a 366Mhz machine, that's good for me.

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you've made me curious.
Oct 31, 2007 1:42PM PDT

I must stick a DVD in here and see what it does.

I got the machine off eBay. and what's this thing about flash drives you speak of? Please do tell.

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Okay, here's the deal with the flash drives for the G3
Oct 31, 2007 1:59PM PDT

on LEM, lowendmac, I read some stuff on how the Clamshell iBooks had some noisy HDs. As a remedy, some people were buying flash based drives (you know, flash drives that are quiet, more secure, etc.) with much more capacity to go into them.

http://lowendmac.com/mail/mb07/1030.html

There's some mailbox stuff on that link talking about it if you want to read up on it. Of course I don't know how you want to go about putting a DVD drive, but I figure you should just get a good working external unless you don't want to haul it around too much. Still, DVD drives are handy. Note: in Leopard, Disk Utility now allows me to use the DVD drive to rewrite over CDs and apparently DVDs. My Macs have Superdrives though, so I don't know if this works the same on Leopard systems with Combo drives. But anyway, you could try looking for some upgrades on fastmac or ifixit I suppose.

Flash drives are great compared to the rotating disk HDs. If only they came 1TB stuff... I heard 1TB (or was it 4) drives or something were going to be available in a few years... Never mind. Now I need to keep browsing on eBay for some good stuff.
Hope the link gives you more to work with. Do tell if it does.
-BMF

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that's an interesting read, is that.
Oct 31, 2007 2:22PM PDT

Very interesting in fact. yes this hard drive is noisy and it is not hard to see the limitations of its archaic 4200 RPM speed.

I found this as well: http://addonics.com/products/flash_memory_reader/ad44midecf.asp

Looks very neat. This hard drive is noisy but I don't think its anywhere near failing just yet. Like I say, in a few years when this is beginning to see the end of its "days" I plan to make certain modifications (the compact flash being a definite candidate) to add a few more years to it.

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like I said before, that's if you need more room and hate
Oct 31, 2007 3:00PM PDT

the noise. But no need to upgrade it if you don't need to. Found one auction that had the original packaging, but it had no extra info that I'd like to know. Plus it was a 300mhz model and I prefer a little faster speed.

As limited as iBook upgrades are, there are some good things to add in. I doubt I can find exactly what I'm looking for so maybe the future MacBooks without optical drives are worth looking into. Happy oh well. I'll figure it out. My friend has a completely messed up iBook G4 but it needs a lot of work. Drive is gone, but it has too many other problems anyhow. I may just try to fix it up for now.
good luck with the nice clamshell
-BMF

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"but it had no extra info that I'd like to know"
Oct 31, 2007 4:22PM PDT

you can ask eBay sellers questions regarding these matters.

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I'm happy to see you're enjoying your mac
Nov 1, 2007 7:04AM PDT

OSX certainly is an improvement by several magnitudes over OS 9 and previous versions.

cheers

grim

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To me myself and you, just want to let you know that
Nov 1, 2007 7:49AM PDT

I'm personally not a big fan of eBay... but enough said. I doubt I'll really need an iBook, as I tend to use some powerful stuff time to time.
Good discussion with you.
-BMF

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Yes indeed.
Nov 1, 2007 8:42PM PDT

It was nice being able to talk to someone who understood the principles of computers!

My RAM arrived this morning and I installed it fine. 320 Megabytes here I come! And it has made a colossal improvement. Apps launching faster, I can have what seems like an unlimited amount of items open, and just general performance is through the roof. And to think that if I really wanted to, I could squeeze a 512MB DIMM in here too!

As for eBay, we've never had more than a minor problem and that was an issue with a seller being a bit of an ***. Apart from that, it's proved a cheap, friendly atmosphere, much like CNET in fact. I think I'll stick around here, I like it here.

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Not only that,
Nov 1, 2007 8:49PM PDT

but the spinning beach ball is all but gone now and I can watch Youtube videos at almost full speed. I am very satisfied, and for probably the first time ever I can use a low-grade class machine to do present day tasks. Woo!

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And some people used to think those clamshells were junk.
Nov 1, 2007 10:34PM PDT

Not the SE, Unless it's breaking apart that is. Congrats on the success.
-BMF

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To surfisher1920
Jun 11, 2008 10:06AM PDT

CNET forum TOS do not allow for the buy and selling of used equipment.

eBay would be a better place to advertise this machine.

Also, it is not a good idea to leave you email address out in the open on this, or any other, forum. Mailbots enjoy the free food.

If you wish to contact a member or to have a member contact you, then use the Email solution in your profile.

Meanwhile, your advertisement has been deleted.

P