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Beige G3 RAM and PSU questions:
Posted by: Trash80toHP_Mini on 2026-04-07 14:17:43
Found three sticks of 64MB EDO MEMORY RAM ECC UNBUFF 60NS DIMM 168-pin 3.3v in the HackHutch with the speaker and such. I think I got it to max out this G3 or did I buy it for something else maybe? Anybody know offhand if this is the right stuff??

I've got a couple of stripped out towers with double the memory ceiling. Was planning to grab the best board of the ten or so G3s I picked up to keep out of recycling. Should I switch to the better of the two Tower Boards in any case?

Would 300w be suitable for this thing? Dunno what's in the towers? Anybody know offhand?
Apevia-ITX-AP300W-Mini-ITX

Reviving this 9 year old project, but picked up a beautiful 2U case on the 'Bay. Doing a laser cut plexi case would probably cost more anyway:
Posted by: Phipli on 2026-04-07 14:24:36
Found three sticks of 64MB EDO MEMORY RAM ECC UNBUFF 60NS DIMM 168-pin 3.3v in the HackHutch with the speaker and such. I think I got it to max out this G3 or did I buy it for something else maybe? Anybody know offhand if this is the right stuff??
You're meant to put PC66 (or faster) SDRAM in a beige G3, not EDO. Also, 64MB memory modules wouldn't max out a Beige G3 - they take up to 3x 256 SDRAM modules (not all work - you need to avoid ones that use "high density" chips), so a max of 768MB.

I've got a couple of stripped out towers with double the memory ceiling. Was planning to grab the best board of the ten or so G3s I picked up to keep out of recycling. Should I switch to the better of the two Tower Boards in any case?
The boards are the same between desktop, tower and AIOs? There isn't a memory ceiling difference. The only differences are which revision board it is. Later ones had newer ROMs, better graphics chips and possibly better IDE.
Posted by: Trash80toHP_Mini on 2026-04-07 14:49:07
Thanks for the quick answer! They must be for a different machine.

Also, thanks for cluing me in on the Max RAM deal. I'd thought Everymac had the DT maxing out at half the memory of the MiniTowers, but noggin' must have been clueless at the time. Do I need to watch for anything in particular if I buy 128MB modules?

Gave it up and pulled a MiniTower down off the shelf to peek inside. Is this thing really just a measly 200w PSU!?!
Posted by: Phipli on 2026-04-07 15:07:47
Do I need to watch for anything in particular if I buy 128MB modules?
Make sure they have at least 8 chips. For 256MB make sure they have 16 chips.

I tend to buy PC100 or PC133 because it is over spec'd and should run cooler.

Gave it up and pulled a MiniTower down off the shelf to peek inside. Is this thing really just a measly 200w PSU!?!
It's not a Pentium - the G3s only used like 4 Watts for the CPU. The 9600 PSU is less than 400W and that thing has a way more power hungry CPU, 6 PCI slots and 6 drive positions.
Posted by: Phipli on 2026-04-07 15:08:21
ebay.us

PC 133 PC 100 256 Mb 64 Mb RAM total of 7 modules HP Compaq Twin Mos | eBay UK

PC 133 modules. Total of 7 modules by HP and Compaq.
ebay.us

Edit, ah sorry - that's UK based.

Note to other people - if you're buying RAM for a desktop Beige G3 in the original case, you need short height sticks like the one highlighted. This doesn't matter if you're not using the original case and have clearance. I believe there is supposedly more room in the tower, but haven't checked. Never been near an AIO.

1000034923.jpg
Posted by: Trash80toHP_Mini on 2026-04-07 15:14:48
NoPro, thanks anyway. @trag wanna pull some stock outta the attic before it rises to kiln heat levels?
Posted by: trag on 2026-04-07 15:20:01
Found three sticks of 64MB EDO MEMORY RAM ECC UNBUFF 60NS DIMM 168-pin 3.3v in the HackHutch with the speaker and such.

Are you sure that wasn't the memory for the PEx? I can't remember what we finally figured out it needed. I think it was 3.3V though... And if that's EDO then presumably it isn't SDRAM, which is what the Beige G3 needs.

The only memory I have in large quantities is the 32 MB 72 pin sticks. IIRC those are in teh closet, not in the attic.
Posted by: Trash80toHP_Mini on 2026-04-07 15:33:14
PEx made sense, but checked. The one stick in there is double sided with fat chips. These could be, but only one side implemented with emaciated little things.. Invoice says 4 sticks, so one is probably in some machine somewhere, that'll help.

MemoryMasters sticker says 64MB EDO ECC UNBUFF DIM so less verbiage than what I typed off the invoice.
Posted by: Phipli on 2026-04-07 15:38:38
PEx made sense, but checked. The one stick in there is double sided with fat chips. These could be, but only one side implemented with emaciated little things.. Invoice says 4 sticks, so one is probably in some machine somewhere, that'll help.

MemoryMasters sticker says 64MB EDO ECC UNBUFF DIM so less verbiage than what I typed off the invoice.
Share a photo of one next to the one from your PEx and we can tell if they're compatible from the notch positions. Both out of machines - need to actually see the notches.
Posted by: Trash80toHP_Mini on 2026-04-07 16:58:01
PEx-RAM-Modules.JPG
Posted by: Phipli on 2026-04-07 23:38:59
View attachment 97491
So it looks like they are the same. Unbuffered 3.3v.

1000034924.gif
Posted by: Durosity on 2026-04-08 09:34:06
Never been near an AIO.
Maybe one day we’ll have another get together and you can see mine 🙂
Posted by: Phipli on 2026-04-08 10:22:22
Maybe one day we’ll have another get together and you can see mine 🙂
It would be nice to do something again sometime 🙂 it would be good to see people. Perhaps I'd bring one of my junker 8600/9600s 🙂
Posted by: Trash80toHP_Mini on 2026-04-08 10:35:12
Just noticed these modules have the Parity Chip on board. Did PEx make use of the parity feature?
Posted by: Phipli on 2026-04-08 10:46:16
Just noticed these modules have the Parity Chip on board. Did PEx make use of the parity feature?
I don't believe it did.
Posted by: croissantking on 2026-04-08 11:29:52
Note to other people - if you're buying RAM for a desktop Beige G3 in the original case, you need short height sticks like the one highlighted. This doesn't matter if you're not using the original case and have clearance. I believe there is supposedly more room in the tower, but haven't checked.

Correct, the tower has more clearance.
Posted by: Trash80toHP_Mini on 2026-04-08 11:58:15
Out of curiosity, what the heck is that unimplemented slot next to the Zif socket, an unimplemented Processor slot?
If so and installed, might that make a greater range of accelerators compatible?
Posted by: Trash80toHP_Mini on 2026-04-08 12:08:04
Looks like a trio of 256MB PC133 would be about $60 on Amazon, something to think about!
Posted by: Phipli on 2026-04-08 12:15:21
Out of curiosity, what the heck is that unimplemented slot next to the Zif socket, an unimplemented Processor slot?
If so and installed, might that make a greater range of accelerators compatible?
If you mean this...

1000034945.jpg

It is a cache slot. The board was planned to be used with the 603ev, 604ev and 750. In the end they only used the 750 which likes a backside cache.

The slot would have been for a config with something like a 604 and with a cache on the bus.

Interestingly you can see it populated in some of the photos in the Service Source manuals.
Posted by: Phipli on 2026-04-08 12:16:06
Looks like a trio of 256MB PC133 would be about $60 on Amazon, something to think about!
Or $15 on eBay if you keep an eye open. I wouldn't spend $60.
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