The G3/266 DT wins this test thanks to it's faster system bus speed (66MHz vs 33MHz)

The G3 helps the 8100 some, but it's no match for the G3/266 Desktop with its Rage II chip.

Same thing here. Things improve for the 8100 thanks to the G3, but it's smoked by the G3/266 Desktop.

• For CPU intensive functions, the 8100/G3 is a vitual match of the G3/266 Desktop.
• For Graphics intensive functions, the 8100/G3 doesn't cut the mustard, even though the G3 upgrade provides a pass through cable to the PDS graphics board. It would be interesting to see how much Sonnet's accelerated NUBUS graphics board would help. It may help some but I doubt it will match the G3/266 Desktop's onboard RAGE II chip performance.
• With G3/266 Desktops selling for $1445, I question the wisdom of spending $699 for the G3/266 upgrade and $199 for the accelerated NUBUS graphics card. If you sold your 8100 (worth about $550 in standard config) and put it with what you would spend on the two upgrade products, you'd have enough to buy the G3/266 Desktop with $3 to spare.

1. The "wisdom" in upgrading a NuBus G3 becomes clear when you look at the HUGE investment some users, myself included, have in NuBus cards. The big expense in upgrading my system to a more current Mac would not be the CPU, but rather the PCI-based ProTools cards. I purchased a G3 PDS card, NuBus expansion chassis, and fast NuBus video card, all for about $1200. Upgrading my system to a PCI machine and replacing all my NuBus ProTools cards with the PCI versions (even through Digidesign's trade-up policy) would have cost me over $10,000! The decision was a no-brainer, even if it only lasts me a year.
2. The Sonnet upgrade is completely incompatible with Digidesign NuBus hardware, and I would imagine a few other cards as well. I had a Sonnet 250 before I bought the Newer Technology MaxPowr 240, which is working perfectly.
3. For a statement of compatibility by Sonnet Technology, go HERE.

• Both the 8100 and G3/266 DT were running Mac OS 8.1 with minimal extensions.
• Virtual Memory OFF, File Sharing OFF, Open Transport OFF, NO MathLibMoto, NO Speed Doubler, NO Ram Doubler.
• The 8100 was accelerated with the Crescendo G3/257-266/1MB PDS card from Sonnet Technology. Their AV/VID Card Adaptor ($99) was used to connect the PDS video board.
• Adobe Photoshop tests were run using 4.0.1 DEMO (120MB App size), a 30MB test document, and a stop watch. Results were rounded to the nearest half second.
  • Rotate was 90 degree clockwise at 33% zoom level
  • Motion Blur filter settings were 10 degrees, 200 pixels
  • Scroll was done at 400% zoom; scroll arrow held down while scrolling from top to bottom
• The MacBench 5.0 is the product of Ziff-Davis. The CD-ROM costs $5 to order.

  MACHINE	RAM	Video	L2 Cache
  G3/266 Desktop	160M	RAGE II (2M)	512K - 133MHz
  8100/G3/266	232MB	PDS video board (2M)	1M - 133MHz
  8100/100	232MB	PDS video board (2M)	256K - 33MHz

  I appreciate the opportunity to test the Crescendo G3/257-266/1MB PDS board from
  Sonnet Technology.

  Many thanks to MacMouse Club for allowing me use of their G3/266 Desktop and lab.

  Mahalo to Sun Stock for the use of their 8100 and test area.

  Consult Absolute Mac, Deal Mac and my Hot Deals page for best prices on speed upgrades. The MacBench 5.0 is the product of Ziff-Davis. The CD-ROM costs $5 to order.

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© 1998, 1999 Rob Art Morgan, editor of BARE FEATS
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