PowerWatch: G3 Upgrades

Looking for a G3 for your Catalyst-based system? (PowerTower, PowerCenter, PowerCenter Pro, PowerCurve) Does your Tsunami-based machine fizzle? (PowerTower Pro, PowerWave)

Who Makes them?

Several manufacturers make compatible cards: Sonnet Technologies, XLR8 by Interex, BottomLine, MacTell, PowerLogix, and Newer Technologies.

Sonnet Technologies has several products compatible with Power systems.

Crescendo G3 233/117/512K - Macbench 720; Price $349.95
Crescendo G3 300//150/1Mb - Macbench 1045; Price $599.95
Crescendo G3 333/167/1Mb - Macbench 1155; Price $799.95
Crescendo G3 366/183/1Mb - Macbench 1252; Price $999.95
Crescendo G3 400/200/1Mb - Macbench 1400; Price $1299.95

Note: As of this time, these products are ONLY compatible with PowerWave, and PowerTower products. Nothing else until further notice.

Sonnet products come with a 3 year warranty.

MACh Speed G3 400/200/1Mb - Macbench 777; Price $1399
MACh Speed G3 366/183/1Mb - Macbench 881; Price $1099
MACh Speed G3 333/167/1Mb - Macbench 1091; Price $899
MACh Speed G3 300/200/1Mb - Macbench 1154; Price $679
MACh Speed G3 300/120/512k - Macbe
MACh Speed G3 266/133/512k - Macbench 1286; Price $429
MACh Speed G3 233/117/512k - Macbench 1399; Price $379

XLR8 says that these work in PowerCenter, PowerCenter Pro, PowerWave, PowerTower, and PowerTower Pro models.

XLR8 products have a 2 year warranty.

Here's what Railgun models are available:

Railgun 250/125/512k - $335.99
Railgun 275/137/512k - $379.99
Railgun 275/183/1Mb - $489.99
Railgun 300/300/1Mb - $699.99
Railgun 333/222/1Mb - $599.00
Railgun 366/183/1Mb - $699.99
Railgun 366/244/1Mb - $879.99
Railgun 400/200/1Mb - $999.99

Bottomline says that these work in PowerWave, PowerCurve, PowerCenter, PowerCenter Pro, PowerTower, and PowerTower Pro systems.

Macbench scores were not available.

Bottomline's Railgun products carry a 2 year warranty.

MacTell has a number of compatible PowerJolt cards (they have tons of models, but I'm only listed those which were available at the time I wrote this (1/30/99):

G3 PowerJolt 250/167/512k - $359
G3 PowerJolt 333/222/1Mb - $699
G3 PowerJolt 366/183/1Mb - $799
G3 PowerJolt 400/200/1Mb - $1099

MacTell says their cards are compatible in PowerWave, PowerCurve, PowerCenter, PowerCenter Pro, PowerTower and PowerTower Pro systems.

MacTell producst have a 1 year limited warranty.

PowerLogix was one of the first companies to support PowerCC computers. And they still do!

PowerForce G3 220/110/512k - Macbench score of 742, list price of $310
PowerForce G3 300/120/512k - Macbench 1047, price $459 (not sure about this one)
PowerForce G3 300/300/1Mb - Macbench 1276, price $579
PowerForce G3 333/166/1Mb - Macbench 1165, price $799
PowerForce G3 400/200/1Mb - Macbench 1375, price $1199

PowerLogix says their products work in PowerBase, PowerWave, PowerCurve, PowerCenter, PowerCenter Pro, PowerTower, PowerTower Pro, in all the available cases.

PowerLogix offers a 3-year warranty.

Newer Technologies: The Products

Newer was the other original manufacturer of PCC-compatible G3 upgrades. Here's what they've got:

MAXpowr G3 250/125/512k - Macbench 800; Price $449
MAXpowr G3 266/133/512k - Macbench 875; Price $499
MAXpowr G3 300/150/512k - Macbench 975; Price $599
MAXpowr G3 300/150/1Mb - Macbench 1060; Price $749
MAXpowr G3 333/166/1Mb - Macbench 1179; Price $1049
MAXpowr G3 366/183/1Mb - Macbench 1286; Price $1349
MAXpowr G3 400/200/1Mb - Macbench 1417; Price $1649

Newer says these products will work in PowerTower, PowerTower Pro, PowerCenter, PowerCenter Pro, PowerWave, PowerBase, and PowerCurve systems.

There is a two year warranty on Newer Tech products.