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K Service Source




Power Macintosh/Server
G3 Minitower
K Service Source




Hot Issues
Power Macintosh/Server G3
Minitower
Hot Issues Introduction - 1


Introduction
This chapter is designed to highlight unique or high-
priority product issues that you should be aware of before
servicing the Power Macintosh G3 Minitower or Macintosh
Server G3 computers.

This chapter alerts you to important issues and provides
links to other areas in the manual where more complete
information can be found. This chapter is not intended to
replace other parts of this manual; it merely provides a
pointer to pertinent information in those chapters.

To familiarize yourself with a new product family, always
read the Basics chapter in its entirety.
Hot Issues Shared Logic Board - 2


Shared Logic Board
The Power Macintosh G3 Desktop, G3 Minitower, and
Macintosh Server G3 computers use the same logic board,
but there are jumper settings that differ between them (see
"Jumper Location J28" and "Jumper Location J16" in the
Troubleshooting chapter).



Processor Module Vs. Card
Whereas previous Power Macintosh computers featured a
user-installable processor card, this logic board uses a
processor module that must not be removed by the customer
(see "Processor Module" in the Take-Apart chapter).
Hot Issues Power Supply Jumper - 3


Power Supply Jumper
The Power Macintosh/Server G3 Minitower logic board has
a power supply jumper installed at J28. The setting of this
jumper differs between the Power Mac G3 Desktop and
Power Mac/Server G3 Minitower models. Failure to install
this jumper in the correct position may result in a
computer that won't boot up. (See "Jumper Location J28"
in the Troubleshooting chapter.)



Processor Module Jumper
The Power Mac/Server G3 logic board has a processor
module jumper installed at J16. The processor jumper is
color coded for the speed of processor module used. Failure
to install the correct jumper may result in a computer that
won't boot up. (See "Jumper Location J16" in the
Hot Issues Warranty Sticker - 4

Troubleshooting chapter.)



Warranty Sticker
There is a warranty sticker that covers the processor
module jumper. The customer's warranty is void if this
sticker is tampered with. Service Providers must replace
this sticker if they have removed it during servicing to
protect the customer's warranty. (See "Processor Module"
in the Take-Apart chapter.)



Power Supply Voltage Setting
There is a switch on the back of the power supply that
controls the voltage setting. The voltage switch must be set
correctly to avoid damaging the computer. (See "Voltage
Hot Issues Voltage Regulator - 5

Switch" in the Basics chapter for more information,
including an international voltage chart.)



Voltage Regulator
There is a removable voltage regulator on the logic board,
which comes with the logic board and can also be ordered as a
separate module. (See "Voltage Regulator" in the
Troubleshooting chapter.)



I/O Card
Some I/O functions on the Power Mac/Server G3 logic board
are handled through a removable I/O card that must be
installed for the computer to operate properly. (See "I/O
Cards" in the Troubleshooting chapter.)
Hot Issues ROM DIMM - 6


ROM DIMM
The Power Mac/Server G3 Minitower logic board uses a
ROM DIMM as opposed to soldered ROM. You should not
remove the ROM DIMM from the logic board. (See "Logic
Board" in the Take-Apart chapter for instructions on how to
prepare the logic board for return to Apple Computer.)



SDRAM DIMMs
The Power Mac/Server G3 Minitower uses SDRAM DIMMs.
DIMMs from older Macintosh computers, although they will
fit, are not compatible and should never be used in the Power
Mac/Server G3 computers. (See "SDRAM DIMMs" in the
Basics chapter and refer to the Power Macintosh G3
Minitower or Macintosh Server G3 sections of the Memory
Guide.)
Hot Issues SGRAM Video Memory - 7


SGRAM Video Memory
Power Mac/Server G3 computers use SGRAM video memory.
Use only SGRAM SO-DIMMs in these machines. Never install
the 256K or 512K video memory DIMMs used in older
Macintosh computers. (See "SGRAM Video Memory" in the
Basics chapter.)



EIDE Bus Issue
If you have only one device connected to the EIDE bus, the
device must be plugged into the first EIDE connector on the
logic board (the one closer to the rear panel), which is
marked J9. If you plug the device into J10 and leave J9
empty, the device may not boot up. (See "Connecting EIDE
Devices to the Logic Board" in the Basics chapter.)
Hot Issues Master/Slave Support - 8


Master/Slave Support
Some Power Mac/Server G3 computers support adding two
ATA/IDE devices to the same ATA/IDE channel, or what is
commonly known as master and slave. This configuration
provides user with the ability to add additional hard drives
or removal media devices to their system. Because the
cabling is different, you cannot replace ATA drives with SCSI
drives and vice versa. (See "Support for Master and Slave"
in the Basics chapter.)



Ultra Wide SCSI Cable Routing
The Ultra Wide SCSI cable (if present) must be routed
inside the computer's chassis in a very specific manner.
Failure to route the cable correctly could result in
performance problems. (See "Ultra Wide SCSI PCI Card" in
Hot Issues DVD-ROM Disk Damage - 9

the Take-Apart chapter.)



DVD-ROM Disk Damage
The Power Macintosh G3 Minitower and Macintosh Server
G3 offer DVD-ROM drives as a build-to-order option. It is
important to note that DVD disks are much more prone to
damage than CD-ROM disks. Any type of scratch or other
abuse may result in a disk that is unreadable. (See "DVD-
ROM Drive Technology" in the Basics chapter.)
Hot Issues HFS+ Formatted Drives - 10


HFS+ Formatted Drives
Hard drives that ship with the Version 2 Power Macintosh
G3 logic board (part number 661-2063) use a file format
called Mac OS Extended format, also referred to as HFS+.
Norton Utilities version 3.5 is not compatible with Mac OS
and version 3.5.1 and earlier can result in hard drive
corruption and loss of all data on the hard drive. If you
experience problems with a hard drive in one of these
systems, Apple Computer recommends using the version of
Disk First Aid included on the system software CD that
shipped with the unit. (See "HFS+ Formatted Drives" in the
Troubleshooting chapter.)
Hot Issues PM G3 Minitower "Sleep/Beep" Issue - 11


PM G3 Minitower "Sleep/Beep" Issue
A problem has been reported with some of the AV I/O cards
installed in the Power Macintosh G3 Minitower computer.
Systems with the problem exhibit the following symptoms:

The computer goes into sleep mode and begins beeping about
2 times a second. Then one of three things happens:

1 The computer wakes itself up after 3 to 4 seconds.

2 The user is able to wake up the computer in a normal
fashion.

3 The user is unable to wake the computer.

Note: this problem only occurs on the Minitower version of
the Power Macintosh G3 computer and only with the AV I/O
card installed (that is, the problem does not occur with the
Audio Only card).
Hot Issues PM G3 Minitower "Sleep/Beep" Issue - 12

To resolve this issue, replace the AV I/O card (p/n 661-
1456) only if the customer's system meets both of the
following criteria: