Quadra 605
From Sfvlug
Don't even ask where or when duald got this one... just know that it's bad ass! These notes where compiled by duald once the system was in its current operational status.
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A LITTLE BACKGROUND INFO
I got this old 68k Mac to use as a Mac OS 7.6 machine for playing games and toying around with old software. I later discovered that this simple system was capable of much more. Here is what I discovered.
About the System
Apple's Overview
The Apple Macintosh Quadra 605 personal computer, Apple's most affordable high-performance desktop system, is an ideal multipurpose personal computer for business and professional users. Like all Macintosh Quadra computers, it puts the highest levels of Macintosh performance and flexibility at your fingertips. Yet the Macintosh Quadra 605 brings the cost of high performance down to almost any budget, and its new, slimline design saves desk space. The Macintosh Quadra 605 uses the powerful 68LC040 processor, so you can scroll, search, and sort through your applications faster than ever before. You'll also appreciate the speed with which the Macintosh Quadra 605 redraws graphics, recalculates spreadsheets, and reformats large documents. It comes with 4MB of RAM on board, expandable to 36MB, so you can work with multiple applications simultaneously. Like other Macintosh Quadra computers, the Macintosh Quadra 605 includes many standard features that you pay extra for on other computers -- for instance stereo sound and built-in support for all Apple displays (256 colors) and many third-party displays. With additional video RAM, it can display more than 32,000 colors on 14-inch and 16-inch displays. The Macintosh Quadra 605 also has built-in networking capability, comes standard with an Apple SuperDrive, and accommodates an 80MB or 160MB internal hard disk. Multiple ports provide direct connection to peripherals such as high-capacity CD-ROM drives, scanners, and modems, so you can create the system that fits your needs. As an added advantage, the Quadra 605 is one of the most energy-efficient systems Apple has ever built, and is fully compliant with the Energy Star program of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Of course I could contest a lot of that, but I'll spare my breath.
Defualt System Specifications
CPU Video CPU: Motorola MC68LC040 VRAM: 512 kB - 1 MB (2 sockets) CPU Speed: 25 MHz Max Resolution: 8 bit 832x768 FPU: available via 68040 upgrade Video Out: DB-15 Bus Speed: 25 MHz Data Path: 32 bit Storage ROM: 1 MB Hard Drive: 80-250 MB RAM Type: 72 pin SIMM Floppy Drive: 1.4 MB SuperDrive Minimum RAM Speed: 60 ns Onboard RAM: 8 MB Input/Output RAM slots: 1 ADB: 1 Maximum RAM: 36 MB Serial: 2 Level 1 Cache: 8 kB SCSI: DB-25 Expansion Slots: 1 LC III PDS Audio Out: stereo 8 bit Audio In: mono 8 bit Miscellaneous Speaker: mono Codename: Aladdin, Primus Gestalt ID: 94 Dimensions Power: 30 Watts 2.9" H x 12.2" W x 15.3" D Minimum OS: 7.1 Weight: 8.8 lbs. Maximum OS: 8.1 Introduced: October 1993 Terminated: October 1994
THE EXPERIENCE
At First Glance
Since this machine was crippled when I got it, with the crap LC040, just the 4MB on-board RAM, and the 250MB hard drive... There was some required modifications that had to be done.
The first thing I did was add in some RAM. I found a 32MB 72-Pin SIMM and tossed it in. Tested it out. I also had some fun and played with a 30 to 72 pin adapter. That was fun!
Next, I backed up all the information on the 250MB hard drive to an external SCSI drive. I then added a Seagate ~2.0GB drive I had from a Sun SPARCstation. This drive is more than enough for a 68k Mac, where a megabyte goes a long way. Used my external 300i 2x Caddy SCSI CD-ROM and loaded MacOS 7.6. Then started adding some of my software and games. I used the CD-ROM and external hard drive to help me along. I managed to get online with my network card and used Netscape 4 to browse the web and grab the rest of the programs I needed.
In my dumpster diving I had come across a Centris with a full 68040 with a somewhat low profile heatsink. I grabbed my trusty IC extractor and took out the old LC040 and installed the full 040 CPU. There was only one problem. The Quadra wasn't
Some of the Other Adventures
I decided to try putting Linux on the system, as well as A/UX. However for some reason I couldn't manage to boot either from CD. Go figure.
I had ventured to many websites to find some other people who have this system and other 68k Macs and came across the 68k Liberation Army who have a nice forum set up which I was even able to browse from my 605! Very nice shooting the breeze with other enthusiasts.
I took this machine and another Mac of mine (the IIci which I later put A/UX on) with me to a computer get together (LAN Party sorta), where other people where playing some more modern games and such. So I went out to the car and busted out these two systems and started up Warcraft II and offered people to play multiplayer with me. Some of them shrugged it off thinking it was some old P.O.S. and wasn't worth their time, but others who remembered playing WCII back in the day where more than enthusiastic. I let others play for me while I worked on another project I brought with me. By the end of the night, everybody had dismissed their new games and had a turn playing on my two old school Macintosh systems. So for those of you who think having the uber-gamer rig is cool, you haven't seen the power of 25MHz!
SOME FUN LINKS
THE FUTURE
Hopefully I can get some more RAM on the mainboard by soldering it on directly. I've heard of somebody doing this before, but I don't know much about how they did it. I'm going to start asking around once I get some time.
There isn't much in the way of modifications or deviations from it's current state. I have pretty much finished this project and have the machine the way I want. The software is solid, I am going to continue to add more of course, but for now, all I need to do is get all of my old Macs in one area and get my Appletalk network and printer set back up. That way I can share files and play games, as well as print from my awsome dot-matrix printer!
