The forums are sponsored by PowerMax, Other World Computing, and Operator Headgap Systems. PowerMax sells new and used Macs & iPods -- with *no sales tax*, OWC sells Mac upgrades -- RAM, hard drives, and more, and OHS sells custom refurbished Macs, hardware, and accessories.
Performa 6320 needs to keep up - 2008/06/27 20:31Hello, I'm returning to what was once all I used to think about, Macs. I've recently purchased a G4. I have two others, a dead power book 1400cs (it played the death march) and a performa 6320, running OS 8.5. I want to upgrade the performa, not to the extreme, just so it's age isn't quite as obvious. I have owned it for over ten years! Some question are answered elsewhere on the site, so I'll just keep to the questions that aren't. Apologies if I'm a bit naive, I've been working with windows for too long.
Can the Performa handle both an Ethernet and a USB card?
Can I remove the TV card? As analogue signals are being switched off in the UK and Europe.
Can I increase the RAM over the suggested maximum of 64MB?
Are there any other basic steps that would smooth it's performance?
| | The administrator has disabled public write
access.
Cacicedo
User
Posts: 319
Re:Performa 6320 needs to keep up - 2008/06/27 23:36The Performas had Apple's ethernet connector, not compatible with the RJ45 plug. There are adapters available . . . I got one once for my Performa 6115, and it worked fine. I don't know about USB, but if it can run OS 8.5, then probably it can handle a USB card. I imagine you can remove the TV card . . . why not? I don't know about the computer's recognizing RAM above the 64 MB though. I doubt it.
| | The administrator has disabled public write
access.
universe
User
Posts: 273
Re:Performa 6320 needs to keep up - 2008/07/17 19:22I don't know about running USB. As it'll run OS9 the USB Firmware can be Downloaded (my G4 is Down and I'm running the G3 so I can't give you the URL). The problem could be the USB Card. The Performa has 3 ext slots,LC,Tv,Vid.Comm. Whereas for example the 7200/8600 have PCI slots and they could run USB.
| | The administrator has disabled public write
access.
krowmagnum
User
Posts: 752
Re:Performa 6320 needs to keep up - 2008/07/17 20:05You cannot get USB to work on the 6320 as it is. You would need a PCI USB card and the 6320 has no PCI slot to add one.
You can use the comm slot ethernet card but they are slowwwww 10baseT but it uses a regular RJ45 ethernet port.
RAM is stuck at 64MB but you can use an app called RAMDoubler that will "virtually" double the RAM to 128MB. I used RAMDoubler on a 1400 and a 5500 and I'm still not convinced it actually helps all that much, if any.
May as well just leave the tv card in because nothing else will work in that slot unless you have the cover for the hole it will collect dust.
You can run up to OS 9 on it but I would stick to OS 8.6 or earlier to make it more usable speedwise. System 7 would run well and OS 8.1 would be my choice as a decent somewhat current OS for that Mac.
Keep in mind this was not one of Apple's better machines and is listed on the Road Apple list. But still a fun toy to play with and run old software on.
Upgrading...
You can put a later PPC board from a 54/55/64/6500 or 6360 in the 61/62/6300 Macs and make it run much better (slides right in). From 160MHz to 300MHz 603e speeds and RAM would be maxed at 128MB with the later board and you would also get one PCI slot. With the PCI slot and the single PCI right angle adapter from a 6360 you could add a USB card and maybe get it to work.
I've been told that the power supplies in these Macs do not supply power for PCI slots so PCI cards should not work. But i did have a USB card working in my old LC580 All-in-one upgraded with a 300MHz 6500 board. That said, I cannot guarantee that it will work. The later boards will work but PCI is questionable. Depending on your location you can find the boards pretty cheap and all you do is swap the back plate to make it fit. A few screws and slide it in and you have a nice speed boost. It would run OS 9.1 pretty well with the later 603e CPU and 128MB of RAM.
| | The administrator has disabled public write
access.
danny91
User
Posts: 16
Re:Performa 6320 needs to keep up - 2008/09/05 10:50You can upgrade with a change of the motherboard I have done it on all my quadra 630 computers which I have sold or given away all but one. The 6320 uses same type motherboard and that was the first mac compter I have every owned. You can get a usb card to work with the 6360 motherboard.
| | The administrator has disabled public write
access.
EveryMac.com is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind
whatsoever.
EveryMac.com, and the author thereof, shall not be held responsible or
liable, under any circumstances, for any
damages resulting from the use or inability to use the information
within. For complete disclaimer and copyright
information please read and understand the Terms
of Use and the Privacy
Policy before
using EveryMac.com. Use of any content or images without expressed
permission is not allowed, although links to any page are welcomed and
appreciated.
Forums 
