I got 3 of these PowerMac G3's, none in usable condition. I was able to rebuild into 2 fully complete ones, just being short one top handle on the Slash Server.
ive had so many of these G3's. Great machines. i sold all my other 4 and my G5's and G4's to just keep a good working G3. I have a fully kitted out 450 mhz G3 power mac with an 80 gb Velociraptor and DVD RW with a Radeon 9250 and 7000 for dual 20' studio displays and also a usb 2 firewire comb card and lastly an ATA 133 card for higher os x throuput. great machine.
Awesome video! Very cool about the Xerox Splash server, I hope you can preserve and backup the hard drive. I’d say leave the scuffs as they are. You could accidentally make it worse, plus it is part of the history of these systems and gives them character. 👍
Ya, I was worried that the "fixed" spots might be as visible or more visible than the damage was. I had this on the Tandy 200; I used an eraser to remove some really bad marks on it. While it looks better, you can definitely see the spots and it bothers me every time I see it, lol.
My first memory of the G3 B/W was a music teacher using one for compositions. I always wanted one for video editing and gaming but looking back at how limited the hardware must have been. The transparent color cases trend needs to come back, it was an iconic early 00s style.
Designs usually do go in cycles; we're probably due for 00s era soon! It's funny because now Apple's starting to make devices in "fun" colors again... It'd be interesting if they take it a step further in the coming years and go full translucent...
You sir are fearless when it comes to restorations and mods! What do you think about me cobbling together the scrap housing pieces from the 3rd G3, install an old Pentium 1/2 motherboard, and run Rhapsody for the ultimate cursed PowerMac G3... Action Retro approved?
I started working on Macs around the era of the G3/G4 PowerMacs and these days own a couple of them. I got my B&W for free, as it was going to be thrown out. Managed to get the original install CDs and manual for it, and run it as my OS9 machine. I was also given a G4 CPU upgrade for it, so it has gone from a 350MHz G3 to a 500MHz G4. I just really like the look of the B&W G3, especially with that big G3 cut into the metal backing panels on the side. Too bad Apple didn't continue that with the G4 models. Interesting to see from all the abuse those B&Ws had that some of the side panels were still intact. Mine has small cracks starting to appear around where the screws are.
I agree, these truly look amazing! I was convinced the G3 was engraved in the panel, but it's actually a stick on decal. The G4s look pretty good too, but you're right, they just don't have the same pop the G3s did. Interesting about the cracks; even the destroyed side panel had the screw holes completely intact. In fact, I don't think any of these had cracks in that area. I wonder why that's happening to yours...
I think people would carry it and bump the side panels against their legs or something else, causing stress cracks near the screws. There you go about the G3 logo, always thought it was a cut out. Do you know what revision logic board/s your G3s have?
Amazing job on the restoration! I'dont know much about Xerox Splash, but I remember seeing Power Mac G5 versions advertised on Macworld magazine back in the day. Don't know what happened after the Intel transition.
Thank you! It's unfortunate, but Apple dropped support pretty quick on the G5 after announcing Intel. Some people spent a lot of money on those PowerMac G5 and probably didn't get as much value as they should have. I think the G5 only lived through the Tiger, Leopard and Snow Leopard releases.
I didn't know what a Splash Server was originally; I though it was a regular G3 that someone stuck a random sticker on. Hurray for Reddit and r/VintageApple who got me filled in on what it was :D
I own one of those B&W G3s, purchased from a mom-and-pop thrift store, but mine has a broken bottom rear handle, and the video card is on its way out. I am hoping to someday restore it myself.
You could try and use a magic eraser to remove the black marks on the case, It won’t remove the scratch but it would at least look better without the black paint / mark in it
I figured it would smooth out the finish like the buffing wheel. I don't have much experience with the magic eraser though... I should give it a try, thanks for the idea!
Thanks for this video of restoration. Do you know anything how to restore an operating system on a G3? Since last week i bought a G3 blue/white powermac and a G4 giga ethernet system. for 65 euro The Guy i bought it from wanted to do 'other' creative things with these mac's ;-) The G3 did boot fine into mac os-x server, ofcourse once in the login screen there was now clue or hint for the password ;-) i ended up wiping all of the data by putting the harddisk in a external enclosure. But now the system won't boot :-( putting a copy of os-x 9 or 10 in the cd-rom player isn't going to do anything. I did once get a happy mac :-) but not anymore. it's like the keyboard isn't respond the whole screen stays black, the monitor doesn't respond. My question: what happened? did the videocard gave up. what did i do wrong ? I have an idea of installing os-x 10 on a harddisk via an powerpc G5 Do you know anything about this?
So you're not getting the startup chime or the flashing error on the grey screen anymore? I don't recall offhand, but I thought you should still get the chime sound with a bad GPU but no video. I would suggest pulling the RAM modules, cleaning the pins and reseating them. Sometimes can be very minor oxidation developing on the pins which prevent good contact. Next I would try unplugging the system from AC, pulling the PRAM battery, hit power button a few times, then let sit for ~15 minutes. Leave PRAM battery out, connect to power and see if it boots. I don't know that you'd have any benefit from installing OS X via G5, verses just installing directly on the G3. Also, I think the G5 uses SATA HDD and the G3 uses IDE HDD, so that will complicate things a little (you'd have to use the CD ROM connection, mess with jumpers, etc). In theory it should be possible, but I think you're further ahead to just load it the proper way off a CD. Just my 2c though :) Good luck getting it booted! If you have any other questions, I'll try to help if I can.
@@rebootretro atleast i've learned something today ;-( i just discoverd that sometime early i have put the pram battery in the wrong position 😞 leaving it out now and let it wait for 15 minutes, turn it back on again did gave me a boot chime 🙂 but the screen stayed black and didn't turn on. Do you know if there is any hope left here or did i fryed the efi or bios chip ? have a nice day.
@@Gerkozielman If you got the chime, this is excellent!! Then the EFI should be fine. A chime with no video could be faulty GPU, or even bad GPU connection. Try to pull GPU, clean the contacts, and reseat it. If you have another GPU, you can try swapping in to test (obviously must be a Mac Edition, or flashed PC to Mac card). If still not working, try powering on while holding the CMD-OPT-P-R keys together to force a PRAM reset. Keep holding until it chimes at least two more times. Then wait a couple minutes to see if you get video. It may have weird issues with an old/weak PRAM battery, but my experience is that they work perfectly with PRAM battery removed (PRAM gets reset every time it's unplugged though).
I operated this exact splash server when I worked for a commercial printer. It processed artwork I printed directly to a Docucolor 12.
ive had so many of these G3's. Great machines. i sold all my other 4 and my G5's and G4's to just keep a good working G3. I have a fully kitted out 450 mhz G3 power mac with an 80 gb Velociraptor and DVD RW with a Radeon 9250 and 7000 for dual 20' studio displays and also a usb 2 firewire comb card and lastly an ATA 133 card for higher os x throuput. great machine.
Awesome video! Very cool about the Xerox Splash server, I hope you can preserve and backup the hard drive.
I’d say leave the scuffs as they are. You could accidentally make it worse, plus it is part of the history of these systems and gives them character. 👍
Ya, I was worried that the "fixed" spots might be as visible or more visible than the damage was. I had this on the Tandy 200; I used an eraser to remove some really bad marks on it. While it looks better, you can definitely see the spots and it bothers me every time I see it, lol.
My first memory of the G3 B/W was a music teacher using one for compositions. I always wanted one for video editing and gaming but looking back at how limited the hardware must have been. The transparent color cases trend needs to come back, it was an iconic early 00s style.
Designs usually do go in cycles; we're probably due for 00s era soon! It's funny because now Apple's starting to make devices in "fun" colors again... It'd be interesting if they take it a step further in the coming years and go full translucent...
Great video Justin, these blue G3 towers are my favorite classic macs :)
These really were a fantastic design!
I support giving it a buff!
Where do you get all those amazing accelerators? :D
Please help me getting something to buff my iMac g3 rev b :D
You sir are fearless when it comes to restorations and mods! What do you think about me cobbling together the scrap housing pieces from the 3rd G3, install an old Pentium 1/2 motherboard, and run Rhapsody for the ultimate cursed PowerMac G3... Action Retro approved?
I started working on Macs around the era of the G3/G4 PowerMacs and these days own a couple of them. I got my B&W for free, as it was going to be thrown out. Managed to get the original install CDs and manual for it, and run it as my OS9 machine. I was also given a G4 CPU upgrade for it, so it has gone from a 350MHz G3 to a 500MHz G4. I just really like the look of the B&W G3, especially with that big G3 cut into the metal backing panels on the side. Too bad Apple didn't continue that with the G4 models.
Interesting to see from all the abuse those B&Ws had that some of the side panels were still intact. Mine has small cracks starting to appear around where the screws are.
I agree, these truly look amazing! I was convinced the G3 was engraved in the panel, but it's actually a stick on decal. The G4s look pretty good too, but you're right, they just don't have the same pop the G3s did.
Interesting about the cracks; even the destroyed side panel had the screw holes completely intact. In fact, I don't think any of these had cracks in that area. I wonder why that's happening to yours...
I think people would carry it and bump the side panels against their legs or something else, causing stress cracks near the screws.
There you go about the G3 logo, always thought it was a cut out. Do you know what revision logic board/s your G3s have?
Amazing job on the restoration! I'dont know much about Xerox Splash, but I remember seeing Power Mac G5 versions advertised on Macworld magazine back in the day. Don't know what happened after the Intel transition.
Thank you!
It's unfortunate, but Apple dropped support pretty quick on the G5 after announcing Intel. Some people spent a lot of money on those PowerMac G5 and probably didn't get as much value as they should have. I think the G5 only lived through the Tiger, Leopard and Snow Leopard releases.
Absolutely loved this video and the iMac ones as well, very fun to watch, made sure to subscribe :)
Always appreciate the sub and the kind comments, thank you!!
So cool! I love vintage server equipment! Glad the splash server was restored!!
I didn't know what a Splash Server was originally; I though it was a regular G3 that someone stuck a random sticker on. Hurray for Reddit and r/VintageApple who got me filled in on what it was :D
I own one of those B&W G3s, purchased from a mom-and-pop thrift store, but mine has a broken bottom rear handle, and the video card is on its way out. I am hoping to someday restore it myself.
These machines are excellent to work on. Almost designed to be user serviced, unlike modern systems!
You could try and use a magic eraser to remove the black marks on the case, It won’t remove the scratch but it would at least look better without the black paint / mark in it
I figured it would smooth out the finish like the buffing wheel. I don't have much experience with the magic eraser though... I should give it a try, thanks for the idea!
Yeah. Works well.. magic eraser. Agree 💯
Mine quit working a few months ago. I need to try replacing the power supply.
Thanks for this video of restoration.
Do you know anything how to restore an operating system on a G3?
Since last week i bought a G3 blue/white powermac and a G4 giga ethernet system. for 65 euro
The Guy i bought it from wanted to do 'other' creative things with these mac's ;-)
The G3 did boot fine into mac os-x server, ofcourse once in the login screen there was now clue or hint for the password ;-) i ended up wiping all of the data by putting the harddisk in a external enclosure. But now the system won't boot :-( putting a copy of os-x 9 or 10 in the cd-rom player isn't going to do anything.
I did once get a happy mac :-) but not anymore. it's like the keyboard isn't respond
the whole screen stays black, the monitor doesn't respond.
My question: what happened? did the videocard gave up. what did i do wrong ?
I have an idea of installing os-x 10 on a harddisk via an powerpc G5
Do you know anything about this?
So you're not getting the startup chime or the flashing error on the grey screen anymore? I don't recall offhand, but I thought you should still get the chime sound with a bad GPU but no video.
I would suggest pulling the RAM modules, cleaning the pins and reseating them. Sometimes can be very minor oxidation developing on the pins which prevent good contact.
Next I would try unplugging the system from AC, pulling the PRAM battery, hit power button a few times, then let sit for ~15 minutes. Leave PRAM battery out, connect to power and see if it boots.
I don't know that you'd have any benefit from installing OS X via G5, verses just installing directly on the G3. Also, I think the G5 uses SATA HDD and the G3 uses IDE HDD, so that will complicate things a little (you'd have to use the CD ROM connection, mess with jumpers, etc). In theory it should be possible, but I think you're further ahead to just load it the proper way off a CD. Just my 2c though :)
Good luck getting it booted! If you have any other questions, I'll try to help if I can.
@@rebootretro Thank you for this information.
@@rebootretro atleast i've learned something today ;-( i just discoverd that sometime early i have put the pram battery in the wrong position 😞 leaving it out now and let it wait for 15 minutes, turn it back on again did gave me a boot chime 🙂 but the screen stayed black and didn't turn on.
Do you know if there is any hope left here or did i fryed the efi or bios chip ?
have a nice day.
@@Gerkozielman If you got the chime, this is excellent!! Then the EFI should be fine.
A chime with no video could be faulty GPU, or even bad GPU connection. Try to pull GPU, clean the contacts, and reseat it. If you have another GPU, you can try swapping in to test (obviously must be a Mac Edition, or flashed PC to Mac card).
If still not working, try powering on while holding the CMD-OPT-P-R keys together to force a PRAM reset. Keep holding until it chimes at least two more times. Then wait a couple minutes to see if you get video.
It may have weird issues with an old/weak PRAM battery, but my experience is that they work perfectly with PRAM battery removed (PRAM gets reset every time it's unplugged though).
You need to remove the plastics and wash em or you dont get the full result.
I was too scared to remove the fragile plastic clips on the side panels. With age, the plastic is brittle. I had one break :(
Please don't call Mac OS X, Mac OS Ex.It is Mac OS Ten.
You are a hero, this is my favorite model of computer 🥹