> If the CD ROM is indeed shot, what can I use as a replacement on the > inside? Can I go slot load?
The iMac actually uses a CD ROM drive designed for notebook computers. Finding a drive that works shouldn't be hard, people have even installed CD-RW drives, the only problem is getting the decorative plastic panel from the original drive attached to the new drive, and having the eject button line up properly. If you don't care about looks you could always leave the panel off. > How far can I take this old gal with RAM and upgrades? For under $100 you can max out the ram with a 256 MB module in the top slot and 128 MB in the lower slot. According to Apple's specs the original iMac only takes up to 128 (I think) MB total. Some iMacs see the whole 384 MB, and others see some amount between there and 128. Might be a good idea to look at the return policy before you buy any memory, just in case yours is one of the picky iMacs. To get millions of colors at the iMac's highest resolution, you'll need to upgrade the VRAM, Adding 4 MB to max it out only costs $10 or so. > I do not wish > to bump the processor unless it is easy. It's just as easy as adding RAM, just a lot more expensive. For $300 you can have a 500 MHz G3 processor, and for $400 you get a 600 MHz G3. The upgrade is called "HARMONi" and also adds a firewire port to your iMac. http://www.sonnettech.com/product/harmoni_g3.html Another company called PowerLogix makes a G4 upgrade called iForce. It gives you a 500 MHz G4 with 1MB of cache for $469 http://www.powerlogix.com/products/iforceg4.html Newer Tech made a G3 upgrade for original imacs ($350 for 466 MHz) and even made a G4 version ($550 for 433 MHz). But then they went out of business. But now they seem to be back in business (sort of): http://www.newertech.com/ > What's the mezzanine slot > and what can I stick in it? There's a graphics accellerator card, that gives you a Voodoo 2 chipset and 8 MBs of video RAM, and Formac made iProRAID which provided 80MBs (bootable) SCSI connectivity, and iProRAID TV which added a TV tuner and video capture card to the SCSI interface. I think that all of these have been discontinued, but you might find some leftover old stock on closeout somewhere, and there's always eBay. -- The iMac List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | - Epson Stylus Color 580 Printers - new at $69 | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> iMac List info: <http://lowendmac.com/imac/list.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/imac-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
