XLR8 rolls out new line of PowerPC G3 cards

Joining the PowerPC G3 generation, XLR8 by Interex recently shipped MACh Speed G3, a new line of processor upgrade cards.

The $799 entry-level MACh Speed G3 233/117/512K offers a 233-MHz G3 chip and a 512-Kbyte Level 2 backside cache. The cache communicates with the processor at half the G3's speed. A version running a 266-MHz chip costs $999.

The company also released several high-performance cards with larger caches and faster cache buses. The MACh Speed G3 300/200/1M, priced at $1,999, uses a 300-MHz G3 processor and a 1-Mbyte cache. The cache operates at 200 MHz.

The company said the high-end model is in short supply because of the limited availability of the 300-MHz PowerPC 750 (G3) processor. Another model with a 1-Mbyte cache is the $1,699 MACh Speed G3 275/183/1M, which uses a 275-MHz processor. The cache runs at 183 MHz.

In addition, the cards incorporate XLR8's variable-speed technology, which lets users tweak processor and bus speeds. The 16 settings can boost performance by as much as 15 percent over the rated speed of the processor, the company said.

The cards are compatible with Apple's Power Mac 7300, 7500, 7600, 8500, 8600, 9500 and 9600; Power Computing models based on Tsunami logic boards; and UMAX Computer Corp.'s SuperMac S900 and J700 models.

XLR8 by Interex, a division of Interex Corp. of Austin, Texas, can be reached at (316) 636-5544 or (888) 957-8867; fax (316) 636-4616; sales@xlr8.com; http://www.xlr8.com.