For More Information, Please Contact:
Joy Hsu
949-261-2800
(joy.hsu@sonnettech.com)
SONNET TECHNOLOGIES FIRST TO SHIP POWERPC G3
PROCESSOR UPGRADE CARDS
FOR 6100, 7100 8100 POWER MACINTOSH COMPUTERS
New line of PowerPC 750 (G3) Processor Upgrade Cards for Power Mac (6100,
7100, 8100)Workgroup Server (6150, 8150, 9150), Performa 611x and Radius
81/110 begins shipping today.
IRVINE, CALIF. April 29, 1998 -- Sonnet Technologies, the leading
manufacturer of performance upgrade products for Apple Macintosh computers,
today began shipping three new models of PowerPC G3 (750) processor upgrade
cards for first generation (Nu-Bus) Power Macintosh Computers. The new
Crescendo G3 line is available in the following configurations:
Crescendo G3 -215-225 MHz with 512k backside cache at 2:1 ratio.
Crescendo G3 -240-250 MHz with 1MB backside cache at 2:1 ratio.
Universal Upgrade Cards with Optional Adapter Kit for PDS AV or Video
Pass-Through Both Crescendo G3 upgrade card have been designed to be
universally compatible with all of the following Macintosh models;
* Power Macintosh 6100, 7100, 8100
* Performa 6110, 6112, 6115, 6116, 6117, 6118
* Workgroup Server 6150, 8150
* Radius 81/110.
For Power Macintosh 7100 and 8100, an optional adaptor kit allows existing
high-speed VRAM video cards or AV video cards to attach to the Crescendo G3
through a pass-through connection built into each card. With the adaptor
kit the video card will occupy one NuBus slot space.
"We decided to make the Video Adapter Kit optional because so many of our
7100 and 8100 customers told us that they were now using higher performance
NuBus Video cards with their large 21" monitors instead of using the PDS
video card," said Robert Farnsworth, President and founder of Sonnet
Technologies. "This allowed us to reduce the price of our card by $100,
passing the savings along to those customers who have no need for the
adapter kit."
Increases Performance by over 8x
Crescendo G3 upgrade cards for Power Macintosh 6100, 7100, 8100 and
Performa 611x boost the performance of the original PowerPC 601 processor
by more than eight times that of a stock system. For example, a Power Mac
6100/60 has a MacBench 4.0 score of 100; with a Crescendo G3 it can achieve
a MacBench rating of 866.
Automatically Configures to the Highest Clock Speed
Sonnet's Crescendo G3 and 604e accelerator cards offer an exclusive
AutoConfig feature that eliminates the need to set control panels, switches
or jumpers on the card. First, AutoConfig determines the speed of the clock
(which differs by model of computer). Then, the software automatically sets
the clock speed of the processor (which is a multiple of the bus speed) to
the maximum possible for each model. With AutoConfig, for example, a 60 MHz
Power Macintosh 6100 with a 30 MHz bus speed will automatically be set to
run at 225 MHz, while a 66 MHz Power Macintosh with a 33 MHz bus will be
set to run at 215 Mhz, each automatically achieving the maximum possible
speed. This plug 'n' play simplicity also eliminates the need for lengthy
installation and configuration manuals.
PowerPC G3 Maximum MHz of Accelerator
CPU Model Bus Speed Crescendo G3-215-225/512 240-250/1MB
6100/60, WS 6150/60 30 225 240
6100/66, WS 6150/66 33 215 248
611x/60 30 225 240
7100/66 33 215 248
7100/8100/80 40 220 240
8100/100 33.3 218 250
8100/110, WS 8150/110 36.6 220 238
WS 9150/120 40 220 240
Pricing and Availability
Sonnet Crescendo Card Price
Crescendo G3- 240-250/1MB $699
Crescendo G3- 215-225/512 $499
Optional Video Adapter Kit $ 99.95
The new Crescendo G3 and lower priced Crescendo 604e cards are available
from authorized Sonnet resellers, mail order catalogs, and directly from
Sonnet Technologies (order via phone or Sonnet's web site)
To locate an authorized resellers or purchase product, visit the Sonnet
Technologies web site at (http://www.sonnettech.com), or call the company.
About Sonnet Technologies, Inc.
Sonnet Technologies, Inc. (http://www.sonnettech.com) is located in Irvine,
Calif. Sonnet is the world's leading Macintosh upgrade company, offering
the widest range of performance upgrade products that extend the useful
life of most Macintosh models. Sonnet has been providing
performance-enhancement products since 1986. The company can be reached on
1-800-786-6260 (USA and Canada) and 1-949-261-2800.
