PowerPC Challenge 2024 - The slowest PowerPC I own

It's that time of year again! I always love participating in the Mac Yak PowerPC Challenge, and this year I decided do try and turn my slowest PowerPC into a (sort of) productive computer. I invite you to come along for the ride!
All vintage software sourced from the Macintosh Garden:
System 8.1: macintoshgarden.org/apps/maci...
System 7.6: macintoshgarden.org/apps/maci...
iCab: macintoshgarden.org/apps/icab
IE4: macintoshgarden.org/apps/inte...
Virtual CD/DVD-ROM image mounting utility:
macintoshgarden.org/apps/virt...
Old Retro Notes (basic web text editor)
oldnotes.branchus.com
BlueSCSI:
scsi.blue
BlueSCSI WiFi documentation:
github.com/BlueSCSI/BlueSCSI-...
Disk Jockey disk image creator:
diskjockey.onegeekarmy.eu
#PowerPCChallenge #macintosh #bluescsi
T-SHIRTS
Do you like my wacky t-shirts? I buy all of them from Qwertee. Use the discount code: BranchusCreations to get £1/€1/$1 off your order. Check out the range here:
bit.ly/3OrJZkT
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stirri.com/BRANCHUS
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/ branchuscreations
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Tools/Products used (paid links):
SOLDERING IRON
Hakko FX951: amzn.to/31QvCMW
SOLDERING IRON TIPS:
Bevelled edge soldering iron tip (T12-BC2): amzn.to/45NSrBK
Small bevelled soldering iron tip (T12-C1): amzn.to/3YVH5K0
Bent conical soldering iron tip (T12-JL02): amzn.to/3sx8lSU
Chiselled soldering iron tip (T12-KU): amzn.to/44tAo2A
HOT AIR STATION:
Quick 861DW: amzn.to/2ZjYzPH
SOLDER:
Kester 63/37 0.5mm diameter: amzn.to/3uviEIg
FLUX (Get 10% off with BRANCHUS discount code):
StirriASM-TF: stirri.com/products/stirri-as...
SOLDER WICK:
Goot Wick 2mm: amzn.to/3YWlRvw
TWEEZERS:
Hakko CHP 3-SA: amzn.to/2NqkhPz
DT71 DIGITAL MULTIMETER TWEEZERS:
amzn.to/41VcvSb
OTHER:
Vevor 30L Ultrasonic Cleaner (5% off on all Vevor sites code: VVMH5%OFF):
AU site: s.vevor.com/bfP7q7
US site: s.vevor.com/bfP7uN
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-----------------------------------------------------
Component suction tool (vacuum pen): amzn.to/44xyPkm
Microscope: amzn.to/2HnSI5H
Microscope camera: amzn.to/2TdSYsZ
Budget alternative microscope: amzn.to/2PmRagt
Budget alternative soldering station (uses T12 tips): amzn.to/2SeUpHg
Budget alternative hot air rework: amzn.to/3fN1ZU7
Helping hands (third hand): amzn.to/31JUhVL
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UV Solder mask: amzn.to/2ZnK1yu
Swann Morton curved scalpel blades: amzn.to/2oN7qNn
No. 3 Scalpel Handle: amzn.to/2ngcx85
Kapton heat resistant tape: amzn.to/2xBnTso
28 AWG enamelled magnet wire (thick): amzn.to/32cRsLf
34 AWG enamelled magnet wire (med): amzn.to/35Bx20D
40 AWG enamelled magnet wire (thin): amzn.to/2J2Aisf

[@Mac84]

The world’s SLOWEST PowerPC Mac! ❤

[@paulbyerlee2529]

And Bruce would be the only one aware of just how much work this really was. Although I was not a Mac user back in the day or one now I do remember using hardware of this era. For basic functions like word processing or Excel they are roughly equivalent in speed with modern PC's when running software of the time. I remember having a PC with a 133mhz processor upgraded from a 75mhz and thinking it was the fastest thing out😂

[@kirishima638]

I had an LC475 in the mid 90s and I DREAMT about owning that PowerPC upgrade card….

[@BranchusCreations]

I must confess, I was pretty pleased to get my hands on one!

[@aeonjoey]

I didn't even know they made a Quadra in an LC case

[@Eyetrauma]

Might have considered using a native text editor and setting up some manner of automatic file transfer (maybe using Applescript?) back to a place your web-based editor could read. I used to do web development on a 68040-based Mac back in the 90s and even with a spinning disk I’d have been livid if saving text took “a few seconds.”

[@sideburn]

The BlueSCSI Wi-Fi D/A by JCS comes in handy to check if it connected to your WiFi network on startup. Also can switch to other SSID’s on the fly.

[@TechAmbr]

OMG I love it. Is it any faster than the '040 in general use? My first experience with PowerPC back in the day was a Performa with a 603e and no L2 cache, and I could've sworn it was slower than a 68040! 🤣

[@BranchusCreations]

It's definitely faster. I too remember very underwhelming results of the early PowerPC Macs, but I think that was because of a serious lack of PowerPC native code. These days I can find PowerPC versions of just about anything I want to use.

[@AnonymousFreakYT]

One of these years, I’m going to try this challenge with my PowerPC Upgrade Card-equipped Quadra 700 and my Power Macintosh 6100/60 running System 7.1.2. The big problem with the PowerPC challenge any more is the modern web. You pretty much have to use a proxy of some kind to make the web at all usable on older systems. Which to me defeats the point of the challenge. I wonder if a Mac Mini G4 running Linux would be able to run all the necessary proxy software acceptably fast.?.?.?

[@ryanjofre]

Be careful, Dick Wolf is gonna Sue you🤣🤣🤣

[@auteurfiddler8706]

Hmmm. I have been wondering when I should hook up one of my Dual Cpu G5 Towers. I have been wondering how they would do on watching KZbin videos. 2.0 ghz AGP and 2.3 PCIx with standard cards that came with those. Oh, A guy offered me an IMAC g5 for 30 bucks, but I did not want to go over 20. I have never owned that parrtcualar Power Pc Mac.

[@phipli]

Bruce - you can get at least 8.5 on your machine. Sonnet have a system enabler that lets you do it. I have 8.5 booting my IIci with a 66MHz Daystar Turbo 601.

[@BranchusCreations]

Thanks for the tip, I'll check that out for sure!

[@jjdigitalvideosolutionsllc5343]

What is this PPC board that plugs into the 040 socket? Who makes/made it? Is there a webpage with info about it?

[@BranchusCreations]

This is actually an Apple product, in partnership with Daystar. It was basically the DayStar PowerPro with an Apple badge on it. lowendmac.com/2016/the-unofficial-powerpro-homepage/

[@jjdigitalvideosolutionsllc5343]

@@BranchusCreations Any vintage mac groups that might sell these? I poked around on ebay and didn't see any.

[@chaoticsystem2211]

Your mouse ain't the fasted either, right? :D

[@BranchusCreations]

I swapped mice half way though this video. That first one was driving me crazy.

[@luischale6076]

Hola Buen canal amigo, solo que no te entiendo nada me cuesta entenderte, me gustaría que hicieras tus videos que tengan subtítulos en español

[@boydpukalo8980]

PowerPC and 68k were dropped long ago by all web browser engines. That is the Achilles heel of retro systems like Amiga/MorphOS/Atari/MacOS. MOS has a much better browser, but still lacking. The web technologies have become obese hugely inefficient power pigs sadly.

[@HrutkayMods]

Technically Yak didn't start it, we revived it after I saw the 2017 post of the originator of the challenge 😉