Considering the number of upgrades you are considering, purchasing a 
newer used system might be more economical, and ultimately a better 
investment.

You can upgrade to 136MB RAM (Apple only supports 72MB, but you aren't 
going to be requiring support from Apple on this system anyway as old 
as it is.). Otherwolrd Computing (http://www.macsales.com) has 72 pin 
SIMMS, 64MB each, for about $18 a piece; you'll need two.

NexComp (http://www.nexcomp.com) has 24x Apple branded SCSI CD-ROM 
drives for $60. Third party drive is $50 for same speed.

As far as the sound card goes, I don't have any suggestions here. The 
6116 does have 16-bit audio in/out ports built in. I guess you could 
get some adapters with a stereo headphone jack on one end and RCA jacks 
on the other. Other than that, finding a NuBus sound card is not going 
to be fun.

Hard drive - a larger hard drive shouldn't be a problem. Make sure you 
get a narrow 50-pin SCSI drive. There are so many flavors of SCSI out 
there now that it's not funny. The term "SCSI Voodoo" used to be used 
to refer to the problems setting a drive up. Now it means figuring out 
what flavor of SCSI you really need! Otherworld Computing has an 18.3GB 
SCSI drive for $90.

If you want to do additional upgrades, they are available. Sonnet 
Technology (http://www.sonnettech.com) has a NuBus G3/500 upgrade for 
$200. WeLoveMacs (http://www.welovemacs.com) has the 400mhz upgrades 
for $130. If you do find a NuBus sound card, you can't use the G3 
upgrade... it requires the same slot.

All this being said, beige and Blue & White G3 computers now are less 
than $400 for used systems. They have larger hard drives, better video 
cards, more RAM, faster CD-ROM drives and use ATA drives, which are 
much cheaper. PowerMax (http://www.powermax.com) has Blue & white G3 
systems for around $400. MacResQ (http://macresq.com) has beige G3/266 
systems for $270, and if you mention the discount code "CLUB" they will 
knock off $70, making it $200 for the computer. They may not have 
modems, but otherwise, they will be complete systems. The RAM, hard 
drives, processors, and CD-ROM drives will be much less expensive to 
upgrade in the future. They can run the latest versions of the Mac OS.

It's not the latest and greatest, but if you are still functioning with 
a Performa 6116 (nearly 10 years old!), you should be fine for years 
with a newer G3 system.

Hope this helps!

Bryan C. Forrest
Macintosh Specialist
LifeNet
http://www.lifenet.org


On Wednesday, September 10, 2003, at 12:01  AM, Matt Burke wrote:

>   Greetings, all.
>
>   I hope I'm using the correct protocol to submit guestions, because I 
> need your
> generous counsel very soon.
>
>   OK... I have a PowerMac Performa 6116CD, Sys 7.5.3 ( know, I 
> know...) but due to time
> & money restraints, I need to upgrade rather than buy better, and 
> therefore ask your
> kindly advice re:
>
> 1) can I get more RAM than 72M RAM, ( the unit's spec limit )...  if 
> so, how?
>
> 2) can the existing internal 2x CD (sigh...) be replaced with a CD/RW 
> unit, either internal
> or a peripheral?
>
> 3) do any sound cards still exist that would support analog I/O ( 2 
> in, 2 out ) that would
> work in the 1 card slot available? Also, any and all relevant software 
> requirements?
>
> 4) Can I replace the internal 700M HD with a multi G unit? Can I then 
> partition the new
> drive into two, one with a Sys7.5.3 for way-older apps, Sys 8.0.2 on 
> other, and switch
> Startups as needed?
>
> 5) Are there any ( ANY ) other upgrades on any other levels (caches, 
> 2nd procssers, etc)
> that you might suggest?
>
>   I realize I'm trying to hot-rod a relic, but I'm in a tight spot.
>   Thanking you all in advance,
>
>   Matt Burke
>   mburke at dublin.com
>
> -- 
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>
> | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will
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> | This list's page is <http://erdos.math.louisville.edu/macgroup>.
>
>




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