You will not be able to use a processor card from another PCI machine. You will need to buy a G3/G4 upgrade that specifically states it is compatible with the PowerBase. The circuitry is different.
The Sonnet Crescendo/L2 fits in the L2 cache slot of the PowerBase, but I wouldn't buy that card as it needs special software to be recognized.
In the past, I have seen G3 upgrade cards available at OtherWorld Computing (http://www.macsales.com) that list compatibility with the PowerBase, but those appear to be discontinued. Perhaps a search on some other vendor sites, or even eBay, will list other models of cards compatible with the PowerBase. I specifically recall that some of the XLR8 and PowerLogix cards listed compatibility with the PowerBase models.
For the carrier card you do have, you may want to look up the specs and docs before messing around.
(FYI, I think I would have rather kept the PowerBook 1400, and installed a G3 upgrade, HD upgrade, and a solar book cover! :)
James
I made a trade recently involving an old PowerBook 1400 for a 9600/233 and a PowerBase 200, as well as some other goodies. The 9600 doesn't worry me as far as upgrades are concerned as I've had good luck with genuine Apple machines, Clones, on the other hand, are a different story. I won't bore you all with the details of the compatibility problems associated with upgrading a Umax S900, nor shall I go into great detail about the erratic PowerWave I have sitting around gathering dust and rust.
Even though I haven't fired up this PowerBase yet, I see great potential for it as a tertiary machine. I like the fact that it has PS/2 connectors for the keyboard and mouse, which means that it should plug right into the KVM switch used by my PCs. That is, of course, if the machine doesn't require some sort of driver to make those ports work. On that note - what is the keyboard mapping on a 101 key keyboard for the command and option keys?
What I am interested in doing right away is upgrading the processor, preferably with parts that I already have laying around. Even though this machine has a 603e, I see that the slot for the processor is the same design and size as those in other PCI Power Macs and clones. Does this mean that I can use any old processor that I have laying around, provided, of course, that I find one that's short enough? I know I've got a ZIF carrier around here that's rather low in profile, being not much larger than the ZIF socket itself. I don't really want to experiment for fear of blowing up the motherboard, carrier, or the CPU. I've already toasted a nice G3/350 on a different project by failing to properly seat the ZIF carrier and don't want to repeat that experience.
I hope these last few comments make me look like a complete novice, as that really isn't the case. They're just there to illustrate the fear of working on an unfamiliar machine.
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