MicroMac 68040 LC475 Logic Board Upgrade

Updated: August 11, 1998
HARDWARE QUESTIONS
Q: On which Mac model can I install the LC475 logic board?
Q: Can I just replace my LC, LCII, LCIII or Performa logic board with a LC475 logic board?
Q: Can I install the MicroMac LC Fan & Speaker Upgrade Kit myself?
Q: Is my power supply going to be strong enough for the new LC475 logic board?
Q: Can I use the monitor I currently have connected to my LC or Performa computer?
Q: How about VRAM (Video RAM)? Can I use the same VRAM I have in my current LC or Performa?
Q: How do I identify the size of the VRAM installed in my LC or Performa?
Q: Can I use the RAM I have installed in my LC or Performa?
Q: What is the maximum amount of RAM I can have with the LC475?
Q: I have 36MB installed on my LC475 logic board but the System takes over 30MB of it and there is only about 8 MB free. What is wrong?
Q: Can I use my MicroMac accelerator on the LC475?
Q: Can I use the same peripherals I have attached to my computer (external CD-ROM, ZIP-drive, printer)?
Q: Are there other upgrades available for my MicroMac 68040 LC475 Logic Board Upgrade?
Q: Are there any additional requirements for installing Mac OS 7.5 - Mac OS 8.0?
Q: What does it mean 66/33MHz or 50/25MHz?
Q: I have a FPU upgrade for my LCIII, can I use this FPU on the LC475?
Q: There used to be a PPC accelerator for the LC475, can I use it on this upgrade?
Q: Can I use a different monitor on this upgrade?
Q: Can I still use the PowerWorkStation on this upgrade?

SOFTWARE QUESTIONS
Q: Can I just replace my current LC or Performa logic board with the LC475 logic board or do I need a certain minimum System software?
Q: Can I install Mac OS 8?
Q: Are there any additional requirements for installing Mac OS 7.5 - Mac OS 8.0?
Q: Whenever I try to install my System, I get a message "this Macintosh is not recognized." What can I do?
Q: Am I now able to run any software which requires a 68040 processor?
Q: What if my software requires the "CFM-68K Runtime Enabler"?
Q: Since I installed the new LC475 logic board I cannot print. What's wrong?


Q: I'm convinced, yes I want to get this upgrade, what do I have to do?

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HARDWARE QUESTIONS


Q: On which Mac model can I install the LC475 logic board?

A: The following Mac models have the same logic board factor as the LC475 and therefore the LC475 will fit in these models:
LC, LCII, LCIII, LCIII+, LC475, Performa 400, Performa 405, Performa 410, Performa 430, Performa 450, Performa 460, Performa 466, Performa 467, Performa 475, Performa 476

Q: Can I just replace my LC, LCII, LCIII or Performa logic board with a LC475 logic board?

A: Yes. The LC475 logic board has the same outline as the LC, LCII, LCIII and Performa logic boards and fits into the chassis. However, it is not so easy if you have the original Mac LC because of the way the fan/speaker assembly is mounted and connected to the LC logic board. If you are installing the logic board upgrade on the Mac LC, you will need to purchase the $15.00 MicroMac Fan & Speaker Upgrade Kit.

Q: Can I install the MicroMac LC Fan & Speaker Upgrade Kit myself?

A: Yes. In order to connect the fan and speaker to the new LC475 logic board you will need to:

1. Remove the speaker/fan assembly that is currently installed in the case of your Mac LC
2. Install the fan from the Upgrade Kit into the same location you removed the Speaker/Fan assembly
3. Connect the fan to the fan connector at location J13 on the logic board
4. Install the speaker from the Upgrade Kit in the speaker location in the case of the Mac LC
5. Connect the speaker to the speaker connector at location J17 on the logic board

Q: Is my power supply going to be strong enough for the new LC475 logic board?

A: Yes.

Q: Can I use the monitor I currently have connected to my LC or Performa computer?

A: Yes, the LC475 supports the same monitors available for the LC and Performa computers.

Q: How about VRAM (Video RAM)? Can I use the same VRAM I have in my current LC or Performa?

A: Yes you can, however you also need a second VRAM SIMM of the same size. Your current LC or Performa only requires one VRAM SIMM while the LC475 requires two VRAM SIMMs. There are 2 sockets for VRAM on the right side (closest to the power supply) of the LC475 logic board. You must install two VRAM SIMMs of the same size into the two sockets in order for the VRAM to function correctly. If you currently have a 512KB VRAM SIMM installed in your current LC or Performa, you must get a second 512KB VRAM SIMM in order for the video to work on the LC475 logic board upgrade. ALSO the VRAM on the LC475 has to be 80ns of faster.

Q: How do I identify the size of the VRAM installed in my LC or Performa?

A: You have the following VRAM configuration by identifying the following:

• You have a 256K VRAM SIMM installed if you have 256 colors displayed on a 12" monitor or 16 colors displayed on a 13" monitor.
• You have a 512K VRAM SIMM installed if you have 32,768 colors displayed on a 12" monitor or 256 colors displayed on a 13" monitor.
• You know how to read the ICs on the VRAM SIMM.

Q: Can I use the RAM I have installed in my LC or Performa?

A: No. Your current Mac uses 30-pin SIMMs and the LC475 uses a 72-pin SIMM. The only exception is the LCIII and Performa 450 and 460, which use a 72-pin SIMM. If you wish to use your 30-pin SIMMs you will need to purchase MicroMac's $19.00 SIMMchanger Memory Upgrade product (contact MicroMac for details).

Q: What is the maximum amount of RAM I can have with the LC475?

A: The maximum amount of RAM is 36MB, this is what Apple stats. However we did some tests with our BigSIMM™ and found the new limit is 68MB.

Q: I have 36MB installed on my LC475 logic board but the System takes over 30MB of it and there is only about 8 MB free. What is wrong?

A: Verify whether you have 32-bit addressing turned ON in the Memory Control Panel. It is probably turned off since the new LC475 logic board has the default settings in PRAM. You will also probably need to reset the Date & Time, Printer, Mouse speed, etc.

Q: Can I use my MicroMac accelerator on the LC475?

A: No. The MicroMac accelerators available for the LC, LCII, LCIII and their Performa equivalents are not compatible with the LC475.

.Q: Can I use the same peripherals I have attached to my computer?

A: Yes. However if you do sound recording the microphone has to be a PlainTalk microphone.

Q: Are there other upgrades available for my MicroMac 68040 LC475 Logic Board Upgrade?

A: Yes. MicroMac has several upgrade options available:

• If you have the LC475 logic board without an FPU you can upgrade it with one.
• If you have the 50/25MHz model of the MicroMac 68040 LC475 Logic Board Upgrade you can upgrade it to the 66/33MHz version.
• MicroMac offers the LC/LCII PowerWorkStation, a chassis extension that upgrades the case of your computer with the ability to incorporate an internal 5.25" drive (such as a CD-ROM, Jaz or SyQuest drive), an internal 3.5" drive (such as a Zip or Optical drive) and two additional hard drives.
• If you wish to reuse your 30-pin SIMMs, MicroMac's $19.00 SIMMchanger Memory Upgrade product allows you to convert them to a 72-pin SIMM module. You can use four 1MB SIMMs and make one 4MB SIMM, or you can use four 4MB SIMMs and make one 16MB SIMM. However you can not use four 512KB, four 2MB, or four 8 MB SIMMs.
• Go even beyond the "Apple limit" of 36MB to 68MB with our BigSIMM™

To receive additional information on these upgrades, please contact MicroMac at 800-600-6227 or 949-362-1000 or visit our Web site at www.micromac.com.

Q: What does it mean 66/33MHz or 50/25MHz?

A: This is the frequency of your computer, like the RPM of your car, the faster the better. However it also depends on the CPU like it makes a different in which gear you are in. With the introduction of the 68040 processor there came the distinction between the CPU and the BUS speed. The CPU speed is always twice the BUS speed on a 68040 processor. Meaning 66/33MHz means 66MHz CPU speed and 33MHz BUS speed. HOWEVER, most of the software do not report the CPU speed, instead they report the BUS speed if they recognize a 68040 processor. Other with PowerPC processors they have a variable relation between the CPU and BUS speed, like a 150MHz 604 PowerPC runs at 150MHz, but the BUS runs at 50MHz. That means the ratio between the CPU and BUS is 3:1. Or a 200MHz 604e can have a ratio of 4:1 or 5:1, which means the BUS runs at 50MHz or 40MHz.

Q: I have a FPU upgrade for my LCIII, can I use this FPU on the LC475?

A: No. The FPU for the LCIII is for a 68030 Processor. The FPU for the 68040 is built in to the 68040. The same applies if you got a FPU add-on PDS card for the LCII

Q: There used to be a PPC accelerator for the LC475, can I use it on this upgrade?

A: Yes, this LC475 logic board upgrade gives you a regular LC475. The problem you might have getting one of those PPC cards. Also these cards were not tested on the 66/33MHz LC475.

Q: Can I use a different monitor on this upgrade?

A: Yes.

Q: Can I still use the PowerWorkStation this upgrade?

A: Yes. Look at the LC/LCII PowerWorkStation page.


SOFTWARE QUESTIONS


Q: Can I just replace my current LC or Performa logic board with the LC475 logic board or do I need a certain minimum System software?

A: The LC475 needs System 7.1 with System Enabler 065. If you have 7.5 or later you should be fine. If you are using System 7.1, we recommend that you reinstall System 7.1 prior to installing the LC475 logic board. When you reinstall the software from the installer program do it as "customized" and select "for any supported Macintosh".

Q: Can I install Mac OS 8?

A: Yes.

Q: Are there any additional requirements for installing Mac OS 7.5 - Mac OS 8.0?

A: No and Yes. If you have the 50/25MHz version of the LC475 logic board you can install Mac OS 7.5 - 8.0 from the Mac OS Install disks or CD-ROM disc without any additional requirements. However if you have the 66/33MHz version of the LC475 logic board, Mac OS 7.5 - 8.0 does not recognize the Gestalt number (Machine 'mach' ID code) of the logic board due to the upgraded 66/33MHz processor. To install the System software you need to perform one an additional step prior to installing the new Mac OS software.

How to Install Mac OS 7.5 - Mac OS 8 on the 66/33MHz LC475 Model:

• Either you can install the Mac OS software by taking the hard drive you plan to place the System software onto and installing it into a Mac that is recognized by the Mac OS Installer (such as a Quadra, Centris or PowerPC-based Mac). After the installer program launches, select "Custom Install" as the installation you wish to perform (not "Easy Install) and select the installation for "any supported Macintosh". After the installation is complete, return the hard drive to your LC475 logic board upgrade.

• Or you can simply use a Freeware program like "MachID Wannabe" (available to download from the MicroMac Web site) and fool the Mac OS Installer by changing the Gestalt number of the 66/33MHz LC475 logic board to Gestalt 94 (the Gestalt number for a LC475 or Quadra 605 without the upgraded 66/33MHz 68040 processor.) Changing the Gestalt number, however, does not influence the speed of the upgraded 66/33MHz 68040 processor. Changing the Gestalt number merely tricks the Mac OS Installer into recognizing your Mac model since the original LC475 and Quadra 605 produced by Apple were only 50/25MHz 68040-based Macs.

Here is how to install Mac OS 7.5 - 8.0, on the 66/33MHz LC475 logic board:

1. Download the MachID Wannabe Control Panel from the MicroMac Web site.
2. Install the control panel into your Control Panel Folder (inside your current System Folder on your
   hard drive) prior to installing Mac OS 7.5 - 8.0.
3. Restart your Macintosh.
4. Open the MachID Wannabe Control Panel. It should appear as follows:
   
   
   
   
5. Type in 94 as the Machine 'mach' ID (Gestalt number).
6. Close the Control panel. Do not select the small [Reset...] Button. This button is used only if you wish to reset your Mac back to its original Gestalt number.
7. Restart your Macintosh.
8. Install the System software from the Mac OS Install disks or CD-ROM disc (do not boot from those CD or disks)..

Q: Whenever I try to install my System, I get a message "this Macintosh is not recognized." What can I do?

A: See the answer above for "Are there any additional requirements for installing Mac OS 7.5 - Mac OS 8.0?"

Q: Am I now able to run any software which requires a 68040 processor?

A: Yes. Unlike a 68040 accelerator upgrade where not all 68040 software will install and run, the LC465 logic board upgrade provides the necessary ROM and logic board information that some 68040 software require before installing onto your system.

Q: What if my software requires the "CFM-68K Runtime Enabler"?

A: The CFM-68K RunTime Enabler is required by some applications to launch properly (an example is America Online 3.0). This extension should be made available to your System software (Mac OS 7.5 - 8.0) if you installed the System software as "Custom Install" (not "Easy Install") under the installation "for any supported Macintosh". (If the System software is installed correctly, the CFM-68K RunTime Enabler will be located in the Extension Folder of your System Folder) .

Q: Since I installed the new LC475 logic board I cannot print. What's wrong?

A: The new logic board does not have the printer information made available to it in its PRAM. To have the logic board identify your printer, select your printer in the Chooser again (the Chooser is located under the Apple Menu). You will probably need to also reset the Date & Time, Mouse speed and Memory Addressing settings from their respective Control Panels (located inside the Control Panels Folder inside the System Folder).

Q: I'm convinced, yes I want to get this upgrade, what do I have to do?

A: To place the order, use this form (there is also a phone number on this form to call).
At the time you place the order you will be given a RMA number for you logic board, which you send back to us after the LC475 is completely working. This RMA number also appears on your invoice. However, If you fail to return your logic board after a reasonable time, We'll charge you for your logic board. Otherwise we can not keep the lower price for this upgrade.


If you have further questions or find these FAQs need further updating, please email us at qaupdate@micromac.com or use the online form.


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