Re: Processor Module for PB 550c

From: Bryan Vyhmeister <netbsdbsdjournal.net>
To: port-mac68knetbsd.org
Subject: Processor Module for PB 550c
Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2007 00:28:06 -0800

> I know this is a long shot but I came across a
PowerBook 550c that  
> has a PowerPC upgrade card installed. The original
processor module  
> is not available. Does anyone have any idea if it is
even possible to  
> get a 68040 processor back in there somehow? I want to
run NetBSD on  
> it but a PowerPC upgrade card will not work. Thanks for
the time.
> 
> Bryan

Hello Bryan,

I also stumbled upon a 540c with the PPC conversion. I
should think most people who did the conversion themselves
have the parts and if the suppliers who did the conversions
are still in business they should also have originals lying
about.  From the instruction booklet it would appear that it
was one board and that's all. I don't think it should be
difficult to reverse the procedure aside from the usual
troublesome laptop dissasembly/reassembly issues.

I found that there is a bit of collector interest in these
old relics and many sites  with bulletin boards catering for
parts trading, etc. I hope you'll find your part without
much difficulty.

Why won't NetBSD work on your box with the PPC upgrade card?
I was hoping to run it on a similar box myself so hearing
your news was a bit of a disappointment.

Cheers,
Rand
hoping to run NetBSD on his rotten apples ;)

Thanks for your feedback. The reason it will not run as far
as I know  
is that NetBSD/macppc requires Open Firmware to function.
Obviously,  
any mac68k machine that has been upgraded will not have Open
 
Firmware. The original Nubus 601-based PowerPC machines did
not have  
Open Firmware either which is why they cannot run NetBSD
either. This  
is the way it has been and I am not aware of any changes to
this.  
Parts for a 540c should be much easier to come by. I know
there is a  
softfloat build available. The archives will show links to
this.

Bryan

On Mar 1, 2007, at 6:31 AM, The masked-coder known as Randux
wrote:

> Why won't NetBSD work on your box with the PPC upgrade
card? I was  
> hoping to run it on a similar box myself so hearing
your news was a  
> bit of a disappointment.