Apple iBook G3 "Snow"
The iBook G3 "Snow" models replaced the Clamshell models in 2001. They were faster than the clamshells, and used a more traditional laptop design.
Specifications
12-inch models
| Spec | Dual USB | Late 2001 | 16 VRAM | Opaque 16 VRAM | 32 VRAM | 800/900 MHz 32 VRAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | May 2001 | October 2001 | May 2002 | November 2002 | April 2003 | |
| Discontinuation Date | October 2001 | May 2002 | November 2002 | April 2003 | October 2003 | |
| CPU | PowerPC G3 @500MHz | PowerPC G3 @500 or 600MHz | PowerPC G3 @600 or 700MHz | PowerPC G3 @700MHz | PowerPC G3 @800MHz | PowerPC G3 @800 or 900MHz |
| RAM | PC100 SDRAM, 1 slot Standard: 64 or 128MB Soldered Maximum: 576 or 640MB |
PC100 SDRAM, 1 slot Standard: 128MB Soldered Maximum: 640MB |
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| Hard Disk | 2.5" IDE Standard: 10GB |
2.5" IDE Standard: 15, 20, or 30GB |
2.5" IDE Standard: 20, 30, or 40GB |
2.5" IDE Standard: 30 or 40GB |
2.5" IDE Standard: 30, 40, or 60GB |
|
| Display | 12.1" TFT LCD @1024x768 | |||||
| GPU | ATI Rage Mobility 128 (8MB VRAM) | ATI Mobility Radeon M6 (16MB VRAM) | ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 (16MB VRAM) | ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 (32MB VRAM) | ||
| Main Battery | Lithium Ion | |||||
| CMOS Battery | Soldered Supercapacitor | |||||
| Power Supply | Apple A1021 (65W) or A1036 (45W) | |||||
| Media Drives | Internal Optical Drive | |||||
| PC Cards | None | |||||
| Networking | - 56k Modem - 10/100 Ethernet - 802.11b AirPort WiFi (Optional) |
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| Other I/O | - 2x USB 1.x - 1x FireWire 400 - 1x Mini-VGA - 1x Line Out |
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| Pointing Device | Trackpad | |||||
| Minimum Mac OS | Mac OS 9.1/OS X 10.0 | Mac OS 9.2.1/OS X 10.1 | Mac OS 9.2.2/OS X 10.1.4 | Mac OS 9.2.2/OS X 10.2.1 | Mac OS 9.2.2/OS X 10.2.4 | |
| Maximum Mac OS | Mac OS X 10.4.11 | |||||
14-inch models
| Spec | 14.1 LCD | 14.1 LCD 16 VRAM | 14.1 LCD 32 VRAM | 14.1 LCD 900 MHz 32 VRAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | January 2002 | May 2002 | November 2002 | April 2003 |
| Discontinuation Date | May 2002 | November 2002 | April 2003 | October 2003 |
| CPU | PowerPC G3 @600MHz | PowerPC G3 @700MHz | PowerPC G3 @800MHz | PowerPC G3 @900MHz |
| RAM | PC100 SDRAM, 1 slot Standard: 128MB Soldered Maximum: 640MB |
|||
| Hard Disk | 2.5" IDE Standard: 20 or 30GB |
2.5" IDE Standard: 30 or 40GB |
2.5" IDE Standard: 40 or 60GB |
|
| Display | 14.1" TFT LCD @1024x768 | |||
| GPU | ATI Rage Mobility 128 (8MB VRAM) | ATI Mobility Radeon M6 (16MB VRAM) | ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 (32MB VRAM) | |
| Main Battery | Lithium Ion | |||
| CMOS Battery | Soldered Supercapacitor | |||
| Power Supply | Apple A1021 (65W) or A1036 (45W) | |||
| Media Drives | Internal Optical Drive | |||
| PC Cards | None | |||
| Networking | - 56k Modem - 10/100 Ethernet - 802.11b AirPort WiFi (Optional) |
|||
| Other I/O | - 2x USB 1.x - 1x FireWire 400 - 1x Mini-VGA - 1x Line Out |
|||
| Pointing Device | Trackpad | |||
| Minimum Mac OS | Mac OS 9.2.1/OS X 10.1.2 | Mac OS 9.2.2/OS X 10.1.4 | Mac OS 9.2.2/OS X 10.2.1 | Mac OS 9.2.2/OS X 10.2.4 |
| Maximum Mac OS | Mac OS X 10.4.11 | |||
Upgrades
SSD Upgrades
While a pain to take apart, once you get a G3 Snow apart, SSD upgrades are easy. I would recommend going with an IDE-mSata adapter.
Resources
Common Faults & Maintenance
Early model Snow iBooks are extremely reliable, later ones much less so. Said later models (mainly those with Radeon 7500 graphics) have high logic board failure rates due to GPU failure. This failure was largely a result of the switch to lead-free solder that was happening at the time. Early lead-free solder was often problematic, and these iBooks were far from the only computers to suffer from chronic failure problems due to this same root-cause.
iBooks with failed graphics can be revived by desoldering, reballing, and reinstalling the GPU chip. This should in theory fix the problem for good, but it does take specialized skills and equipment.
Avoiding these problems is as simple as buying one of the earlier revisions without the Radeon 7500 graphics. Still, it's a trade-off. Those unreliable models had the fastest G3s Apple ever put in a computer.
Gallery
Coming soon.