IMac 400 MHz G3 DV - DVD Firmware

Question

Hi,
I got hands on a :
iMac 400 MHz DV (G3 - M5521)
PowerMac2,1 (PowerPC 750)
Order No. M7493LL/A*
EMC: 1821
DHHS: LA
ATI Rage 128VR (2D/3D) AGP 2x (8MB VRAM)
Date Oct. 5, 1999
Disc Date July 19, 2000
I already updated the firmware to 4.1.9 and installed Mac OS X Tiger (10.4.11) and OS 9.2.2.
I currently have the Matshita 8184 (Panasonic) DVD ROM (SlotIn) with Firmware AA31.
I read there was a AA27 before and I also read that there is an update 1.0
When I tried to install Firmware Update 1.0, it said, it already got updated.
I even found Firmware Update 1.1 for the DVD ROM (fixes audio cd readability)
http://www.macworld.com/article/1021740/dvdrom.html
(but it clearly sayys only for 400MHz DV Special Edition. More about that in the next chapter)
I wanted to test the machine using your Apple Hardware Test, but I was told, that there never was a AHT for my 1999 machine.
I was also told that there was a "iMac 400 MHz DV Special Edition" in mid 2000, which supported the AHT (1.0.1 (?)) and its only difference to my iMac 400 MHz DV would be the ATI 128 Pro instead of a 128vr. (?)
Are there any other differences ? Would that AHT run on my machine then ? I ask because :
I read that AHT 1.1 might work on my machine as well :
Apple Hardware Test 1.1 for IMac G3,....?
So, questions would be :
1.) What other differences, except for the Graphics Adapter are between my iMac 400MHz DV and the iMac 400 MHz DV SE ?
2.) Is there a Hardware Test for my iMac ?
3.) Will the DVD Firmware Update 1.1 install on my Matshita 8184 (Panasonic) DVD ROM and which version would it be ?
Or does the iMac 400MHt DV SE has a differentr DVD ROM model and if so, which one ?
4.) Is there a way to choose between OS 9 and OS X on booting up ? Pressing "C" will only show the OS that I selected via StartVolume before.
Thanks for your time.
Regards,
iMac1999

Answer 1

I have a lime-colored G3 iMac DV (400 MHz) from 1999.  The iMac DV SE that shipped in 2000 had a 500 MHz processor, a 30 GB hard drive, a 4x DVD-ROM drive, the marginally better ATI Rage128 Pro GPU, and 128 GBs of SDRAM.  It was available in Graphite or Snow.  The internal DVD-ROM drive may have had a sequentially newer model number, than that used in the 1999 models.  I wouldn't be concerned about updating the firmware in your DVD-ROM drive - it is what it is - a 15 year-old computer with similarly dated hardware.  I didn't receive an AHT disk with mine, and have had no reason to run it anyway.  If you would like a much more modern internal DVD±RW drive, you can buy one here for $149.  Obviously, that exceeds the value of your iMac.  With onboard FireWire ports, I have used external CD-RW and DVD±RW drives, rather than replace the internal drive.  A common problem with those slot-loading optical drives occurs when the neoprene sleeved rollers (that pull in and roll out the disk) get dry/slick with age.  This will cause slipping and is usually indicated when the disk repeatedly gets stuck, as the motor keeps churning to eject it.  I maxed out the memory at 1 GB and installed an 80 GB hard drive, but that's all.  As for the resolution setting, I wouldn't be concerned about using a 60 Hz refresh rate (and dealing with the annoying flicker).  Just select the optimal resolution & refresh setting.  The greater concern for component failure in those iMacs is its Power-Analog-Video (P-A-V) board, which is the heart of the system's power.  Replacement requires previous experience with CRT repair, because of the potentially dangerous stored electrical charge that must be properly discharged in order to swap P-A-V boards.  Finding a new "old-stock" P-A-V board would be difficult, if not impossible today.  Installing a used part with unknown remaining service life could be a waste of money.  If you wish to boot from your Tiger installation, you can press/hold down the "X" key when you power ON the computer.  That model also supports using the Startup Manager, which you can read about here.