TITLE
    Macintosh Performa 6400 Series: Frequently Asked Questions
Article ID:
Created:
Modified: 		24215
11/13/97
3/13/00
TOPIC

    This article contains the following frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the Macintosh Performa 6400/180 and 6400/200 computers and answers to those questions.

      1. How many RAM expansion slots does the Performa 6400 have and how high can I increase the RAM?
      2. Which modem comes with my Performa 6400?
      3. Can I upgrade the internal modem to 33.6 Kbps by installing some type of software update?
      4. I would like to connect an external modem to the modem serial port. Can I do this?
      5. I just performed a clean install of the Mac OS and now my internal Geoport modem does not work. What could be the problem?
      6. What can I do to improve my computer's performance while using the internal modem?
      7. Can I add a second hard drive?
      8. I just installed Mac OS 7.6.1 and now my computer's level-2 cache card is no longer recognized. Is there a software fix for this problem?
      9. Is the video memory upgradeable on my computer?
      10. I just added a PCI video card to my computer and now the TV tuner does not work. What could be causing the problem?
      11. I just installed Mac OS 8 and now there appears to be a significant delay on startup. I press the power button and the computer gives a startup chime, however, the power light and monitor do not come on for another 30 seconds or so. What could be causing this problem?
      12. I just installed Mac OS 8. Intermittently, I will get a flashing question mark on startup. When I startup with the Mac OS 8 CD, I get a message that hard disk needs to be initialized. I initialized the hard disk but the problem returns a few days later. What could be causing this problem?
      13. Is there a Power Macintosh 6500 upgrade for the Performa 6400 series computers?
      14. I have connected several SCSI devices to my Performa 6400, but some of the devices are not recognized. Are there any known issues?

    For frequently asked questions regarding Performa 6400 series sound, please see the following Tech Info Library article:

    Article 20213: Macintosh Performa 6400: Sound FAQ

DISCUSSION

    1) Question: How many RAM expansion slots does the Performa 6400 have and how high can I increase the RAM?

    Answer: The Performa 6400 has two DIMM expansion slots. The RAM can be expanded to 136 MB (the 8 MB that comes on your computer's logic board, plus two additional 64 MB DIMMs for a total 136 MB). The Performa 6400 uses 64-bit-wide, 168-pin, noncomposite, 70-nanosecond or faster DIMMs (1K or 2K refresh). For additional information, please see the following Tech Info Library article:

    Article 19598: Power Macintosh 5400 & Performa 6400: Adding Memory


    2) Question: Which modem comes with my Performa 6400?

    The Performa 6400 series computers come with either a Global Village Teleport Platinum V modem or a Geoport modem. You can see what modem you have by using ClarisWorks. Open a new communications document in ClarisWorks. From the Settings menu, select Connection and change the method to Serial Tool. Click OK then open a connection from the Session menu. Type ATI1 and compare the results obtained to the list below:

    240 = Global Village Platinum V modem
    0 = Apple Geoport modem

    For additional methods to identify the type of modem bundled with your computer, please see the following Tech Info Library article:

    Article 20642: Macintosh Performa 6400: Which Modem Is Included?

    3) Question: Can I upgrade the internal modem to 33.6 Kbps by installing some type of software update?

    Answer: If you have Geoport modem, you can install the GeoPort & Express Modem Updater (v3.1.1 or greater). This update provides support for V.34 protocols, which allow data transfer at speeds up to 33.6 Kbps. The software is available at Apple's Software Updates site at the following path:

    US -> Macintosh -> Networking-Communications -> Apple_Telecom.

    You can also install the Telecom software from the Mac OS 8 CD. The Apple Telecom software is available in the CD Extras folder on the CD.

    There is no software upgrade available to allow the Global Village Teleport Platinum V modem to transfer at speeds up to 33.6 Kbps

    4) Question: I would like to connect an external modem to the modem serial port. Can I do this?

    Answer: If you need to use the external modem port, the internal modem must first be removed. Instructions for installing a card into the communications slot are included in the Macintosh Performa User's Manual. You can follow these instructions for removing the internal modem as well. Although such cards are typically user-installable, you may want to contact an Apple-authorized service provider for assistance with this procedure. To locate an Apple-authorized service provider near you, visit this site:

    http://applefn.infonow.net/bin/findNow?CLIENT_ID=APPLE_SVC_USA

    Or, contact the Apple Referral Center at 1-800-538-9696.

    You may also need to remove the modem software for your internal modem. Depending on which modem you have, there are two good TIL articles that describe how to remove the modem software.

    Article 20973: Performa 6400/6360/GeoPort: How To Remove Modem Software
    Article 20974: Performa 6400/GVC: How To Remove Modem Software

    5) Question: I just performed a clean install of Mac OS 8.0 and now my internal Geoport modem does not work. What could be the problem?

    Answer: If you perform a clean install when installing the Mac OS, your internal modem will not work because the Apple Telecom software is not installed by the Mac OS Installer. You will have to install the software separately.

    If you are using Mac OS 8, you can install the Apple Telecom software from the Mac OS 8 CD. The Apple Telecom software is stored in the CD Extras folder on the Mac OS 8 CD. When installing the software, custom install the Geoport and Faxing software only.

    Apple Phone is included with the Apple Telecom software but it is not supported with the Performa 6400. MegaPhone is the only telephony solution supported with the Performa 6400 and the internal Geoport modem. To reinstall MegaPhone, please follow the MegaPhone installation instructions which are found in the following TIL article:

    Article 22048: Performa w/GeoPort: Restore Modem SW & Clean 7.6 Install

    If you are using Mac OS 7.6/7.6.1, follow the instructions in TIL article 22048 to reinstall the modem software.

    6) Question: What can I do to improve my computer's performance while using the internal modem?

    Answer: To improve your computer's performance while using the modem, you may want to try some of the following suggestions:
    • If you are using a Geoport modem, install the Geoport-EM 3.1.1 Update (available from the Apple Software Updates sites). If you are using a Geoport modem and Mac OS 8, install the Apple Telecom software from the Mac OS 8 CD.
    • Turn virtual memory off in the Memory control panel.
    • If you are not connected to an AppleTalk network, turn off AppleTalk from the Chooser.
    • Using the Extensions Manager, disable extensions and control panels which are not being used.
    • If possible, add a level 2 cache card. A level 2 cache card will improve the overall performance of your computer including the modem's performance.
    • If possible, add additional RAM to your computer.
    • Reduce the number of applications running at the same time.

    7) Question: Can I add a second internal hard drive?

    Answer: Yes, you can a second internal hard drive or removable drive. The Performa 6400 comes with pre-cabled SCSI expansion bay for adding an additional 5.25-inch internal SCSI device. If your Performa 6400 came with an internal ZIP drive, you cannot add an additional internal drive because the ZIP drive is located in the expansion bay.

    8) Question: I just installed Mac OS 7.6.1 and now my computer's level-2 cache card is no longer recognized. Is there a software fix for this problem?

    Answer: The 54xx/64xx L2 Cache Reset has been posted to Apple's Software sites. This software corrects a problem which disables the L2 cache. The software is available from the Apple Software Updates sites

    The Read Me file for the software provides more details on the issue. If you upgrade to Mac OS 8, you do not need to install the software fix. The fix has been rolled into Mac OS 8.

    9) Question: Is the video memory upgradeable on my computer?

    Answer: The Performa 6400 comes with 1 MB of video memory. The onboard video memory is not upgradeable on the Performa 6400, however, you can very easily add a PCI video card with more memory than the onboard video memory. You may want to check the Mac OS Software & Hardware Guide (http://www.macsoftware.apple.com ) to search for information on PCI video card solutions.

    Also see question 10 for additional information on adding a PCI video card to your computer.

    10) Question: I just added a PCI video card to my computer and now the TV tuner does not work. What could be causing the problem?

    Answer: You need to make sure that a monitor is attached to the built-in video port when using applications such as Apple Video Player, Avid Cinema, and any other application requiring the video digitizer. The video digitizer on the Performa 6400 is tied to the built-in video. The digitizer will not initialize on startup unless a monitor is connected to the built-in video port. Please see the following TIL article for additional information:

    Article 20691: 6360/54xx/64xx: Digitizer Not Available w/Only PCI Video

    11) Question: I just installed Mac OS 8 and now there appears to be a significant delay on startup. I press the power button and the computer gives a startup chime, however, the power light and monitor do not come on for another 30 seconds or so. What could be causing this problem?

    Answer: With Mac OS 7.6.1 or Mac OS 8 installed, you may see as much as a 30 second delay before the power light comes on and the startup process continues. This issue is addressed in Mac OS 8.1. The Mac OS 8.1 Update is available from Apple Software Updates sites.

    12) Question: I just installed Mac OS 8. Intermittently, I will get a flashing question mark on startup. When I startup with the Mac OS 8 CD, I get a message that hard disk needs to be initialized. I initialize the hard disk but the problem returns a few days later. What could be causing this problem?

    Answer: Apple is aware of a condition that can cause this symptom on a Performa or Power Macintosh 54xx, 55xx, 6400, or 6500. The issue can be fixed by updating the hard drives driver with Drive Setup 1.3.1. Drive Setup 1.3.1 is available from the Apple Software Updates sites. Please see the following TIL article for additional information on this issue:

    Article 22078: Flashing "?": Solution on Performa/Power Mac 54xx, 55xx, 6400, & 6500

    13) Question: Is there a Power Macintosh 6500 upgrade for the Performa 6400 series computers?

    Answer: No, at this time Apple has not announced any upgrade plans for the Performa 6400 series computers.


    14) Question: I have connected several SCSI devices to my Performa 6400, but some of the devices are not recognized. Are there any known issues?

    Answer: Yes, there is a timing issue with SCSI on Performa 6400 series computers. The 6360/64xx/54xx Update resolves this issue. The update is available from the Apple Software Updates sites. The update has been rolled into Mac OS 7.6 and Mac OS 8. If you are running either of these systems, you do not need to install the update. Please see the following TIL article for additional information.

    Article 20593: Macintosh 6360,6400,5400: SCSI Devices Aren't Recognized

Document Information
Product Area: Computers
Category: Power Macintosh
Sub Category: Macintosh Performa 6400
Keywords: kfaq

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