I Just Got This Apple III Plus Bundle

[retr01]

Recreated Apple /// Flyer

I recreated a flyer from pages 4 and 5 of the "Apple In Depth: A reference guide to Apple products Fall 1981 / Winter 1982."
Today, this is an incredible overview of the features of the Apple ///!

DISCLAIMER - This is for illustration and information purposes only.​

 

[jajan547]

This is neat, very professional looking. Update on the lid here's a photo I have to swap the Plus badges to this standard Apple III case so if anyone needs badges let me know! I'll even throw in a broken case lid.

 

[retr01]

Whoa.

Sans the monitor, Apple /// weighed 26 pounds.

As massive and intimidating as the Apple /// seemed on a desk, it only weighed about ONE pound heavier than the compact Macs! I am sure people did not care back in the early 1980s about the weight of computers, yet I find it fascinating. According to IBM, model 5150 weighed 21 pounds without the disk drive, 24 pounds with one disk drive, and 28 pounds with two disk drives.

Despite its problems and short life, the Apple /// was a good business computer and more user-friendly than the IBM PC 5150.

 

[retr01]

I'll even throw in a broken case lid.

You can explain that it broke when Quake (Daisy Johnson) was in that office building back then.

 

[ScutBoy]

Whoa.

Sans the monitor, Apple /// weighed 26 pounds.

The Apple /// was Jobsian in that it had no fan(s). So - the metal (aluminum?) case was supposed to be a heatsink for the whole machine. That didn't work out so well; thermal issues would cause components to expand/contract and cause connectivity issues, hence the "pick it up and drop it" fix you will often hear about in regards to the ///.

That's why it's so hefty.

 

[retr01]

The Apple /// was Jobsian in that it had no fan(s).

Yup. 1976 to 1985 was the Jobsian era at Apple, starting with things like:

Symmetrical! (Apple I)

Silent! No fans! (Apple II)

Beautiful Typeface Fonts! (Apple Lisa and Macintosh)

 

[retr01]

thermal issues would cause components to expand/contract and cause connectivity issues

Yeah. There are operational temperature ranges. Yet, as Steve Jobs ignored, not having fans makes it worse. Steve believed in natural air flow without the "artificial" thing of moving the air around.

 

[retr01]

PSA!

How to Give Apple /// TLC

​

A Noctua fan will go a LONG way for the Apple III.

Hey @jajan547! Can you check and see if the Apple III can provide 12v and add a fan?

 

[jajan547]

PSA!

How to Give Apple /// TLC

​

A Noctua fan will go a LONG way for the Apple III.

Hey @jajan547! Can you check and see if the Apple III can provide 12v and add a fan?

Interesting you say that, some Apple iii's never upgraded to the 12v Card some still use 5v even though a 12v should work just fine as it was an upgrade. My Apple III is the Plus variant and I'm 90% certain I'll find the 12v card inside. I would consider it I think one of the Apple ii fan cards would work (maybe?). If you were curious here's the difference between the two cards:

 

[retr01]

Interesting you say that, some Apple iii's never upgraded to the 12v Card some still use 5v even though a 12v should work just fine as it was an upgrade. My Apple III is the Plus variant and I'm 90% certain I'll find the 12v card inside. I would consider it I think one of the Apple ii fan cards would work (maybe?).

Fan card? Interesting. What is the source of that 12V memory card page you found?

By the way, there are schematics for the Apple III at:

Apple III Schematic Diagrams

Apple /// Schematic Diagrams

www.apple3.org

 

[jajan547]

This is from the technical procedures volume 6 book a scanned, it’s in the resources section. I’ll find the link for that fan card.

 

[retr01]

Looking at the Apple III PSU schematic, the PSU provides +12V. I wouldn't worry about a fan card. We can probably set up to tap that for the Noctua 12v fan. Let's see where the power header is on the mobo.

 

[jajan547]

Looking at the Apple III PSU schematic, the PSU provides +12V. I wouldn't worry about a fan card. We can probably set up to tap that for the Noctua 12v fan. Let's see where the power header is on the mobo.

View attachment 7258​

Sadly hasn’t arrived yet, very excited to get it though.

 

[Patrick]

drop III inches podcast. they didn't make very many. ... just like the III itself i guess....

 

[retr01]

Sadly hasn’t arrived yet, very excited to get it though.

Cool. Exciting!

I found a picture of the Apple III mobo! The power connector header is there, as circled. Now, we need a pass-through adapter to add to tap the red and black wires for the fan. For example, I have an adapter that taps the 12v and ground via pass-through to the 4-pin Molex connector on the analog board of my SE/30. We do not need to mess with the PSU, mobo, or anything else in the Apple III.

Make peace with that Apple III monster found abandoned in the dark corner of a janitor's closet at an office building.

 

[jajan547]

Now this looks interesting indeed

 

[jajan547]

Here’s the link to the apple ii fan it should work in an Apple iii I think….?

 

[retr01]

Here’s the link to the apple ii fan it should work in an Apple iii I think….?

I believe Apple III cards are something different as the cards for the Apple II probably do not work in Apple III. Even if it does, can that little fan move enough air through the Apple III's case and chassis? I am not sure how many vent holes are on the case. That is why a bigger fan, particularly a Noctua for quiet operation at max RPM, would help move air around more.

It gets HOT in there! A good-sized internal running anytime the Apple III is powered. No power switch. The Apple II, on the other hand, is cooler and does not need a fan as it is a user preference.

The end user can decide not to have a fan in the Apple III at risk of breakdown.

DISCLAIMER: The fan on the right is NOT a real fan of Apple. For illustration purposes only.​

 

[jajan547]

Interesting I’m probably going to go the noctua route.

 

[retr01]

Interesting I’m probably going to go the noctua route.

I agree. And probably 80 x 80 mm or 120 x 120 mm large size, depending on the Apple III case internally and the location of vents. An adapter can be 3D printed for a possible snap-on or machine screw attachment.