The Hardware Research 750/233 is one of the few rackmount G3 Mac clones that shipped in mid-1998, just months before Apple officially ended its third-party hardware licensing program. Built on the Tsunami architecture, this model offered solid G3 performance in a compact, rackmountable chassis—engineered for studios, AV suites, and enterprise installations.
Powered by a 233 MHz PowerPC 750 (G3) upgrade card, the Hardware Research 750/233 came standard with 80 MB of RAM, a 3.1 GB Ultra SCSI drive, and a fast 8 MB ATI XCLAIM 3D video card. It also featured a 512 KB backside cache, dual CPU upgrade support, and six PCI slots, making it a flexible workstation for demanding environments.
Though limited to Mac OS 7.5.5 through 9.0, Apple only officially supported it through 8.1. Its original price of $3,850 USD made it one of the more affordable professional G3 clones available, while still delivering serious performance for its time.
Hardware Research 750/233 – Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Introduction Date | June 1, 1998 |
| Discontinued Date | December 31, 1998 |
| Processor Type | PowerPC 750 (G3) |
| Processor Speed | 233 MHz |
| FPU (Integrated) | PowerPC 750 (G3) |
| System Bus Speed | 46.6 MHz |
| Backside Bus Speed | 116.5 MHz |
| ROM Size | 4 MB |
| Data Path | 64-bit |
| Level 1 Cache | 64 KB |
| Level 2 Cache | 512 KB (backside) |
| RAM Type | 70 ns 168-pin DIMM |
| Standard RAM | 80 MB |
| Maximum RAM | 1040 MB |
| RAM Slots | 8 (interleaving supported) |
| Standard VRAM | 8 MB (ATI XCLAIM 3D) |
| Maximum VRAM | 8 MB |
| VRAM Type | Video card |
| Hard Drive | 3.1 GB SCSI |
| Standard CD-ROM | 12X |
| Floppy Drive | 1.44 MB (manual eject) |
| Modem | N/A |
| Ethernet | AAUI, 10Base-T |
| Case Type | Rack-Mountable |
| Form Factor | 19″ Rackmount |
| Expansion Slots | 6 PCI |
| Expansion Bays (Free) | 1 external 5.25″ bay |
| Battery Type | 3.6V Lithium |
| Built-in Display | None |
| Supported Mac OS | System 7.5.5 to 9.0 (officially supported to 8.1) |
| Dimensions | 10 x 17.25 x 17.75 inches (H x W x D) |
| Average Weight | 52 lbs (23.6 kg) |
| Original Price | $3,850 USD |
| Estimated Current Value | N/A – Collector’s item |
| Architecture | Tsunami (shared with Apple Power Macintosh 9500) |
Why the Hardware Research 750/233 Remains Notable
The Hardware Research 750/233 combined G3 power with advanced features like dual-processor expandability and fast Ultra SCSI storage, all in a rackmount-ready form factor. Its robust video performance, modular PCI expansion, and generous memory capacity made it a top pick for performance-conscious Mac users in 1998.
While it was one of the final Mac clones to reach the market, it continues to stand out as a symbol of what the Mac ecosystem could have become had Apple continued licensing its hardware platform.
