noob graphics card upgrade question

[vogz]

First post on here guys...ran into something that I can't figure out by myself.

I own a Power Mac G4 450 DP and want to upgrade the cr@p Rage 128 16meg card that came with it 4 years ago. I know I have an AGP 2x slot but I have no idea what video card to get for the $$$.

I just need something for games/simulators like Warcraft III and x-plane...nothing crazy...just don't want the horrible quality and frame rates anymore.

Any ideas??? ATI, Nividia??

oh..and can I use a AGP 4x card in my 2x slot??? I don't really know how that compatibility works.

 

[robbieduncan]

Some AGP 4x cards will drop back to 2x. AGP 8x cards will only drop back to 4x and not 2x so no ATI Radeon 9700 or 9800 cards for you!

 

[Nermal]

Originally posted by robbieduncan
Some AGP 4x cards will drop back to 2x. AGP 8x cards will only drop back to 4x and not 2x so no ATI Radeon 9700 or 9800 cards for you!

ATI's website lists the following as a requirement for the Radeon 9800:

AGP 4x or 2x capable Macintosh®

Hmm.

 

[caveman_uk]

From what I understand the ADC connectors on the G5 logic boards are different to those on the G4 PM so cards out of G5's don't give ADC when put into G4's. The retail 9800 doesn't have ADC for this reason. Of course this doesn't matter if you don't use ADC.

I think a 9800 will be overkill on your powermac as it will probably be limited by your CPUs. How about a Radeon 9000? It'll be a lot cheaper ($169 v £399) and a better 'fit' with your current CPUs and is a lot better than a Rage. ATI seems to have better mac drivers than Nvidia.

 

[jevel]

As I'm a total noob on Mac, I don't know too much about what fits or not, but what I do know is that if you could use an ATI 9600PRO, that would give you some of the best "bang for the buck" available at the moment.

-KJ

 

[Gymnut]

No ATI 9600 for the desktop Macintosh yet. Not sure if this card is flashable. Your best bet would be the 9000.

 

[vogz]

Thanks for the input guys! Very appreciated. I'll probably go with the ATI radeon 9000.

 

[MacsRgr8]

Yep.

ATi Radeon 9000 would be my choice (with ADC).
ATi Radeon 8500 (can you still get one?) if you want TV-out (no ADC)

 

[Gymnut]

Should be able to get an 8500 off of ATi's website.

 

[blue&whiteman]

any of the agp radeon cards will be a big boost over the rage 128. you will see a big boost in 2d quartz extreme also. I even have QE running on my radeon 7000 pci thanks to a hack called pci extreme.

 

[krimson]

Originally posted by Gymnut
Should be able to get an 8500 off of ATi's website.

not the last time i checked.

 

[mattmack]

Originally posted by Gymnut
Should be able to get an 8500 off of ATi's website.

You can find them (8500) on ebay

 

[Gymnut]

Hmm I stand corrected. It's not a discontinued product yet they are still selling the 7000.

 

[mattmack]

Originally posted by Gymnut
Hmm I stand corrected. It's not a discontinued product yet they are still selling the 7000.

the 7000 is the only PCI video card solution for mac on sale still