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Dual 500 Mhz or 933Mhz?

maclamb

maclamb

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 28, 2002
432
0
Northern California
My office gave me a G4 400Gigabit. I am trying to decide if I want to put $700 into a DP500 Upgrade card from Sonnet (my own $ - I may be able to buy the machine later from the company - maybe not)
I do normal business/internet/email stuff, run OSX, Java, Apache-Tomcat, Powerpoint - no 3d, video or audio.
OR
Should I plop down $2100 for a 933 system that I would take to the office.
I also have a Ti667 I use at home.

I'm thinking of adding an ATA 100 or 133 and another 7200RPM IDE drive, some extra RAM I have sitting sround and the DP500 card - costs about $1100.
And I can reuse the drives later - and maybe sell the DP card if I leave the company.
And save my money for a G5 at home.

Basically I guess I'm asking if the 933 is going to be that significantly faster than the DP 500?
What would you do?
 
hard to say
there both lightning
dual 500
that what I like
but its up to you
 
Maybe a Dual 800?

You might get a great deal on a Dual 800, if somebody still have them in stock (like I did). I would go for that, but hey, the 933 model is... quite... FAST!!!! :D

Oh, this is my 100th post! Wohoooooo! :D
 
I'd say buy the 933. The bus speed is more and you will get more life out of it then spending half that cost on a dual 500 upgrade card and all the "others" that you need to purchase. Especially if you don't even own the 400 you are going to put the dual 500 in.
 
You can install a Sonnet ATA100 or ATA133 card into that G4.

Be careful about the RAM though, make sure it is PC100 222 spec. and made by a good company/vendor. I have found that some memory, even though it is PC100, will not function in the G4's. Especially after the firmware update. That is because the memory was not up to spec. (cheap stuff). Anything that came direct from Apple, or is 222 has a 99% chance of working properly.
 
I would be interested if you do go the sonnet path because i have been considering it myself for my 400Mhz PMG4.
I develop with Tomcat as well.
I found memory was the biggest benefit. I use a 1 Gig. I also tried 1.5 Gig, but found no perceivable difference between 1 and 1.5. You may want to consider this as a good 'bang for buck upgrade.
The other thing I did was replace the Hard Drive with an IBM 7200 rpm ATA 100. This made a noticable difference to both startup and application load time.

However If I lived in the US I would seriously consider one of the 'model runout' DP800 as a cost effective upgrade.

Tell me how long does it take for Tomcat to startup on you machine and deliver the first jsp page? (mine takes about 30 seconds and I think there is something wrong with my configuration, but I can't find it).
 
Stick with the dual 500 under OSX, you down need the extra speed right now. You might need some more RAM and, possibly, a bigger hard drive but if you only email and stuff there is no need for a 933.

I was going to switch my 533 for a dual 500 but I do a lot of graphic and processor intensive work and the down sides to the DP500 over machines released later REALLY show up with this work. Email on the other hand takes up SO little processor and graphic power that I could use it at practically the same speed on a computer half as fast as I have now.
 
Until I decide on the processor - I've orderd a 15,000 RPM SCSI Drive and Apdatec card - that should make quite a difference. :)
I will also upgrade the RAM to 1 GiG

I will then see how it responds -
 
Originally posted by maclamb
Until I decide on the processor - I've orderd a 15,000 RPM SCSI Drive and Apdatec card - that should make quite a difference. :)
I will also upgrade the RAM to 1 GiG

I will then see how it responds -
Click to expand...

JESUS, that's a bit of overkill, isn't it?
How much did that drive set you back?
 
933, I tell you why...

1) You WILL notice a faster speed; not many programs take advantage of a dual processor machine.
2) Much faster bus
3) Superdrive
4) Better Graphics
5) Its New :D
6) I know someone that upgraded processor cards, and it isnt the best thing to do...
7) You will get more out of new machine
8) Runs Mobile FCP3
 
How can a super fast drive be overkill?

$305 US for a Seagate 18 G - see www.megahaus.com


Actually my price would be $200 US w/ the Radeon 7500 and no modem from Apple - Ed discount....

I'll let you all know how it performs tomorrow with 2x as much RAM and the faster drive.

It's just a *leetle* sluggish right nbow (IE - no flames or threads please ;)
and HD/Finder ops are slow - witht he drive and extra ram it should improve.

the question then will be - will the DP500 be enough....

:confused:

PS I stopped at CompUSA on the way home to pick up parts and played with a 733 and it was not bad - bet the 933 SCREEMS
 
MAXROOL

Tell me how long does it take for Tomcat to startup on you machine and deliver the first jsp page? (mine takes about 30 seconds and I think there is something wrong with my configuration, but I can't find it).

I won't get to this till this weekend.
I'll post again then - but my time is about same as yours, I believe...
 
Re: 933, I tell you why...

Originally posted by Mac_User
1) You WILL notice a faster speed; not many programs take advantage of a dual processor machine.
2) Much faster bus
Click to expand...

He is only using "normal business/internet/email stuff", why does he need the faster bus and faster processor?

3) Superdrive
Click to expand...

Not really a necessity, is it; nice though.

4) Better Graphics
Click to expand...

Better Graphics for those graphic intensive Microsoft Office programs

5) Its New :D
Click to expand...

I'm gonna leave that one

6) I know someone that upgraded processor cards, and it isnt the best thing to do...
It would all depend on which card you got

7) You will get more out of new machine
Click to expand...

Depends on your definition of more.... it will last longer but it will cost significantly more for the short time more gotten out of it.

8) Runs Mobile FCP3
Click to expand...

What use does he have for that?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I mostlyu ageree and lean that way---
But:

1) You WILL notice a faster speed; not many programs take advantage of a dual processor machine.
My understanding is that OSX _does_ use the DP correctly - it's not app dependant like OS9

2) Much faster bus - true
3) Superdrive - true
4) Better Graphics -true
5) Its New VERY true
6) I know someone that upgraded processor cards, and it isnt the best thing to do... - interesting - I might agree - like more opinions on this

7) You will get more out of new machine - plus if I add that 15K drive - it should basically float above the floor - no?
8) Runs Mobile FCP3 - don;t use it - but I get your point.....
:p
 
What i am getting

Infact, I am getting a new 933 pretty soon. I am ordering from apples education store. 2X80gig hard drives, 1gig RAM, and a 17in apple display. I really do hope you get the 933, I guarentee you will like it WAY better.
 
madamimadamtimallen...

I think we have a jealous user on board. What use does he need for a faster bus? MORE SPEED! You cant say he doesnt "need the speed." Everyone needs more power. Superdrive is not a necessity, but he will burn a few DVDs i bet. Graphics are better for everything smart one!
 
Originally posted by maclamb
How can a super fast drive be overkill?

I'll let you all know how it performs tomorrow with 2x as much RAM and the faster drive.

the question then will be - will the DP500 be enough....
Click to expand...

Because you have not claimed to do anything that needs such a drive and just sounds like a waste of money to me. Also, when are you going to use that much RAM.

The DP 500 will be more than enough; so many of you people just go stupid. There is something better so I need it.... **eerrrr** Inncorrect.
 
madamimadamtimallen!!

What are you thinking. He wants a computer that is going to LAST. I think you dont want him to have a faster computer than you. A 933 would last him a very long time.
 
Re: madamimadamtimallen...

Originally posted by Mac_User
I think we have a jealous user on board. What use does he need for a faster bus? MORE SPEED! You cant say he doesnt "need the speed." Everyone needs more power. Superdrive is not a necessity, but he will burn a few DVDs i bet. Graphics are better for everything smart one!
Click to expand...

How am I jealous, I can have a new machine any time I like and I am sure I could get it much cheaper than he could but WHY? I am VERY confortable will my machine and I do MUCH more heavy processing than he does. Wake up guys, PowerPoint.X only needs a G3 and that is because it runs under X, a G4 400 would be PLENTLY for what he does but I could see justification for a dual 500... a 933, 1 Gb of RAM and a 15000 RPM drive... give me a break. If he had said he was a big graphic designer or, better yet, a 3D animator, I would be pushing for all that stuff but he isn't.
 
Re: madamimadamtimallen!!

Originally posted by Mac_User
What are you thinking. He wants a computer that is going to LAST. I think you dont want him to have a faster computer than you. A 933 would last him a very long time.
Click to expand...

A computer with a dual 500 will last YEARS; are you trying to tell me that you think in the next couple of years email and PowerPoint and Java will become obsolete to something that has a min requirement of a 933 with 1GB of RAM and a 15000 RPM HDD?

Come on, some of us here are actually down to earth. Just justify for me 1GB of RAM to run every one of the programs he mentioned at the SAME time.... it just does not happen.
 
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