g4 cpu upgrade worth it????

[bluesclueU]

Hmm.



Care to post any of these sources providing this information you are getting?



I have no idea what you are talking about here.



Or here.



Or here.



Mhz ratings are meaningless between different CPUs. You need to look at real world performance.

Do not forget the Mac Mini is a dual core computer so actually has the equivalent of two processors in it, compared with your G4 which only has one.



Unfortunately computers are not the same as cars.



Eh? Wow, talk about paranoia.



I guess you have very light computer needs if you think a G4 is going to last another 3 - 5 years.



G6 Intel? What are talking about? the G3, G4 and G5 processors are all PPC (i.e Motorola and IBM CPUs) there is no such thing as a G6 Intel and there never will be.

i know just keeping the name g..

whats another 3-5 when its already lasted 9.. thats a machine..

what consists of light.. i could use latest abobe suite for the next 20 years if need be on an upgraded machine.. i could use older versions of adobe on this for another 20..

they do the job.. once again how many ppl do hardcore editing/3d modeling-animations/multi layered recordings and the such.. the 10% i speak of... so i understand the power needs.... i like the rest of the 90% can get by on your so called light definition..

im not paranoid i just see through the monkeyness ..

dual processors really dont do too much if you are using one application.. its a lil faster in a single app in a technical sense.. but how many people need to run multiple process consuming apps.. really??..10% once again..

i like what the other guy said... drop it.. there is no point...do u remember that monkey apple bit someone put together...

the mirrors reflection of perceptions... grape ape.. grape ape

 

[bluesclueU]

Hmm.



Care to post any of these sources providing this information you are getting?



I have no idea what you are talking about here.

i like what the other guy said.. drop it.. there is no point...do u remember that monkey apple bit someone put together...

the mirrors reflection of perceptions... grape ape.. grape ape

also you want to know where i get my data.. hmm so you can have it removed?? do your own research.. who says its just on the internet..i live in a tech city .. ppl have lives and circles of friends.. we do communicate..

 

[Cromulent]

also you want to know where i get my dat.. hmm so you can have it removed?? do your own research.. who says its just on the internet..i live in a tech city .. ppl have lives and circles of friends.. we do communicate..

I have done my research. I'm just interested to know what research you have done.

Trusting to friends is not the most reliable method of picking up technical information it has to be said.

 

[bluesclueU]

I have done my research. I'm just interested to know what research you have done.

Trusting to friends is not the most reliable method of picking up technical information it has to be said.

when they work for intel, amd, dell, microsoft, APPLE etc i say it does.. austin is full of technical minds....

 

[JNB]

when they work for intel, amd, dell, microsoft, APPLE etc i say it does.. austin is full of technical minds....

Um, so why ask here? Surely, all those great friends/minds have already answered this for you.

Sounds like someone needs a nap.

 

[irishgrizzly]

Don't listen to their LIES bluesclueU! SOme of us on here know the turths, we are go to get G3 and prove we make them fast more then the intel "apples". You know it makes sense to hear all of these things, right?

 

[bluesclueU]

Um, so why ask here? Surely, all those great friends/minds have already answered this for you.

Sounds like someone needs a nap.

i do need a nap.. but i was looking for ppl who have done the upgrades.. most of my friends work with powerhouses and an upgraded g4 would do nothing for them.. other then a quad there isnt much out there in their minds

 

[ReanimationLP]

Well, since you're so into it.

eBay is your friend. You can probably pick up a used CPU upgrade for cheap.

Also, get a PC 9800 Pro card, then go to www.themacelite.wikidot.com and just download the 9800 Pro ROM file and flash software, stick it in a PC, and flash.

Used PC 9800s go for around 40-100, depending on where you look. Try anandtech and HardOCP Forums. Many people there upgrade constantly, so a lot of times you can score great prices on em.

Same with the RAM.

I just upgraded a Sawtooth 400 with a 1GHz upgrade that I had already. Worked fine, was simple, and sped it up a lot. I also recommend, when you install this upgrade, if it uses the OEM Apple heatsink, to buy a fan and bolt it onto the side, as well as use some Artic Silver thermal compound.

 

[jwt]

Well OP, it looks like you've gotten nothing but negativity and arguments, but nobody has asked you what you're doing with the machine. I think if this machine has lasted you as long as it has, then it's probably still a good machine for you--one worth upgrading. If you're doing the types of tasks that most people do--WP, email, web surfing--then you'll be really happy with the upgrade. However, if you want to work with 10 MP RAW images in Lightroom, or do any HD video stuff, then the upgrade won't be worth it. This is the boat I'm in. I upgraded my G4 last year from 733 MHz to 1.5 GHz, and was really happy with it. It didn't seem like a slow machine anymore. However, I just got a 10 MP dSLR and I'm doing a lot of waiting. Also, I'm now running out of HD space, and I'd like to do some HD video recording from broadcast TV, so it's now time for an upgrade. My Mac Pro should be here tomorrow.

All that being said, if you really want to upgrade your G4, I would stick with a 7455 upgrade, because they're cheaper and just as fast as a 7447, but you don't need to upgrade the firmware. Additionally, the Radeon 9800 is overkill. I'd try to get a 9000 pro off ebay. Keep you costs under $300, and I think you'll be OK, and you can enjoy a couple more years with your machine.

 

[aristokrat]

Go for it!

I'd say one major argument that a lot of people disregard when upgrading the Sawtooth is its sheer versatility. Relatively slow bus speed aside, you can upgrade the PSU to power all kinds of further mods.

I've got a pretty serious Sawtooth upgrade, and it is fast. Dual 7448 1.8 GHz processor upgrade (the one that is constantly sold out because it is so unpopular), Radeon 9800 Pro, 2 GB RAM, 5 port USB 2.0 PCI, 802.11n PCI, 2-Port ATA 133 PCI, 2 x 120 GB HD on main ATA bus in RAID, 4 x 300 GB HD on PCI ATA chain in RAID, removable 120 GB 2.5" in one of front bays, and 2 DVD±RW DL optical drives. This is the only model of G4 that could support all that (unless you are good with your electrical transformers), because it has the semi-standard ATX motherboard power supply that allows for upgrades, to 600W in my case. I would say that upgrading any other G4 is not worth it, but the Sawtooth motherboard allows for a great deal of extendibility. I'm very happy with my machine, and it is definitely not slow.

If you do get a G4 upgrade, make sure it is one of the newer 7448 G4's, not the 7447s. The 8's are much faster, more efficient, etc (think core duo vs core 2 duo). The 8's clock faster than some Core 2 Duo's in fact, as they are very solid chips. Also, to get around the rather meager bus-speed, get a dual-core chip and RAID your HDs, as this will definitely help eliminate any non-bus bottlenecks. Additionally, with OS X off-loading video processes to the GPU a fast video card also speeds things up a tad, and makes things really nice when you're hooked up to a 24" 1900x1200 screen. I'm sure my little Sawtooth never thought it would be capable of such things.

And while you're at it, get a new case too! Building my own Mac was super fun, and it looks awesome in its new black metal tower (to all who would call me a heretic, the change was somewhat out of necessity: there's no way all of the above would have fit in the standard mid-size tower).

 

[Lord Zedd]

has anyone upgraded? if so, was it worth it?

Yes, I have. No, its not worth it.

Like the others said, your computer is 9 years old. What you are doing is basically compared to throwing a 1.3GHz PIII in an old 933mhz Dell. It will still be slow.

A C2D MacMini, even with integrated graphics, will be many times faster than your ancient G4 and a much better value.

2x 1.83GHz processors instead of your 1. Want a 2nd G4 CPU? Add another $400 to your budget.
667 MHz bus vs your 100mhz. FAR faster and VERY noticeable in daily use.
3GB ram PC2-5300 DDR RAM instead of your very slow 2GB PC100 ram.
Built in CD burner/DVD player. $50 you don't have to spend to replace your DVD-ROM.
USB 2.0- $20 card saved.
Gigabit Ethernet- Very fast networking.
802.11g and bluetooth. Beats your optional 802.11a/b and no bluetooth.
85W power consumption over your 200W- Saves energy and money.

So, again. No, its not worth it to upgrade your G4.