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SPACEKID

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 25, 2004
24
0
Im close to making a purchase, but can someone tell me,

733 MHz G4 PowerPC Processor
768 MB SDRAM
60Gb ULTRA ATA-7200RPM

Vs

A 800mhz Quicksilver with 768MB Ram?

Whats gonna be the fastest for Audio work?

As I heard something about the Quicksilver not having level 3 cache? whereas the G4 733 has 1MB backside cache or something?

I can get the Quicksilver for £450 although the guy was a bit quiet when I asked the condition?, but the G4/733 will set me back £510 and seems mint condition.

Please help :)
 
Well, a couple of things...
First, there is no PM 800 in a single processor configuration...only 733, 867 and dual-800...which brings me to...
The 733 machine you mention could be either one of these (probably not) or the Digital Audio PM that preceded it...
As for cache...the DA has 1MB L2 (as you noted) @ 1:2...the quicksilver has 256K on-die L2, but 2MB L3...anyway
The quicksilver models are better machines, but in the instance you mention, it seems a little sketchy...you might want to buy the 733 (BTW I have this machine, and I prefer it aesthetically to the quicksilver...that's me)...if it is a dual 800 for the price you mentioned, however, it would be a steal...if it is an 867 it is worth a look at too...
Both fine machines...I do not do audio, so cannot comment on that...good luck...oh, here is a link for specs on the machines you listed...
http://www.apple-history.com/noframes/body.php?page=gallery&model=g4_quicksilver
 
Hmmm Interesting, he didnt mention it being a dual 800...

Maybe its an overclocked Quicksilver 733, about to go boom hence why he is selling it so cheap...
 
blackfox said:
Well, a couple of things...
First, there is no PM 800 in a single processor configuration...only 733, 867 and dual-800...which brings me to...

I beg to differ.

the lowest of the QS's (the 733 in the QSI, and the 800 in the QSII) didn't have the l3 cache. the 733 on the other hand can be overclocked fairly easily should you choose to do so (and cool it properly)
 
If the 733 doesn't have the L3 DO NOT BUY IT! I have this @ work and I did a DSP tests on both a G4733 no L3 & a G4867 with L3 cache and the difference was huge. The 733 no cache was released as the lowest G4 at the time the 733 with cache was the previous generation but top model.

Good Luck :)

sonicbaz
 
blackfox said:
Well, a couple of things...
First, there is no PM 800 in a single processor configuration...only 733, 867 and dual-800...which brings me to...

the 2002 quicksilvers definitely came in the 800, 933 and 2x1000mhz varieties...
 
So what is faster?

A 733 WITH Level 3 Cache

Or a QuicksilverII 800 without the level 3 cache?
 
baby duck monge said:
the 2002 quicksilvers definitely came in the 800, 933 and 2x1000mhz varieties...
My mistake...I did not look forward to the next revision...I apologize for the oversight...
 
Personally, I wouldn't want to use a G4 without L3 cache, I think a 733 with cache would be faster & there is only 70mhz difference - the cache has profound effect on the architecture.

What is your budget? What DSP software are you using?




SPACEKID said:
So what is faster?

A 733 WITH Level 3 Cache

Or a QuicksilverII 800 without the level 3 cache?
 
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