Possible hardware upgrades for PowerBook G4?

[alenu]

I´ve got the last 12" PowerBook G4 (powerbook6,8), the one with a 1,5GHz processor. I have maxed out the ram to 1,25 gb and installed an SSD on it. What else can i do at hardware level to improve it even more performance-wise? Thanks for any advices!

 

[Amethyst1]

What more can i do at hardware level to improve it even more performance-wise?

• You can use a USB 802.11n adapter for faster WiFi.
• You can replace the 1024×768 LCD with an 1400×1050 one.
• You can optimise your Mac OS X install.

“IIRC” someone posted about having replaced the 7447 CPU with a 7448 and upgraded the RAM to 2 GB but I can’t find the post right now so dunno.

 

[ervus]

You've done the easy ones already, but it's possible to overclock the CPU, replace the CPU, replace the LCD with a higher resolution panel, and replace the mercury backlight with LED. I think a LiFePo battery would be an upgrade, but I've not seen anyone do this yet. There are some relatively easy ways to help the cooling too.

 

[MarkC426]

You can replace the 1024×768 LCD with an 1400×1050 one.

Wow....I didn't know this was possible, not that I would attempt it......😳

 

[alenu]

• You can use a USB 802.11n adapter for faster WiFi.
• You can replace the 1024×768 LCD with an 1400×1050 one.
• You can optimise your Mac OS X install.

“IIRC” someone posted about having replaced the 7447 CPU with a 7448 and upgraded the RAM to 2 GB but I can’t find the post right now so dunno.

Thanks!

I have two usb wifi dongles that i use with my iBook and my PM G5 (neither of them have an airport card installed). I´m going to test both on the PB and see if i notice an improvement on internet speed.

My Leopard install is heavily optimized by hand, but i guess there´s more that could be done. Do you have any experience using Sorbet? Does it really make a difference?

Replacing the LCD and/or the CPU sounds VERY interesting!

 

[alenu]

You've done the easy ones already, but it's possible to overclock the CPU, replace the CPU, replace the LCD with a higher resolution panel, and replace the mercury backlight with LED. I think a LiFePo battery would be an upgrade, but I've not seen anyone do this yet. There are some relatively easy ways to help the cooling too.

Thanks! Have you got any experience with this mods? Overclocking sounds like a relatively easy one. Does it worth it?

 

[Amethyst1]

Do you have any experience using Sorbet?

No.

Does it really make a difference?

The consensus is that it makes a big difference over a stock Leopard install, but if you've already applied most (or all) of the tweaks out there, the gains are much less pronounced.

 

[eyoungren]

@alenu Just keep in mind that some of these mods (like replacing the CPU) are going to require certain skills or paying money to someone else.

You asked what could be done and @Amethyst1 gave you answers. Whether you should do it, is a different matter. In the end, realize though that what you end up with will be faster/better than the average G4. But still far below the performance of later Macs and PCs.

It comes down to what all of this is worth to you.

 

[ervus]

It comes down to what all of this is worth to you.

Ask not, whether you own your computer.... IMO this is probably the next hardware upgrade step that you can buy (vs "rent"):

Raptor Computing Systems::Talos™ II

raptorcs.com

It's not as portable though.