first of all i appreciate any help or suggestions on these questions 
i have many mac's but did not make the switch until Intel hit the scene. i have setup a G4 Sawtooth in my newly built office in my basement and want to use it as the desktop in here mainly because it was my first Mac (didn't commit until Intel) and i got it free and spent way too much $ on it but didn't care at the time as it was more a project than anything and just wanted to see what i could make it do.
i use a new MBP which i carry to and from work and use on the couch etc.. but thought it would be nice to have a desktop setup permanently in the newly constructed office.
so being unfamiliar with this older machine i thought i would ask here for some suggestions on how to get the most out of it.
Specs:
- upgraded the 400MHz processor to a 1.6GHz from OWC which allowed me to install 10.5 and i am running 10.5.8
- have 1GB ram in it currently but it can handle 2GB since it is the AGP model. however i use iStat and rarely hit 700MB in usage. i have thought about getting it to 2GB but the old memory is pricey it has 4 slots which can handle 512MB each
- upgraded to a Gigabit Network card
- upgraded to SATA drive card with a WD 750GB SATA 3GB/s drive installed
- upgraded video card to an AGP ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB which allows Quartz Extreme
- added USB2 Card with 4 ports
- added HP DL Burner
- also replaced the front Zip Drive with 2xUSB2 ports, 1 Firewire 400 port, and Audio in 3.5mm port
thats all i can think of since i did all of this a long time ago
Hardware invloved
- Power Mac G4
- Samsung 22" LCD Monitor hooked up via ATI DVI port
- Elements 19" LCD Monitor/TV hooked via ATI VGA port. this is the TV on the wall above the desk but i also hooked it up to be extended desktop for movies from the Mac or whatever
- both monitors are running at 1920x1080
Questions / Suggestions:
1. the main fan on the this model G4 was not designed to be controllable by either myself or with software or the Mac. it is rather loud. not ridiculous but more than i would like. since the newly installed processor has 2 fans on it do you think i could unhook the main fan on the back to hep eliminate noise? my thought is that since it is in such a ventilated area maybe i could unhook the main fan on the back? it sits in a part of the desk that has a door on it but when i put together the desk i did not put the backing on it so that it would be open in the back. i was also thinking that i could actually leave the Mac open since it is just a handle that opens it up and this along with the processor fans would prevent any overheating. it is only the main fan that is loud.
2. are there things/processes that i can tweak to help it be as productive as possible?
3. i noticed that when i am using the 19" LCD as extended monitor whether i am using VLC or Quicktime if i tell either software to default the 19" as the main screen for full screen my main monitor goes black when i hit full screen even though the video is playing full screen on the 19". i was hoping it would work like the Mini's in my house where i could full screen to the extended and then be able to use the main monitor to surf, email etc.. but this does not seem to work and i am stuck using "fit to screen" rather then fullscreen so i have to see the upper and lower player bars?
4. just for reference it can handle any video i throw at it except it has some trouble with the .mkv's and stutters when i am playing a video on the 19" and doing things like downloading or searching the 220GB iTunes music collection which wil cause the video to stutter here and there.
i realize this machine is a decade old and am COMPLETELY impressed with what its doing no at this age as it is so i am not looking for anything about upgrading as i have a newer Mini i could put in here but really just want to look for ways to maximize the potential of this Power Mac and its age is what makes it cool.
my windows friends dont have anything near this old that can keep up with it and thats the WOW factor i like.
thanks to anyone that actually gets through all of this and can offer some suggestions/help.
i have many mac's but did not make the switch until Intel hit the scene. i have setup a G4 Sawtooth in my newly built office in my basement and want to use it as the desktop in here mainly because it was my first Mac (didn't commit until Intel) and i got it free and spent way too much $ on it but didn't care at the time as it was more a project than anything and just wanted to see what i could make it do.
i use a new MBP which i carry to and from work and use on the couch etc.. but thought it would be nice to have a desktop setup permanently in the newly constructed office.
so being unfamiliar with this older machine i thought i would ask here for some suggestions on how to get the most out of it.
Specs:
- upgraded the 400MHz processor to a 1.6GHz from OWC which allowed me to install 10.5 and i am running 10.5.8
- have 1GB ram in it currently but it can handle 2GB since it is the AGP model. however i use iStat and rarely hit 700MB in usage. i have thought about getting it to 2GB but the old memory is pricey
it has 4 slots which can handle 512MB each- upgraded to a Gigabit Network card
- upgraded to SATA drive card with a WD 750GB SATA 3GB/s drive installed
- upgraded video card to an AGP ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB which allows Quartz Extreme
- added USB2 Card with 4 ports
- added HP DL Burner
- also replaced the front Zip Drive with 2xUSB2 ports, 1 Firewire 400 port, and Audio in 3.5mm port
thats all i can think of since i did all of this a long time ago
Hardware invloved
- Power Mac G4
- Samsung 22" LCD Monitor hooked up via ATI DVI port
- Elements 19" LCD Monitor/TV hooked via ATI VGA port. this is the TV on the wall above the desk but i also hooked it up to be extended desktop for movies from the Mac or whatever
- both monitors are running at 1920x1080
Questions / Suggestions:
1. the main fan on the this model G4 was not designed to be controllable by either myself or with software or the Mac. it is rather loud. not ridiculous but more than i would like. since the newly installed processor has 2 fans on it do you think i could unhook the main fan on the back to hep eliminate noise? my thought is that since it is in such a ventilated area maybe i could unhook the main fan on the back? it sits in a part of the desk that has a door on it but when i put together the desk i did not put the backing on it so that it would be open in the back. i was also thinking that i could actually leave the Mac open since it is just a handle that opens it up and this along with the processor fans would prevent any overheating. it is only the main fan that is loud.
2. are there things/processes that i can tweak to help it be as productive as possible?
3. i noticed that when i am using the 19" LCD as extended monitor whether i am using VLC or Quicktime if i tell either software to default the 19" as the main screen for full screen my main monitor goes black when i hit full screen even though the video is playing full screen on the 19". i was hoping it would work like the Mini's in my house where i could full screen to the extended and then be able to use the main monitor to surf, email etc.. but this does not seem to work and i am stuck using "fit to screen" rather then fullscreen so i have to see the upper and lower player bars?
4. just for reference it can handle any video i throw at it except it has some trouble with the .mkv's and stutters when i am playing a video on the 19" and doing things like downloading or searching the 220GB iTunes music collection which wil cause the video to stutter here and there.
i realize this machine is a decade old and am COMPLETELY impressed with what its doing no at this age as it is so i am not looking for anything about upgrading as i have a newer Mini i could put in here but really just want to look for ways to maximize the potential of this Power Mac and its age is what makes it cool.
my windows friends dont have anything near this old that can keep up with it and thats the WOW factor i like.
thanks to anyone that actually gets through all of this and can offer some suggestions/help.
