Purchase help for older G4 PowerPC

[jbsmith05]

I have recently switched from the PC world over to the Mac world. I currently have an Intel iMac, but am looking into purchasing a used mac desktop (a PowerPC version - G4 or something of the like). I am having a bit of trouble determining what specs I should look at. Being well versed in the PC world I know that typically one should get the fastest processor and the most memory as possible considering one's budget. However with the PowerPC processor, I seem to recall that this is not necessarily true - or at least one can't compare the specs from a PowerPC Mac to an Windows based PC thinking that same specs would yield similar performance.

My main uses for this desktop would be:
Internet Sharing
very minimal office use - excel/word
would like to have OS X 10.4.11

Bottom line is that this machine would not be used for any heavy processing - such as photoshop/final cut, etc. Basically a dummy to serve internet to a couple other machines/routers.

What would/should my minimum specs be to run the above? Would a G4 733Ghz with 1.5GB RAM suffice?

 

[SkyBell]

I have recently switched from the PC world over to the Mac world. I currently have an Intel iMac, but am looking into purchasing a used mac desktop (a PowerPC version - G4 or something of the like). I am having a bit of trouble determining what specs I should look at. Being well versed in the PC world I know that typically one should get the fastest processor and the most memory as possible considering one's budget. However with the PowerPC processor, I seem to recall that this is not necessarily true - or at least one can't compare the specs from a PowerPC Mac to an Windows based PC thinking that same specs would yield similar performance.

My main uses for this desktop would be:
Internet Sharing
very minimal office use - excel/word
would like to have OS X 10.4.11

Bottom line is that this machine would not be used for any heavy processing - such as photoshop/final cut, etc. Basically a dummy to serve internet to a couple other machines/routers.

What would/should my minimum specs be to run the above? Would a G4 733Ghz with 1.5GB RAM suffice?

It would indeed be enough, though maybe a tad slow. If you could get a dual processor machine, or at least a single 1 GHz, that would be better.

 

[Consultant]

Suffice for what?

File server?
3d rendering?

Intel iMac > g4 by the way.

 

[jbsmith05]

How about this

Cassie, Thanks for the reply.

What about this machine - i believe the dual 867mhz and i would upgrade the memory to 2GB. That I assume would handle the some of the most demanding situations.

http://www.macofalltrades.com/Apple_Power_Mac_G4_867MHz_Dual_Processor_MDD_p/g4867dp1.htm

 

[jbsmith05]

Suffice for what?

File server?
3d rendering?

Suffice for what I listed in the original thread...
Internet Sharing
very minimal office use - excel/word
would like to have OS X 10.4.11

 

[SkyBell]

Cassie, Thanks for the reply.

What about this machine - i believe the dual 867mhz and i would upgrade the memory to 2GB. That I assume would handle the some of the most demanding situations.

http://www.macofalltrades.com/Apple_Power_Mac_G4_867MHz_Dual_Processor_MDD_p/g4867dp1.htm

That will be more then enough to meet your needs. Should last a good two or three years at least.

 

[Consultant]

Oops a bit slow today.

Yes it'll work fine, but I would get a dual processor as they don't cost that much more than the single processor models last time I checked.

Benefit is you can put in a bunch of harddrives in it. Just get a SATA card for the cheaper SATA drives.

 

[Lynxpro]

Low End Mac is a good website for info.

Same goes for - what is it? - Every day Mac?

What I'd like to find is better info on compatible video cards for the G4 and G5 PowerMacs. The content on the websites I've found haven't been that up-to-date. The process of flashing the BIOS on the video cards I don't have a problem with but the whole etching/bending/taping contacts for ATi cards bothers me. I'm still in the market for a decent [nvidia] AGP video card that'll beat the dual head 64meg GeForce FX 5200 that came with the G5 I picked up from eBay a month ago...


What I really find annoying is the high cost of "classic" RAM. Anything before PC3200 can command quite a premium for decent branded memory. The cost of [non used] PC133 memory disgusts me.

 

[jbsmith05]

Cassie,
Do you see any issue with Mac of All Trades not providing the OS disks? I have heard some people saying that this is an issue and why they wouldn't purchase the machine.

I am of the side where it seems that the 10.4 install disks are readily available on sites such as ebay/amazon around $100. So even if I did have to purchase them the entire computer is still around $250. Seems like that is still a good deal for a light duty mac?

 

[Shake 'n' Bake]

Cassie,
Do you see any issue with Mac of All Trades not providing the OS disks? I have heard some people saying that this is an issue and why they wouldn't purchase the machine.

I am of the side where it seems that the 10.4 install disks are readily available on sites such as ebay/amazon around $100. So even if I did have to purchase them the entire computer is still around $250. Seems like that is still a good deal for a light duty mac?

You can get a computer with the discs for the same price. Plus, why pay more money for an already outdated computer?

 

[michael.lauden]

I have recently switched from the PC world over to the Mac world. I currently have an Intel iMac, but am looking into purchasing a used mac desktop (a PowerPC version - G4 or something of the like). I am having a bit of trouble determining what specs I should look at. Being well versed in the PC world I know that typically one should get the fastest processor and the most memory as possible considering one's budget. However with the PowerPC processor, I seem to recall that this is not necessarily true - or at least one can't compare the specs from a PowerPC Mac to an Windows based PC thinking that same specs would yield similar performance.

My main uses for this desktop would be:
Internet Sharing
very minimal office use - excel/word
would like to have OS X 10.4.11

Bottom line is that this machine would not be used for any heavy processing - such as photoshop/final cut, etc. Basically a dummy to serve internet to a couple other machines/routers.

What would/should my minimum specs be to run the above? Would a G4 733Ghz with 1.5GB RAM suffice?

if it's a dummy i think you could spend that money elsewhere a lot better

 

[jbsmith05]

You can get a computer with the discs for the same price. Plus, why pay more money for an already outdated computer?

where can I get a G4 867Mhz dual with the OS discs for $150?

I don't see it as paying more for an outdated computer...$250 for something that is going to be minimally used is better than paying $800 plus for something new isn't it?

 

[jbsmith05]

if it's a dummy i think you could spend that money elsewhere a lot better

It's not exactly a dummy (close however) - it will be used, just very sparingly. What did you have in mind as to where to spend the money elsewhere?