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Upgrade G4 Cube

L3 cache on a 7450 based CPU is not a problem in my experience. At least on Sonnet cards, it's plug and play and just works without any need to flash or do anything else.
 
LightBulbFun said:
can I call dibs on the 744A CPU? :)

(I would add something to this thread but @bunnspecial has everything covered pretty well :) )
Click to expand...
Hi, I just received the 7447A CPU. If you are still interested I can send it to you. Just start a private conversation so you can provide your address.
[doublepost=1565095032][/doublepost]Another question I have is where to find an internal IDE/ATA/Molex DVD player for the Cube that is capable of reading dual layer DVD +- R/W
 
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philgxxd said:
I think MCE made a DVD burner for the Cube?
Click to expand...
Thanks, I will have a look, although I need a DVD player that can read burned DVDs. Mine just currently only reads original DVDs. I have only a self burned copy of the Leopard install disk.
 
Try one of those cleaning disks if you have one.

DVD drives can be touchy sometimes about reading burned disks, but a dirty lens can take them from "hit or miss" to "forget about it."
 
I had an early iMac G4 of which the drive would not read dual layer DVDs or self copied (+RW) DVDs. A later model iMac G4 could read it without a problem. On my Cube I can read original DVDs but self copied DVDs are refused. So I think this is not a matter of cleaning the lens. I now will try to find and use original DVDs.
Another option might be to install a Sata slim rive and use an IDE-Molex to Sata converter. There might be not enough space for that option.
 
Wouter3 said:
Hi, I just received the 7447A CPU. If you are still interested I can send it to you. Just start a private conversation so you can provide your address.
[doublepost=1565095032][/doublepost]Another question I have is where to find an internal IDE/ATA/Molex DVD player for the Cube that is capable of reading dual layer DVD +- R/W
Click to expand...

I got the 7447B in today :) thank you for donating it to me! I now have to decide what to solder it to :)

upload_2019-8-9_14-8-54.png


(29th week 2005 is the date of manufacture for anyone wondering)
 
Excuse me for my ignorance, but what are the odds of upgrading the G4 Cube's GPU with the Mac mini G4's GPU? With a CPU upgrade AND a GPU upgrade, the G4 Cube could become a version of the Mac mini that, although bigger but more stylish, is capable of having more than 1 GB of RAM (which would be VERY nice).
 
Jubadub said:
Excuse me for my ignorance, but what are the odds of upgrading the G4 Cube's GPU with the Mac mini G4's GPU? With a CPU upgrade AND a GPU upgrade, the G4 Cube could become a version of the Mac mini that, although bigger but more stylish, is capable of having more than 1 GB of RAM (which would be VERY nice).
Click to expand...
That's impossible, the Mac mini has a soldered on GPU while the Cube uses an AGP slot. You can put a GeForce 6200 in the Cube, which is way faster than anything the G4 Mac mini ever shipped with. Hell, maybe there are some GeForce 6600 cards that could fit in a Cube.
 
jmilan0302 said:
That's impossible, the Mac mini has a soldered on GPU while the Cube uses an AGP slot. You can put a GeForce 6200 in the Cube, which is way faster than anything the G4 Mac mini ever shipped with. Hell, maybe there are some GeForce 6600 cards that could fit in a Cube.
Click to expand...
Oh, so it isn't soldered. Interesting! I clearly underestimated the Cube. :eek:
Thanks for clearing that up!
 
bunnspecial said:
That CPU you bought will be useless to you.

The second you linked you posted looks to have a form factor that would be reasonably adaptable to being "Cuebable" although I'd want to see the full spec sheet. It actually would be a nicely performing processor. The specs make me think it's 7450-series CPU, which is plug and play without messing around with the firmware. At 1.1ghz and 1mb L3, it probably will "feel" about as fast as a ~1.4ghz 7447A-based single(in my experience).
Click to expand...
Hi, would the following G4 daughterboard fit my Cube?
https://www.ebay.nl/itm/Apple-Power...365431?hash=item3d8bcb5bf7:g:OOQAAOSwibJc6vlP
Or would I need to make many modifications to the board or the VM?
 
Wouter3 said:
Hi, would the following G4 daughterboard fit my Cube?
https://www.ebay.nl/itm/Apple-Power...365431?hash=item3d8bcb5bf7:g:OOQAAOSwibJc6vlP
Or would I need to make many modifications to the board or the VM?
Click to expand...

Not a good idea:

1. It will run at 600mhz

2. You need to run +12V to the 4th CPU mounting lug

3. I think that the inductors and some of the other parts will have clearance issues with the heatsink.

Once again, I'll STRONGLY advise forgetting a genuine Apple option and instead get a Sonnet or other 3rd party CPU.
 
bunnspecial said:
Not a good idea:

1. It will run at 600mhz

2. You need to run +12V to the 4th CPU mounting lug

3. I think that the inductors and some of the other parts will have clearance issues with the heatsink.

Once again, I'll STRONGLY advise forgetting a genuine Apple option and instead get a Sonnet or other 3rd party CPU.
Click to expand...
Thanks, that is all I needed to know. I will look further for Sonnet on eBay
[doublepost=1565795261][/doublepost]
Wouter3 said:
Thanks, that is all I needed to know. I will look further for Sonnet on eBay
Click to expand...
Would for Instance this one fit the Cube?
https://www.ebay.nl/itm/Sonnet-Enco...296416?hash=item4b68f2e6a0:g:PtwAAOSwybZdUrV~
 
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Wouter3 said:
Hi, Just bought a 450 MHz Cube which I want to upgrade. I ordered 1.5 GB memory and have a larger HD. I also got through eBay a Motorola/Freescale 7447A CPU (1.67 MHz) which I would like to install on the existing Logic Board.
Does any of you know whether I need to upgrade the firmware to make this CPU running or do anything else except for replacing the CPU and adding a fan for cooling.
I look forward to any of your experiences in upgrading the Cube, including upgrades of the graphics card.
Click to expand...

How about your current configuration?
 
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Jordan XP said:
How about your current configuration?
Click to expand...
I have installed the 1.5 GB memory. I ordered an 180 GB SSD which I install when it arrives. The Motorola CPU doesn't work in my Cube so I donated it to someone who can make it to use.
A CPU upgrade is still on my wishlist.
 
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As @bunnspecial says thats is a very good option

it should work OOB without any firmware modifications

just make sure your fully updated to the latest 4.1.9 BootROM

you WILL need to install a base fan when using that CPU however

(but that's true for any CPU you install)
 
LightBulbFun said:
As @bunnspecial says thats is a very good option

it should work OOB without any firmware modifications

just make sure your fully updated to the latest 4.1.9 BootROM

you WILL need to install a base fan when using that CPU however

(but that's true for any CPU you install)
Click to expand...
I have got a little fan. I understand there is a connection for a fan, but I need to find out where to fix it.

But how do I update to the latest 4.1.9 BootROM?
 
I typically just use fans that tap into a Molex plug. It's been a while since I installed one, but I recall the one to the ODD being convenient.
 
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