Upgrading the Macs

[jefflee]

Ok, here’s the deal, in 1999 I bought my Mac G4 “Yikes!” and it has served me well until now. Don’t get me wrong it still works fine and does most of what I want or need to do, but let’s face it there are new programs out there, specially video editing that have a need for speed and more memory. So, the time has come and here is my dilemma...do I upgrade my G4 with the latest and best available upgrades or abandon my G4 to the dust heap of other outdated computers (which I hate the thought of doing with one of the main reasons being “I just hate throwing something out that may still have some life to it with simple upgrading”) and buy a new IMac that will do everything I want. Now don’t get me wrong, with all of my reseach that I have done I believe that updating my G4 will get me where I want to be and doing the things I want and need to do. That being said the questions I am seeking answers and wisdom to are, will the upgrades I am thinking to make be worth the time, money and effort, and will the upgrades I propose to make work cohesively in unison trouble free. Here is my wish list of upgrades; first, I intend to upgrade my RAM memory to the maximum available of 1GHz, second, change out my processor to a Sonnet Encore/ZIF G4/1GHz w/1024k 4:1 Backside Cache (this is the maximum available for the PCI macs), third, upgrade the video card to a new Mac ATI Radeon 7000 64MB DVI/VGA (which claims to be the most powerful video card available for Mac PCI’s), next change out the Controller Card to a Sonnet Tempo HD 40GB Internal Mac PCI Solution + Ultra ATA133 Controller Card (more speed and harddrive storage adding to my previouly upgrade 80GB harddrive) and finally adding the OrangeLink+ Firewire/USB Combo Card for all of my peripherals. So, is there anybody out there who has done the same and/or knows what problems I may or may not experience. Your answers, opinion, thoughts will be will be appreciated and read with interest.

Thank you,
A true diehard Mac lover

 

[Razorhog]

I vote for a 24" iMac. Order it with extra ram, hard drive, and video card, and it should last you a long time. Keep the G4 around for fun? Surely you can use it for something.
With all that money you'll spend upgrading the G4, IMHO, it would be better spent going towards a new iMac.

 

[Sun Baked]

I'd probably look at the least expensive refurbished Mini for somewhere near $475 if I didn't have any legacy classic apps.

Otherwise if there was some of those apps, I might want to look to see if there is an dual G4 for about the same price as the upgrades.

If all the apps are upgraded, toss some of the stuff and look at the new Macs.

 

[ricgnzlzcr]

I think right now you can get more bang for your buck with a mac mini or an imac. You'll have a much faster machine that will last longer for about the same price as all your upgrades. I don't think you have to throw out your yikes since it's still a capable machine. I just bought a sawtooth powermac to provide me wireless via an extra airport card I had lying around and to download stuff off bittorrent. It's also going to do a lot of storage and tasks I don't want my powerbook to do. It'll chug along just fine. Your Yikes! should be able to be a backup as well as a workhorse for your other tasks. Good luck.

 

[Heb1228]

Get something new and use the iMac for web browsing in the living room or kitchen. Its too cool of a computer to stick in a closet somewhere.

 

[mys25]

I totally agree with the last response.

 

[Aperture]

I agree with the last 2 responses. Unless of course to get a new one, you need to sell the iMac. That seems like the best solution, provided it isn't stretching the budget too-too much.