What CPU is this?

[mrogers402]

So I just bought a G4 cube from someone on eBay (who said he didnt believe there were any upgrades), but there's clearly something here. System Profiler says its a 1.8GHz G4 with a 512KB L2 cache. (screenshots attached)

I opened it up and the CPU daughterboard is green (photos attached).

Any ideas what this is? Did I hit the eBay lottery?

 

[ervus]

That looks like a sonnet CPU. Nice find!

Keep an eye on that VRM. A 1.8GHz 7447 is probably the limit.

 

[timidpimpin]

Yep. 1.8GHz + 512K L2 can only be a 7447.

 

[bobesch]

So I just bought a G4 cube from someone on eBay (who said he didnt believe there were any upgrades), but there's clearly something here. System Profiler says its a 1.8GHz G4 with a 512KB L2 cache. (screenshots attached)

I opened it up and the CPU daughterboard is green (photos attached).

Any ideas what this is? Did I hit the eBay lottery?

Congrats,Jackpot! And have fun with that Cube!!
That machine really does go throught the roof ...!

 

[Macbookprodude]

Yep. 1.8GHz + 512K L2 can only be a 7447.

This lacks L3 cache, so it must be bad then and slow.

 

[Amethyst1]

This lacks L3 cache, so it must be bad then and slow.

Give it a rest.

 

[timidpimpin]

This lacks L3 cache, so it must be bad then and slow.

You lack L1, so you shouldn't even be concerned with L3.

 

[AshleyPomeroy]

I wonder how it benchmarks against e.g. a 1.4ghz Mac Mini. This chap did some tests with a Gigadesigns dual-1.6ghz upgrade:

Apple G4 Cube cpu upgrades compared

real world speed test results for performance minded Macintosh users

barefeats.com

He mentions the 1.8ghz Sonnet upgrade but didn't get around to testing it. It's surprising that there were still CPU upgrades for the Cube in 2005.

 

[Amethyst1]

It's surprising that there were still CPU upgrades for the Cube in 2005

The Cube managed to have a cult following.

 

[Hughmac]

This lacks L3 cache, so it must be bad then and slow.

So do my PB G4 1.67 and iMac G5 2.0 GHz, perhaps I should scrap them both?

Cheers

Hugh

 

[timidpimpin]

I wonder how it benchmarks against e.g. a 1.4ghz Mac Mini. This chap did some tests with a Gigadesigns dual-1.6ghz upgrade:

Apple G4 Cube cpu upgrades compared

real world speed test results for performance minded Macintosh users

barefeats.com

He mentions the 1.8ghz Sonnet upgrade but didn't get around to testing it. It's surprising that there were still CPU upgrades for the Cube in 2005.

1. You can't upgrade your GPU in a mini.

2. You're suprised that Cube upgrades were availible only 4 years after the Cube was released? I have an even bigger surprise for you... they were still available new 5-6 years after that.

 

[Macbookprodude]

You lack L1, so you shouldn't even be concerned with L3.

I thought the 7447a/в has L1 ? 512k L2, but Still it’s slow.. I am amazed the 1Ghz TI is faster than the 7447A/B G4.

 

[timidpimpin]

A fighter jet just did mach 10 over your head.

 

[Macbookprodude]

A fighter jet just did mach 10 over your head.

I don't understand what you say. What to do with fighter jet ?

 

[mrogers402]

Appreciate all the insights. I'm going to swap in an SSD and post some benchmarks. What a find!

 

[Wouter3]

Make sure you have the upgraded VRM and a fan installed. This Sonnet CPU will easily blow up the original VRM, which can take the motherboard with it, as happened to me. If you have the Apple stock VRM, I suggest you get a $150 upgrade from Artmix (https://artmix.com/products/product/stratos-technology-powermac-g4-cube-high-power-vrm-unit/). That works great for me. An SSD works great as well, but you will need the appropriate IDE->SATA adapter.

 

[mrogers402]

Great call. Ordered one! Let's see how long it takes to arrive

 

[timidpimpin]

Bigger VRM's create more heat, so that's obviously why Apple used one that can only really handle up to a 500MHz in a fanless system.

 

[Wouter3]

The Artmix VRM (Voltage Regulator Module) provides 20% more power than the Apple stock VRM. That is what you need for the 1.8 GHz Sonnet processor board. The fan is required for the excess heat that is produced by the processor.
If you want to know more about upgrading the Cube, I suggest you read the discussion that I started some time ago at (https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/upgrade-g4-cube.2190677/), in which many Cube experts discuss their experiences and share their knowledge.