Will 800 MHz Cut It?

[Lord Blackadder]

...The issue of USB 2.0 wouldn't have even crossed my mind; it's just so standard now that it seems like it should be a non-issue. As far as the video card goes, the 4MX is probably sufficient enough for anything I would be using the machine for. I'm a grad student in mathematics, so it would basically be a lot of online research and paper-writing.

Just to play devil's advocate:

Take your 400MHz PowerMac and bump the RAM to 1GB and the CPU to 1.2GHz with a kit from OWC. Depending on how much RAM you have now that could cost less than $300 and would run Tiger very well. You also have a ton of options for a display this way.

 

[aquajet]

Just to play devil's advocate:

Take your 400MHz PowerMac and bump the RAM to 1GB and the CPU to 1.2GHz with a kit from OWC. Depending on how much RAM you have now that could cost less than $300 and would run Tiger very well. You also have a ton of options for a display this way.

Since the OP's on a tight budget, I strongly agree with this suggestion. Especially if it's an AGP G4.

 

[Niftium]

Just to play devil's advocate:

Take your 400MHz PowerMac and bump the RAM to 1GB and the CPU to 1.2GHz with a kit from OWC. Depending on how much RAM you have now that could cost less than $300 and would run Tiger very well. You also have a ton of options for a display this way.

The PowerMac is already tricked out with 1 GB of RAM. The kit isn't a bad idea, though. Time to research some prices. Maybe I could get away with the CPU upgrade kit with the difference between the 1 GHz and 800 MHz iMac models and simply use the PowerMac whenever I need...well...more power, and still have some $ left.

Edit: Whoa, kits aren't exactly pocket change. But it is a good alternative idea.

Since the OP's on a tight budget, I strongly agree with this suggestion. Especially if it's an AGP G4.

Sadly, this is the early Yikes model, so AGP is not a factor.

 

[dextertangocci]

My dad's old 800Mhz iMac is very slow with 256MB RAM running Tiger.

 

[ozontheroad]

My dad's old 800Mhz iMac is very slow with 256MB RAM running Tiger.

256 RAM !

 

[dextertangocci]

256 RAM !

Yes! 256MB RAM!!!

 

[Lord Blackadder]

The PowerMac is already tricked out with 1 GB of RAM. The kit isn't a bad idea, though. Time to research some prices. Maybe I could get away with the CPU upgrade kit with the difference between the 1 GHz and 800 MHz iMac models and simply use the PowerMac whenever I need...well...more power, and still have some $ left.

Edit: Whoa, kits aren't exactly pocket change. But it is a good alternative idea.



Sadly, this is the early Yikes model, so AGP is not a factor.

Oooh, bad luck. The Yikes can't take all the nifty AGP video cards, and CPU ugrades are limited and more expensive than for the AGP towers. You're probably better off going for the iMac, unless you buy another, AGP tower and upgrade that.

Also bear in mind that Daystar does a 1.35Ghz/1.92GHz G4 kit for the iMac G4....it isn't particularly cheap but it's an option.

 

[Dunepilot]

Slightly OT, but regarding the 800 MHz figure, I ran Tiger perfectly well on a G3 iBook at 800 MHz. I'd added in a 512 meg stick on top of the stock 128MB. It didn't 'scroll like butter' but it was good for everyday computing.

 

[Angrist]

I've got one running Tiger (see sig) with 768MB ram. It's fine running iTunes, Mail, Safari, and Word all at the same time (on Two monitors even).

It's no speed demon, but it's solid. iTunes 7 seems to have slowed things down over iTunes 6 a bit, but really only when you're searching the library, not when it's sitting there playing.

If you're on a tight budget, like the form factor, and need an all-in-one package, then it should meet your needs. One recommendation would be to keep the hard drive clean and open. I find that when mine gets cluttered and filled up to less than 8GB free space, it starts to drag noticeably.

 

[iowamensan]

I have tiger running on a Rev. A G4 TiBook 400 Mhz with 384 Mb. I was satisfied with it, until I bought my Intel iMac this summer. Now, I can definately feel some slowness. I still use it every night if I feel like doing some surfing from the couch.