G4 Processor upgrades

[Jazzdude]

I'm considering speeding up my Blue & White G3 350 with a G4 processor upgrade from Sonnet. 500MHz cards are available now. 700MHz and 1GHz will be available soon (hopefully). Just noticed that Apple says, "Processor upgrade cards are not supported" with the new OS (Panther). That's OK for now, since I'm still using 10.2.8. What about Metro? Any problems to watch out for?

[Jerm]

I think if the OS works, Metro should work also but I do not know for sure.

[Scoot]

I know that 1ghz and 1.42 ghz cards are out for the early G4s.

I wonder if there is a difference in PCI as to why these can't go into a B&W G3..........I thought the machines were similar in design in that respect.........obviously not.


scoot.

[Sami23]

I know that 1ghz and 1.42 ghz cards are out for the early G4s.

I wonder if there is a difference in PCI as to why these can't go into a B&W G3..........I thought the machines were similar in design in that respect.........obviously not.


scoot.

All I've seen recently are ones from sonnet:

http://www.sonnetech.com

and they have 700 MHz and 1.0 GHz cards for the following models:

Power Macintosh G3 All-in-one
Power Macintosh G3 Desktop
Power Macintosh G3 Minitower
Power Macintosh Server G3

What I can't figure is why there are no faster upgrads than a 500 for a G4 PCI machine

[Scoot]

My mistake......I was thinking CPU replacements rather than PCI cards.
I suppose the PCI cards are too expensive.......these CPU chips here pack a pretty hefty price tag if you were to buy one........
It's probably better to get a new computer and warranty.


http://www.powerlogix.com/products2/index.html

[fastlanephil]

You could buy a early G4 Powermac(AGP Graphics?)and sell the B&W G3. You could then upgrade eventually to a dual 1.4 as prices drop.

[Jazzdude]

For anyone who is interested, Sonnet is now shipping 800MHz and 1 GHz G4 processors for Blue & White Macs. Info can be found on Sonnet's site:

http://www.sonnettech.com/news/press/pr ... f1ghz.html

According to an email I received from Sonnet, the upgrades are compatible with OS 10.3.x., even though Apple says they do not support them. (Makes sense from a business point of view. They cut into sales of new machines.)

[Scoot]

What percentage is the cost relative to a new machine?
(I don't know the cost of a new mac cause you may be able to get a less than retail deal at certain locations in the US......or some form of rebate).

If it were more than 50% of a new machine, I'd rather go and buy a new mac......cause memory is more expandable, disks are quicker, the G5 bus is amazing and the old machine won't last forever.


scoot.

[Jazzdude]

Percentage of cost for a 1GHz G4 upgrade, relative to new base model G5 is somewhere between 25 and 30%, depending on what sort of deal you get. I figure if I bought a new G5, I would probably buy a new display and there's another $700, so it's worth it for me to stick with what I've got and add a processor upgrade. Of course, if I had the bucks, I'd go for a new machine, who wouldn't? Drool, slobber, etc...
but then my wife would probably shoot me and then what good would that be?

[Scoot]

but then my wife would probably shoot me and then what good would that be?

It would be good for her.........she would have a new mac!

[fastlanephil]

I recently read a thread complaining about the speed improvement with the Sonnet 800 & 1ghz upgrades for the G3 Powermacs. They were less than thrilled with the overall speed vs the price. They thought the 500mhz and the 700mhz upgrades were a better buy. Sonnet just shows benchmarks with altivec enhanced applications and not basic speed improvement which is probably limited by a 66mhz bus. It sounds like a 1 ghz upgrade won't get you even close to a stock 1ghz G4 Powermac if that is what you are shooting for.

[Jazzdude]

At this point I'm shooting for buying a house...had to put computer plans on hold. My computer still lives in 1999 technology. Priorities!

[Scoot]

My computer still lives in 1999 technology.

So does mine.
I think I'm getting more out of it than my LCII and 660AV.

scoot.