Upgrading a PowerMac G4 dual 1.4ghz...

SystemSystem Registered Users Posts: 8,186 moderator
edited October 26, 2006 in Digital Darkroom
I've allready maxed out the RAM at 2gb and shoved in the best video card available (ATi Radeon 9800 Pro). Sooooooo...my question is would I be out of my mind to drop $599.00 on a CPU upgrade to dual 1.8ghz now that THIS is available?

sg4d-1600.jpg

I know I can't even think about a MacPro outfitted the way I'd want it for at least a year. I'm wondering if the upgrade might get me 18-24 months out of this box before I crumble and give Apple all my $$$$ again. Will doubling the L2 cache and the added .4 gdz make that big a difference to justify the $ ?

PS: Dashe 2002 "Dry Creek" Zinfandel is not good for the typing.

Comments

  • CatOneCatOne Registered Users Posts: 957 Major grins
    edited October 23, 2006
    At $600, that's almost 1/3 of the way to a 2 GHz Mac Pro (I think they're $2099 in base configuration). I'd say, holding on and trying to get the Mac Pro in 12 months versus 18 would be a better bet.

    You're going to see a 10% performance improvement max. In my experience, anything less than a doubling (i.e. 100% improvement) isn't worth it. This usually has me buying machines every 2 years.
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  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited October 23, 2006
    I agree with CatOne. Hold out for the current technology, which will be faster by the time you can afford it.

    And good luck with the Zin.
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  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited October 23, 2006
    Molsondog wrote:
    Any chance that Apple will come out with a laptop with more than 2 gb RAM? That seems to be the max for most manufacturers. It would be nice to have big RAM power in the field.


    Should be in the next update, I think. Soon. But no one knows.
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  • wxwaxwxwax Registered Users Posts: 15,471 Major grins
    edited October 23, 2006
    DavidTO wrote:
    Should be in the next update, I think. Soon. But no one knows.
    I haven't seen any rumors to that effect. Have you?
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  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited October 23, 2006
    wxwax wrote:
    I haven't seen any rumors to that effect. Have you?


    Well, I'm thinking that the next gen will be 64 bit, and that they can then support more RAM, and that it will help to distinguish it from the MacBook, which is pretty similar, and a lot cheaper, but it's all conjecture, really.
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  • wxwaxwxwax Registered Users Posts: 15,471 Major grins
    edited October 23, 2006
    DavidTO wrote:
    Well, I'm thinking that the next gen will be 64 bit, and that they can then support more RAM, and that it will help to distinguish it from the MacBook, which is pretty similar, and a lot cheaper, but it's all conjecture, really.
    Also a space issue within the box, I should think.
    Sid.
    Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
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  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited October 23, 2006
    wxwax wrote:
    Also a space issue within the box, I should think.


    You could put 2GB sticks in, right? There's already 2 slots...
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  • DavidTODavidTO Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 19,160 Major grins
    edited October 24, 2006
    How's that for soon?
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  • wxwaxwxwax Registered Users Posts: 15,471 Major grins
    edited October 24, 2006
    DavidTO wrote:
    How's that for soon?
    Tempting.

    Oddly, Crucial's Macpro prices are actually slightly more than Apple's, thru 4GB. I wonder if that will change?
    Sid.
    Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
    http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
  • SystemSystem Registered Users Posts: 8,186 moderator
    edited October 26, 2006
    You bastards jacked my thread! :D
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