Should I further upgrade my machine or get a G5?
This is my dilemma. My computer needs are modest at home. Mostly email, web, MS-office, lot of Illustrator (side-work), some photoshop, iPhoto, iMovie, minimal gaming, and occasional VPC for certain apps that require it. I started out with a G4 466 with 256MB RAM and the 30GB hard drive. Since then I upgraded the processor to a 933MHz with 2MB cache, RAM to 1GB, video card to an ATI 8500 w/64MB, and a better CDRW (24X burn).
I want to start burning DVDs and work more on websites. I'd like to learn Java, Flash, etc. I also have less than 4GB left on my HD. I checked some sites and found some inexpensive upgrades for several items:
A 120GB 7200rpm Seagate HD for $84
A Pioneer DVR-105 Super drive for $157
Extra 512MB RAM (Micron) for a bump to 1.5GB for $55
Total= $296
Processor is something of a problem. The 933MHz is fine for now, but I can see myself needing a dual soon. My choices are:
PowerLogix PowerForce Dual G4 1GHz for $679
PowerLogix PowerForce Dual G4 1.2GHz for $789
Pricey and by the time I upgrade the processor there may be something out better. But I can see my self getting $300 or so on ebay for the 933 I have so that would lessen the load.
Or would I make better use of my cash saving up for a lowend G5? The thing is that $2000 hurts right now. I'm doing freelance tech work for a company right now that pays well but I was laid off for a few months. My wife just got Laid off and is looking. I got $500 saved up so far but I may have to dip into that to pay other bills. So basically i can wait and get a 120GB HD now, saving my money for a G5 early next year. Or beef up this G4 I have now and use it for another 2 years or so. I would incrementally upgrade, a bigger HD now, super drive a month later, then RAM, and then next year get the dual G4.
Any advice?
I want to start burning DVDs and work more on websites. I'd like to learn Java, Flash, etc. I also have less than 4GB left on my HD. I checked some sites and found some inexpensive upgrades for several items:
A 120GB 7200rpm Seagate HD for $84
A Pioneer DVR-105 Super drive for $157
Extra 512MB RAM (Micron) for a bump to 1.5GB for $55
Total= $296
Processor is something of a problem. The 933MHz is fine for now, but I can see myself needing a dual soon. My choices are:
PowerLogix PowerForce Dual G4 1GHz for $679
PowerLogix PowerForce Dual G4 1.2GHz for $789
Pricey and by the time I upgrade the processor there may be something out better. But I can see my self getting $300 or so on ebay for the 933 I have so that would lessen the load.
Or would I make better use of my cash saving up for a lowend G5? The thing is that $2000 hurts right now. I'm doing freelance tech work for a company right now that pays well but I was laid off for a few months. My wife just got Laid off and is looking. I got $500 saved up so far but I may have to dip into that to pay other bills. So basically i can wait and get a 120GB HD now, saving my money for a G5 early next year. Or beef up this G4 I have now and use it for another 2 years or so. I would incrementally upgrade, a bigger HD now, super drive a month later, then RAM, and then next year get the dual G4.
Any advice?
Comments
Even with the new software you'll be learning, nothing screams 'dual' to me, except maybe photoshop, but even then I'd only expect version 8 to really start taking advantage of duals.
I'd spend the money on the Seagate for sure, and maybe even save yourself a few bucks on the burner by getting an DVR-A04 instead. 2X burns vs 4X burns isn't really a huge consideration if you're not constantly making DVDs. Plus, you'll probably be selling the 933 6-12 months from now anyways, and a couple hundred bucks to make life a little easier during that time is a wise investment IMO.
Oh, and I'd forget about the proc upgrades all together. You'll never recoup that cost when you decide to sell.
Okay okay
Hm....in your case......if you are only doing vector illustration works will Illustrator as your "main" work. The 933 SlowSilver? you already have seems fine until the Rev B G5 comes
Those G4 upgrades....to me.....are the blundant ripoff?. Totally not worth it. I really am suprised that PowerLogix, Sonnet, etc are still in business
Now I have a question for you. Why swap the DVD-R Drive? Are you burning a lot of DVDs......if not so I really don't see the point to get a newer one.
remember. your cash is tight
I used to have a habbit of switching to new machines every 10 months (much slower than our beloved Murbot )
Then I realize I am not financially able to afford doing this.
I will have to stick with my Dual GHz SlowSilver? for at least another 6 months
Originally posted by Leonis
Those G4 upgrades....to me.....are the blundant ripoff?. Totally not worth it. I really am suprised that PowerLogix, Sonnet, etc are still in business
It's all those Cube owners who refuse to let go.
Originally posted by Leonis
Those G4 upgrades....to me.....are the blundant ripoff?. Totally not worth it. I really am suprised that PowerLogix, Sonnet, etc are still in business
i find that they are useful if you are trying to upgrade a very old machine and trying to get some use out of. for example, they keep dropping the prices of the upgrades for the older pre-g3 upgrades, because people just keep jumping on the new computers.
but i have an old 7300, and between a 500 MHz upgrade, the sonnet trio card (which i think has usb, firewire and ultra ata on it) and a radeon pci card, i have a kickass os 9 machin eon my network that can run all of those old photoshop filters that will never be updated for os x. then i just transfer the photoshop files back to my os x machine and carry on. should work pretty well.
If you are running a Cube or some first gen G4 towers. They are somewhat okay.
But for anything newer than the 733 DA G4s those upgrades really are, like what I have said, blundant ripoff?
Other accessories like PCI cards, G3 upgrades are totally fine.
My sonnet ATA-133 card works very well by the way
Originally posted by Outsider
Leonis, I don't have a DVD-R drive at the moment. It's one of the things I would like to acquire. My wife wants to convert much of our 8mm tape to DVD and edit some of it to distribute among family.
Really? AFAIK all stock 933s have SuperDrive built-in.....
If that's the case....get one DVD-R drive
Originally posted by Leonis
Really? AFAIK all stock 933s have SuperDrive built-in.....
If that's the case....get one DVD-R drive
Well I didn't have a Quicksilver. i had a 466 that I upgraded to a 933 with a card I got off ebay. The card was a Quicksilver pull from a computer with a bad motherboard that some guy was parting out. It was too good a deal to pass up ($400) and I ended up selling my old 466 card for like $250 on ebay myself.
Originally posted by Outsider
Well I didn't have a Quicksilver. i had a 466 that I upgraded to a 933 with a card I got off ebay. The card was a Quicksilver pull from a computer with a bad motherboard that some guy was parting out. It was too good a deal to pass up ($400) and I ended up selling my old 466 card for like $250 on ebay myself.
Okay. Clear
Go get a DVD-R drive then