Most economical way to get a G4?

Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
I currently have a WallStreet G3 PowerBook (see specs in my signature) and I wanted to upgrade it sometime within the next two or three months. I want something that will allow me to continue using it productively for a few years, capable of expansion, DVD playback and CD burning (either a combo drive or separate DVD-ROM and CD-RW drives), and a G4 processor. I'm thinking of using either an 8600/9600 with upgraded G4 processor and video card, or a used or refurbished G4 tower. Again, I'd like to be able to have DVD playback and CD burning, and DVD burning can't hurt. Which would be more economical? I know that the quicksilver G4/733 has gotten to be a pretty good deal recently, so it's pretty much between that and an upgraded Power Mac.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 24
    g4dudeg4dude Posts: 1,016member
    Do not upgrade. These machines have slower system busses and use slower ram. I've tried this method and it really doesn't compare to having a newer G4 tower. Go with the 733. I think there are 3 models of 733 out there. Pre-Quicksilver, Quicksilver, and Quicksilver-shitty cache. If I were you, I'd go that route and it is compatible with any expansion options that come out in the near future, i.e. AGP video cards.
  • Reply 2 of 24
    crusadercrusader Posts: 1,129member
    [quote] Quicksilver-shitty cache <hr></blockquote>

    <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />

    I would go with the first 733's w/ superdrives.
  • Reply 3 of 24
    emaneman Posts: 7,204member
    [quote]Originally posted by Crusader:

    <strong>

    <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />

    I would go with the first 733's w/ superdrives.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    I agree. If you go for a 733, definately go for the original, pre-Quicksilver ones.
  • Reply 4 of 24
    steve666steve666 Posts: 2,600member
    Why the pre-quicksilver ones? Is 1Mb of level 2 cache better than 256k of onchip level 2 cache? I have a 466 G4 with 1Mb level 2 cache....................
  • Reply 5 of 24
    256kB L2 running at full processor speed and 1MB L3 running at half processor speed is better than just 1MB L2 running at half processor speed.
  • Reply 6 of 24
    Cheapest way? 5 finger discount..actually with powermacs it's 10 fingers.



    Then run like hell!!
  • Reply 7 of 24
    emaneman Posts: 7,204member
    [quote]Originally posted by Josey Wales:

    <strong>Cheapest way? 5 finger discount..actually with powermacs it's 10 fingers.



    Then run like hell!!</strong><hr></blockquote>



    I've always wanted to do that
  • Reply 8 of 24
    That's what those neat little handles are for.
  • Reply 9 of 24
    emaneman Posts: 7,204member
    [quote]Originally posted by Shanny:

    <strong>That's what those neat little handles are for.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Maybe next time I'm in the Apple Store or CompUSA I'll give it a try...
  • Reply 10 of 24
    sure sure..and let's see...that is a felony



    Let me know when and where so I can watch them drag your ass down ;D <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
  • Reply 11 of 24
    emaneman Posts: 7,204member
    Alright, I'll let you know when and where
  • Reply 12 of 24
    steve666steve666 Posts: 2,600member
    [quote]Originally posted by Bozo the Clown:

    <strong>256kB L2 running at full processor speed and 1MB L3 running at half processor speed is better than just 1MB L2 running at half processor speed.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    I didn't think they were any 733's with L3 cache out there. What about just a G4 with 1Mb Level 2 backside cache vs 256k on chip cache?...................
  • Reply 13 of 24
    lucaluca Posts: 3,833member
    Okay I checked Apple-History.com and this is what I found:



    The Power Macintosh G4 (Digital Audio) was the first G4 to increase the processor speed in a year. It was released in January of 2001. It sped the bus up to 133 MHz, and the two fastest models were a 667 MHz and a 733 MHz. Those two faster models used a Geforce 2 MX as their graphics card with 32 MB of VRAM. They also had 256k on chip L2 cache @ 1:1 and 1 MB of backside L3 cache @ 1:3. This is because both used the new 7450 processor as opposed to the 7410. The 733 had a super drive, while the rest had a CD-RW drive. These were the last graphite colored Power Macs.



    The Quicksilver "update" cheapened the 733 significantly. The exact same L2 cache remained, but the L3 cache was completely gone. Also, the super drive was switched out for a CD-RW drive.



    So I'd definitely want a graphite 733. It was only sold for about six months, because the Quicksilvers came along in July of 2001, but hopefully it would represent a good value in a used machine that can still run with the big dogs and looks cooler doing it.
  • Reply 14 of 24
    My graphite 733 ownz all of your punkasses.

    :cool:
  • Reply 15 of 24
    I recomend a DP 533. especially with OS X being so great with multiprocessors. Multitasking is much smoother on a dual machine. It will also give you what you need to keep with the big dogs, atleast to macworld with any luck.
  • Reply 16 of 24
    emaneman Posts: 7,204member
    [quote]Originally posted by Mount_my_floppy:

    <strong>I recomend a DP 533. especially with OS X being so great with multiprocessors. Multitasking is much smoother on a dual machine. It will also give you what you need to keep with the big dogs, atleast to macworld with any luck.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    I agree (as long as you'll be using OS X)
  • Reply 17 of 24
    lucaluca Posts: 3,833member
    An update: Just today I was talking to my brother about the 733, and he brought up that my grandfather's Quicksilver 733 must have a superdrive, because he plays DVDs on it and I don't know if a plain DVD drive was even available as an option on the 733. Perhaps it's BTO, but my grandfather doesn't usually get too involved in the process (he just buys the most expensive thing out there because it's fun for him; he has the 22" cinema display as well ), so my guess is that they changed the case design first and soon after they added the new models.



    I do hope to use OS X because using OS 9 on a brand new computer would be a bit anti-progress (after all, everything will eventually be OS X), so a dualie would be cool. <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
  • Reply 18 of 24
    emaneman Posts: 7,204member
    [quote]Originally posted by Luca Rescigno:

    <strong>An update: Just today I was talking to my brother about the 733, and he brought up that my grandfather's Quicksilver 733 must have a superdrive, because he plays DVDs on it and I don't know if a plain DVD drive was even available as an option on the 733. Perhaps it's BTO, but my grandfather doesn't usually get too involved in the process (he just buys the most expensive thing out there because it's fun for him; he has the 22" cinema display as well ), so my guess is that they changed the case design first and soon after they added the new models.

    </strong><hr></blockquote>



    They didn't change the design first. No Quicksilver 733s had Superdrives. He probably has a combo drive, because that was a BTO option.



    [ 05-14-2002: Message edited by: EmAn ]</p>
  • Reply 19 of 24
    bradbowerbradbower Posts: 1,068member
    Wrong forum for purchasing advice.
  • Reply 20 of 24
    [quote]Originally posted by bradbower:

    <strong>Wrong forum for purchasing advice.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    This coming from the guy who posts screenshots in the Software Forum.
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