CPU Upgrade question challenge for the "tech gurus"

Comments

• Reply 1 of 7

  brianmacos Posts: 548member

  July 22, 2002 10:35PM

  I am not sure how Apple works its dual processor comps but from my experience with wintel machines a dual processor motherboad only works with Software that knows how to use it, OSX will know how to use it for sure but I am not sure about other software on your mac. on the PC you just have to make sure the software knows how to use dual processors. If I was you I would go with the single 1ghz to me that makes more sense. <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />
• Reply 2 of 7

  alcimedes Posts: 5,486member

  July 22, 2002 10:52PM

  if you really want to know you're asking the wrong place.
  
  
  
  wait about 3-4 weeks, until the cards have been out a while, then go to <a href="http://www.xlr8yourmac.com"; target="_blank">www.xlr8yourmac.com</a>
  
  
  
  they have every review you can ever imagine for all sorts of hardware, including upgrade cards. i posted a link over in the Genius Bar about this same question, you can check there if you want.
  
  
  
  those guys will know more than anyone else which cards are the best, and what the most bang for your buck is.
  
  
  
  plus they'll have reviews on the hardware and the install process, great resource.
  
  
  
  -alcimedes
• Reply 3 of 7

  squash Posts: 332member

  July 22, 2002 11:03PM

  Also you can find test results on this site. I tend to think his results are pretty honest. i didn't see what you were looking for, but give it time and he will test them both.
  
  
  
  <a href="http://www.barefeats.com"; target="_blank">www.barefeats.com</a>
• Reply 4 of 7

  kwondo Posts: 217member

  July 23, 2002 11:32AM

  I did all my reading @ xlr8yourmac web site before posting...but I wanted a feedback from anyone who have actually purchased either brand.
  
  
  
  As for my second part of the question I went to Apple Store's Genius Bar in SoHo. I got conflicting answers regarding Dual 500Mhz vs. 1Ghz under OS X. One person told me that even though it's 500Mhz, the fact that there are two processors being utilized, OS X's Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, etc, would run faster especially when dealing with large files (which is my case). So what are youyr thoughts...?
  
  <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" /> <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />
• Reply 5 of 7

  jet powers Posts: 288member

  July 23, 2002 1:08PM

  IIRC, putting in a Dual 500 requires some custom hacking to make it fit; the card is just slightly too large or something.
  
  
  
  Since you are new to upgrading, go with the simplest solution you can.
  
  
  
  All three options offer significant performance enhancement, so I don't think there is a 'wrong' choice. It's just a matter of living in your comfort zone.
  
  
  
  I've never upgraded a proc on a Mac, so I'd go with whichever solution involved the least amount of user-end work.
  
  
  
  Do any of them offer a service to do it for you?
  
  
  
  ting5
• Reply 6 of 7

  kwondo Posts: 217member

  July 23, 2002 8:32PM

  I asked at Tekserve in NYC and they do it for $90. I do know that it is not easy given that it will be installed in The Cube. It requires quite of bit of disassembly and the Card contains a piggybacked fan for the new processor (I believe it is an 80mm fan). It definately voids the Apple warranty but who cares when it is out of warranty and I'm heading for 1Ghz speed! :eek:
• Reply 7 of 7

  overhope Posts: 1,123member

  July 24, 2002 3:26PM

  As far as I can tell, the Powerlogix 1GHz upgrades aren't shipping yet, and Sonnet have chickened out, so they're maxing at 800MHz.
  
  
  
  When Powerlogix first announced their upgrades, some guy from the company was posting around the Apple Discussion Boards, saying that they were trying to avoid putting a fan on the 1GHz Cube models, but heat issues may militate against that. I hope not.
  
  
  
  Given that these guys have been playing professionally for a while, I'd recommend holding out until there have been some in-service reviews of the upgrades: the Dual 500MHz upgrades I've seen are pretty serious hacks (like, Dremel-time on the heatsink :eek: ), with a greater than normal chance to destroy your machine. Kudos to the guys who've done it, but I'd like something a bit more reversible.
  
  
  
  At a guess, these new Cube upgrades will have a whole new heatsink, which is essentially the middle of the Cube: everything else is hung off it (yeah, my warranty is long-since dead!). This is going to involve spending some quality time with a Torx to fit, but the quality of the finished install should be worth it.
  
  
  
  Of course, the next question will be, is the 80mm fan in the bottom of my Cube sufficient cooling?