[PBAddict]

I want to get a couple more years life out of my BW 350 ( 256mb ram (4X64) and 2nd HD of 40gb ). I am running OS X 10.2. Apart from the changes to memory and HD everything is as built. I mainly use the machine fo web surfing, IPhoto, Itunes and a bit of iMovie.I am thinking of doing the following upgrades:-

1. Upgrade Processor to G4/500 (Sonnet Encore)
2. Increase Ram to 640mb
3. Upgarade video card to somthing like ATI Radeon 7000 32mb PCI

Would be grateful to get anyones thoughts on thoughts:-

1. What sort of performance boost will I get.
2. any other upgrades should I consider or not bother doing.
3. Graphic Card what are the options and is it worth doing.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[DrBoar]

1. Upgrade Processor to G4/500 (Sonnet Encore)
A good option but also look at the G3/800 no drivers or anything. Take a look at www.xlr8yourmac.com recent test. In general the G3 is a better value than G4 but you do mention several AltiVec enabled apps so I suggest you look carefully

2. Increase Ram to 640mb
Oh yea!
3. Upgarade video card to somthing like ATI Radeon 7000 32mb PCI
Why bother the ATI 128 is plenty for 2D and such

Would be grateful to get anyones thoughts on thoughts:-

1. What sort of performance boost will I get.
About a doubling
2. any other upgrades should I consider or not bother doing.

3. Graphic Card what are the options and is it worth doing.
The ATI radeon 7000 is really the only one, the original PCI Radeon is a better gaming card but for your applications I really do not see any point in uppgrading. As you do not have AGP you can not get the QE acceleration by Radeon anyhow.

[PBAddict]

Thanks Dr Boar, i had not thought about a G3 800, could be an interesting option. The B&W will be my second machine as I want to upgrade my Pismo 400 to a PB 17. So really the a G4 may not be necessary. Does a G4 500 run OS X any better or will I still get the same level of benefit from going to a G3 800.

[hempcamp]

I second everything DrBoar said.