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pathman · Jul 4, 2003, 11:48 AM

Hi,

I'm looking into buying a used G4 and then upgrading the CPU to a dual processor.

I'm just wondering what you guys/girls think is the most reasonable purchase to make and around what price should I be aiming for?

That is, I want to buy something like a G4 400 or 500 and then upgrade the CPU to a dual processor.

Any thoughts?

TIA.

tooki · Jul 4, 2003, 04:54 PM

Just get a new Dual 1.25GHz, it'll cost you the same as the $500 you'll spend on a G4 and the $1000 you'll spend on the upgrade, plus it'll have a warranty, up-to-date system software CDs, a bigger hard drive, better optical drive, faster RAM, etc.

tooki

DeathToWindows · Jul 8, 2003, 08:19 AM

yep. any of the dual MDD powermacs will be fine... cheaper, faster board, better drive, easily upgraded

just get a 1.0DP/1.25DP/1.42DP ... look on the net

The Placid Casual · Jul 8, 2003, 08:24 AM

I second, (or is it 'third' now!) the 'buy a complete system' advice... it really is a much better proposition.

However, if you insist on the upgrade route, go for the fastest FSB you can, the most hard drive bays, and avoid the 'sawtooth' model.

Peace,

Marc

Mediaman_12 · Jul 8, 2003, 10:15 AM

2 options for a cheap Mac right now. Wait until the G5's are shipping and pick up a MDD on a closeout deal (maybe ask about an ex display system), or look at a high end used twin proc Quicksilver (possibly at around the same time, used prices on very comptant systems are going to colapse when the G5 arives).
Buying a cheap system to buy upgrade parts for is a false economy.

jasonsRX7 · Jul 10, 2003, 02:55 PM

The dual processor upgrades are really expensive, but I don't think I did too bad with a single processor upgrade. I think it all depends on what you have laying around.

I bought a Gigabit G4 400mhz off ebay for $400, a GigaDesigns 800mhz upgrade for $270 and a Geforce 4 MX for $70. I was already using a 22" Cinema display on my PC, and I had a few 60gb and 120gb drives laying around, and an extra 1gb of PC133 ram. Threw all that in there, and for $740 I have a fairly respectable beginners mac. Not to mention a friend of mine swapped my Geforce 4 MX last night for his Geforce 4 Ti.

Link · Jul 10, 2003, 10:54 PM

G4 466 is the single best G4 for upgrading, it's basically a quicksilver in a graphite enclosure

Superchicken · Jul 10, 2003, 11:38 PM

Buy new, upgrades are only good if you already owned the machines, Macs have a overly high resell value compared with PCs, it just isn't cost effective unless you simply want the experince of upgrading.

Lateralus · Jul 10, 2003, 11:45 PM

Buy new, I agree.

Oh, and I dont see why anybody thinks that the G4 Power Macs are going to get any cheaper than they are now when the G5s start shipping? The price drops have already happened people.

Mediaman_12 · Jul 11, 2003, 03:49 AM

Originally posted by PowerMacMan:
Buy new, I agree.

Oh, and I dont see why anybody thinks that the G4 Power Macs are going to get any cheaper than they are now when the G5s start shipping? The price drops have already happened people.

You will be able to get 'stock clerance' type deals when the G5's appear in stores.
I got my Dual ghz Quicksilver (the old top end G4 when it was released) for �1,200 Ex demo, from a department store (John Lewis)Just after the MDD's came out. It was like new, unregistered with Apple full waranty and evrything.
This config originally retailed for around the �3/4000 mark. It may have sat on a shelf playing mostly iTunes graphics, and the odd demo for maybe 6 months but it's not as if it's been used.

Lateralus · Jul 11, 2003, 11:25 PM

But, Apple has already dropped the prices on the G4s.

This isnt the typical situation where Apple comes out with a new revision of an old machine and the previous revision machines are found at much lower prices than before.

Apple has announced a completely new line of Power Macs based around a new processor and has moved the previous line of G4 Power Macs down in price to fill the $1,000-$2,000 void until the G5s become more cost effective. Apple is continuing to make the G4 Power Macs, these are not blowout machines. And Apple has pretty much said that this lineup of Power Macs will stay the same up until the next revision of the G5 when hopefully they will be able to bring them down into the $1,xxx range.

The Power Mac G4s will be sold in these configurations at these prices until early next year.