[SillyMe]

I want the best video card for the money, new or used, for my bitchin' Blue & White G3 300. Note, I may update the processor to a "wicked fast" 500Mhz G3.

I use OSX 10.2.x. I use it primarily for iTunes, sound editing, porn surfin (atleast I'm honest), and iCal. It runs OK, but is damn sluggish in the pixel department.

Any ideas?

SM

[DrBoar]

The best card is the original ATI Radeon ( a local reseller taka a insane 500 dollars for it) the other option is the Radeon 7000.

However exluding games I will not balme the card for any sluggishness in your setup.

1. Get more RAM if you run X with only 128 MB of RAM, just upping it to 192 improves it a lot. I would to to at least 256.

2.The 6 GB HD is not that fast so defragmenting it is a good thing

3. The G3/300 can be overclocked to at least 350 MHz somtimes more, take a look at www.xlr8yourmac.com. The cumpers are the same as used for old SCSI disks.

4. If still not happy after 1,2, &3. Get a CPU upgrade, remember that outside AltiVec enabled applications a G4 and G3 is on about equal footing and a G3 in a B&W does not need drivers or anything.

5. Now get a graphical card but do not expect a miracle.

[rambo47]

I had an original Radeon PCI 32 MB graphics card in my old B&W and it positively flew. eBay has a bunch of both the older ones and 7000 series up for sale right now. Do a search in Apple>Video&Multimedia> for "Radeon PCI." If you were going to use OS 9 exclusively then I'd recommend something like the VooDoo 5500 PCI. That was the best graphics card I ever saw, but unfortunatley no drivers exist for OS X and are not likely to exist either. In fact a computer with this card won't even boot into OS X.

Jacking up the RAM is a must, especially for OS X. A new, 7200 RPM 40 GB hard drive would be a good investment as well.

If you're thinking wireless (not so relevant with a desktop, but cool none the less) the only avenue is Cisco Aironet 350 series PCI card and Adapter (the adapter is the pcmcia card that the pci carrier holds). Mine worked flawlessly with an AirPort Base Station. Other PCI cards seem to be OS 9 -only.

Processor upgrades are something I looked into and at the time the best was the Sonnet G4 500 MHz. Altivec made a difference in Photoshop that was very noticable, but performance in other non-altivec apps was minimal. Take a look at Powerlogix 800 MHz G3 upgrade. If I were upgrading now I'd go with the Powerlogix G3. In any case, do check out www.xlr8yourmac.com for info on upgrades. They have an entire section dedicated to the B&W and available upgrades, plus user reviews of everything. Nothing beats the advice of folks actually using the products.

[mikerally]

You know, with all the money spent on RAM, Processor Upgrades, and Graphic Cards, you could buy yourself a nice used Quicksilver which would probably be just as good.

I can't imagine single processor G4 towers being very expensive these days considering the arrival of G5 Powermacs, G4 iMacs and eMacs.

[MrNo]

You can overclock that machine very easily to 400MHz. Remove the second jumper (you will need some sharp object in order to do that, and it's the second jumper from the right. This is if you are looking straight at the CPU when you open the case). Jumpers are by the CPU and there is a sticker on it saying "Warranty void if removed" I am running mine overclocked for about 4 months now and have no problems whatsoever.

[SillyMe]

Thanks guys! My B&W has plenty of RAM, and I just want to spend a little money on this computer... no more than about $75. I think I will spring for the Radeon 7000 PCI, and I may try the overclocking.

Thanks again for the great advice!

[silverlode]

I just happen to have a Radeon 7000 auction going right now....here.

[jedi2187]

-or-
go to www.macofalltrades.com and click on the peripherals. They have a Radeon 7000 PCI for $49. Works like a champ on my BW G3 450, esp. when I'm playing Jedi Outcast!

[silverlode]

Originally posted by jedi2187:
-or-
go to www.macofalltrades.com and click on the peripherals. They have a Radeon 7000 PCI for $49. Works like a champ on my BW G3 450, esp. when I'm playing Jedi Outcast!

No they don't. They have something they call the ATI Rage 32MB Theatre. This doesn't match any ATI card ever made. No PCI ATI Rage card made for the Mac ever had 32MB of video ram. And the picture they have there is not a Rage card, I'm pretty sure.

Just FYI.

[jedi2187]

I think it's just the guy who assembled the web page probably didn't know what the official name of the card is.

[rambo47]

Originally posted by silverlode:
No they don't. They have something they call the ATI Rage 32MB Theatre. This doesn't match any ATI card ever made. No PCI ATI Rage card made for the Mac ever had 32MB of video ram. And the picture they have there is not a Rage card, I'm pretty sure.

Just FYI.

According to ATi's web site the Radeon Mac Edition, avialable in PCI format, has 32 MB. I have one in my B&W.

Edit: My bad. I see you said Rage and not Radeon. You're absolutely correct that the Rage cards maxed out at 16 MB VRAM.

[drHo]

if you can get the Original Radeon Mac Edition not the 7000. the ME is better than the 7000 for the simple fact that the OG Radeon has the charisma engine (texture, clipping and lighting) and the 7000 does not. simply put it handles 3D games much better. it will cost more...as they are rare