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typoon · Oct 16, 2003, 07:58 AM

I'm trying to get a little more life out of my Sawtooth. I'm just looking for opinions as to what I should do first.

Here are my options
1. Get a Superdrive. I can get a Pioneer DV-106 for 180
2. Get a Processor Upgrade, I'm looking to go to 800 MHz from my 450.
3. Nothing, save up and get a new Machine.

I posted a similar thread in the Lounge I figured it would be better suited for the PowerMac forum.

SSharon · Oct 17, 2003, 11:31 AM

I say proc. b/c the superdrives (at least the one in my MDD) are very slow.

:XI: · Oct 17, 2003, 12:14 PM

Get the processor first. When buying my mac (Quicksilver 933) I could have got the dual without a superdrive or the single with, I got the single with a superdrive. I've hardly used it. Should've got that dual gig.

ah well.

jfinete · Oct 17, 2003, 07:11 PM

Before doing a processor upgrade, you may need to upgrade your memory and graphics.

If you have only 256MB of RAM (or less), then add 512MB for only $99.

If your Sawtooth has an ATI Rage graphics card, then you should upgrade it to a Radeon 8500 or 9000. For about $160, you'll get Quartz Extreme and better performance with games.

After upgrading your memory and graphics, you may find that your system runs fine enough, without a processor upgrade.

zac4mac · Oct 18, 2003, 03:29 PM

screw it - get a new duallie.
OS X really likes multis...

LeeG · Oct 18, 2003, 04:27 PM

I have a G4/500 sawtooth that I have significantly upgraded: 1Gb Ram, slave int HD, radeon 8500, pioneer 104 DVD-R - the only thing I haven't done is the proc.

I was really happy with the DVD-R, as the drive the machine came with didn't even burn CDs. This drive burns CDs, DVDs, and is instantly recognized by the iApps - a lot of functionality, and I still use it with a 500Mhz proc - lots of functionality for only 180 - I'd get the superdrive.

That being said, if you can afford it, MANY people have stated the proc upgrade feels like a new machine - I am eyeing a 1.2Ghz powerlogix card that I saw at OWC for $345 - not bad - big boost.

Also check out the thread in this forum on flashing a PC radeon 8500 - you can pick one up for less than $100, and it worked great for me. One thing I still love about the sawtooth is that its pretty damn upgradeable.

Feel free to PM me with any ?s

Lee

NYCFarmboy · Oct 18, 2003, 08:36 PM

The high capacity system bus speads are another reason to get a new G5.

I have a suspician that in a few years G4's will be looked at as aging relics, no matter what the mhz because of advances in 64 bit processing.

But.. if you are just using it for web/email/ lite photography the old G4 will have a few years left on it.

Seriously would save your money though and not mess with a upgrade on a processor card.

I went from a 400 mhz tower to a dual 1.42 and the increase in speed was NICE and definately an improvement... but not overly dramatic/earth shattering in my humble opinion.

tadd · 12:00 AM

I say sell it. Use the money to put toward a dual 1.25Ghz G4. YOu can get a G4@1.25, then add the 2nd processor, for less than what you could get for your aging sawtooth+upgrade prices. It'll have faster memory, faster graphics card, bigger HD, dual G4 CPU. It'll hold it's value better. The upgrades will have to be sold separately in order to get your money back on them. Not worth it.

Tadd

tr · Oct 19, 2003, 12:13 PM

i'd say save a little more money, and get an upgrade faster than 800. go for a 1.25 or something. it's not much more.

i have a G4 450, and put in the following:

-maxed RAM to 2 Gb
-flashed PC Radeon 8500
-DVR-A03
-new HD's all around: 120GB system, 60GB slave, 45GB internal FW, 160GB RAID on PCI card

now, i just have to put in a processor upgrade, and i'm all set. but to tell you the truth, all these upgrades, especially the memory, Radeon 8500, and the 120GB 8Mb cache drive have breathed new life into my Sawtooth.

buying a new machine is going to be pretty pricey. i mean, yeah, you could sell your current machine, but i much would you get?
i guess it all depends how attached you are to your computer. i plan on keeping my Sawtooth for a long time.

tr

tadd · Oct 19, 2003, 01:34 PM

You could get $500 to 600 on ebay.
For $1570 you could get a new dual G4@1.25ghz.

That's a difference of $1000.
1. For that you get Radeon 9000 dual head 4xAGP
2. dual 1.25Ghz CPU
3. 80GB HD
4. Panther or $100 discount on Panther
5. CDRW
6. 48bit LBA IDE (can upgrade to > 130GB)
7. much faster RAM bus DDR333
8. gigabit ethernet
9. compatability with airport extreme cards

typoon · Oct 23, 2003, 02:49 PM

OKay well I got the SuperDrive.

THis is what I've got
Upgraded Video Card Radeon 9000
640 Megs of RAM
a 40 and a 120 gig internal HD
A Pioneer DV106D which I got for $175 (Yes I can still get them at that Price and they keep dropping)
Next thing I'm going to do is get the Processor upgrade. Squeezing a little more life from my Sawtooth. While I save for my Powerbook and G5.

LeeG · Oct 23, 2003, 11:06 PM

I am at the same point as you are - did the radeon 8500, dvr104 superdrive, and internal 60gb, 1Gb ram.

Now the processor needs to go,

I think it may be time to resurrect a 'current state of G4 proc upgrades' thread...

The 1.2 Gz powerlogix card is only $345 from OWC - not too bad...they seem to keep getting cheaper-

Lee

tsukurite · Oct 23, 2003, 11:48 PM

Originally posted by LeeG:
I am at the same point as you are - did the radeon 8500, dvr104 superdrive, and internal 60gb, 1Gb ram.

Now the processor needs to go,

I think it may be time to resurrect a 'current state of G4 proc upgrades' thread...

The 1.2 Gz powerlogix card is only $345 from OWC - not too bad...they seem to keep getting cheaper-

Lee

Having just spent some time researching this ( I went with the GigaDesigns 1.2 ghz chip ), I found that the Powerlogix requires a software patch to enable the L3 cache on the chip and often suffers from a failure to wake from sleep. Plus, I don't know that anyone knows if the patch is compatible with 10.3. I can't believe it wouldn't be but...

The price is nice, but you get what you pay for. YMMV.

DrBoar · Oct 24, 2003, 08:15 AM

Get a GigaDesign 1.2 card for 390 dollars

I started with a ATI 8500 a year ago for my G4/400. Games improved a bit especially FAKK2 but also UT.

Recently I got the 1.2 GHz upgrade and now the computer feels comparable to my dual 1.25 at work.

For OS X 400 MHz is to little I liked X from the start but I did not like the slowness. That is now cured. I am happier with the G4 now then when I bought it in 1999. I think this will last me at least a year. And in the pring of 2005 I will get a low end tower. Perhaps a dual 3 GHz G6 or something

bbales · Oct 24, 2003, 10:35 AM

How important is the upgraded graphics card? I still have the card that came with it -- 3 years ago (but mine is a gigabit ethernet, not a Sawtooth). It's an ATV Rage 128. Since really, the only games played on here are Bedazzled and the Sims, would I be better off leaving the graphics card alone and just going for the processor upgrade?

And another question -- is is strictly a card that you need, or will you have to mess around with the heatsink.

typoon · Oct 24, 2003, 01:10 PM

Originally posted by bbales:
How important is the upgraded graphics card? I still have the card that came with it -- 3 years ago (but mine is a gigabit ethernet, not a Sawtooth). It's an ATV Rage 128. Since really, the only games played on here are Bedazzled and the Sims, would I be better off leaving the graphics card alone and just going for the processor upgrade?

And another question -- is is strictly a card that you need, or will you have to mess around with the heatsink.

I got the video card first because I was playing WarCraft III and my Rage 128 didn't cut it. If you don't do much gaming I would get the Processor first.

LeeG · Oct 25, 2003, 10:57 AM

I got the graphics card also for warcraft 3 - surprisingly still had the thing slow down on 'busy' battles -but much better. Quartz extreme was another benefit - as the OS matured I wanted to take advantage of it.

I didn't realize the powerlogix required a software driver - I would prefer a software independent processor upgrade. The gigadesigns have gotten great reviews...I will look into it-

Lee

dlefebvre · Oct 27, 2003, 10:05 PM

More than a year ago, for my 400Mhz G4, I got a 1Ghz CPU upgrade, an extra Gb of RAM, an ATI 8500 and a SuperDrive. It really felt like a new machine and saved me countless hours of After Effects renders. I was upgrading a computer for the first time and I don't regret it. Beacause of the upgrade, I kept it 14 months more than I expected. If Apple had not released the G5, I could have kept my G4 for at least 6 more months. But how could I resist a Dual G5 any longer. Especially since we just got one with a 23" display at work.

adamberti · Oct 27, 2003, 11:49 PM

Question for ya. Will upgrading a Sawtooth to a Radeon 8500 or 9000 provide a significant improvement in the realm of 2D? It's a 400 MHz with 512 RAM. Specifically I'm looking for improvement in Photoshop and Adobe InDesign. If not the Radeon, is there a good card for this type of work. There's no game playing on this machine.

Thanks

ginoledesma · Oct 29, 2003, 12:33 AM

I have a G4/400, and the upgrades I've given it thus far:
- Boosted RAM to 2GB
- Upgraded video card to Radeon 8500
- Added 1x40GB HDD and 1x20GB HDD
- Replaced DVD drive with 52/24/52 CD-RW
- Bluetooth

I was considering a processor upgrade, but thinking about it, the whole system will eventually become a bottleneck -- bus speed, RAM speed, etc. I'm considering getting an AlBook instead, as it really suits most of my needs. I tend to do some coding on the side, and using XCode on an AlBook was pretty nifty. Only thing I'm really sacrificing by going to a portable is the ability to play games -- not that I can play the newer games on my existing Mac anyway, but the portable's graphics card will never match a decent desktop graphics card (at least I think so). Storage, too, as I can continually (cheaply) add in bigger storage to a desktop, but that's not too big a deal.

bstone · Nov 7, 2003, 01:38 AM

I'm making my Sawtooth into the most powerful G4 ever!

chris v · 07:21 AM

Originally posted by LeeG:

That being said, if you can afford it, MANY people have stated the proc upgrade feels like a new machine - I am eyeing a 1.2Ghz powerlogix card that I saw at OWC for $345 - not bad - big boost.

Lee

I stuck one of these in my Sawtooth 2 months ago, and I couldn't agree more. It's as snappy� as my Dual Gig QS in most circumstances.

I say go processor upgrade first, but faster than the 800. 1.2s are really affordable now that the 1.4 upgrades are out.

Edit: My upgrade CPU was the Giga Designs from OWC. Love it.

CV