[bbales]

OK, I've finally decided to take the plunge and upgade my G4 400 MZ desktop. I upgraded the ram to 768 MB a few weeks ago, but it's still pretty slow.

I can go to 700 MZ for 200 bucks, 700-800 for $249, 800-900 for $269, or spend $329 for 1 GZ.

My question: This computer (which has served me well) still has the original graphics card in it. SO: should I go with the minimal upgrade in processors, which is still 75 percent more than what I currently have, and buy a video card for about $120? I'm not sure I'll get enough use from the video card, as I'm not sure I notice that stuff that much anyway! (I do have a Rev A 12-in PB, too.) Or would I be happier with more of a boost in processor speed. $200 seems reasonable; I'm not really sure I want to spend $300 or more. I think I'd rather put that money into something else.

Opinions? (The prices are all OWC, by the way.)

[Detrius]

The graphics card will make a huge difference with 10.2 and later. The best comparison is between the iBook Dual USB and the iBook 16MB VRAM. The former did not support QE but the latter does. I have one of the former and as a tech, I have seen plenty of the latter. Even though the processor speed is about the same, the slightly newer iBooks are really smooth.

Processor speed always helps though.

If I were you, I'd invest in a 32MB or 64MB graphics card and a low to mid processor upgrade. The 1GHz is not $60 worth faster than the 900MHz. At this point, it's basically just a matter of 'how much can you afford?'

Just my advice.

I have a dual 533 w/GeForce 2MX. The graphics card will be upgraded long before the processor (a single 1GHz G4 would not give me a speed boost, but a 64MB graphics card would).

[DrBoar]

I have had a G4/400 that I bought the ATI 8500 for when that card became aviable. For OS 9 to 10.2 the card did nothing outside games. ( Above 9.0 the Voddoo 3 card got into trouble so that is why I got the 8500).

Much later I got a GigaDesign 1.2 GHz upgrade and that was a tremendous speed boost, in all applications including finder and games

I suggest that you get as fast CPU as you can afford and skip the graphical card. I belive that your setup is CPU limited in X.

In OS 8 and 9 the Voodoo 3 2000 card could become CPU limited outside games I mean things like scrolling in the finder and other 2 D benchmarks. In a 7500/100 the Voodo card gave perhaps a 20% speed boost compared to the motherboard graphics .
Replacing the 100 Mhz 601 CPU with a 200 MHz increased that boost to 100% and with a 350 MHz G3 it is even more difference.

Detrius dual 533 has more than twise the CPU power of yours so his situation is much different from yours, far less CPU limitation.

This was my 3rd CPU upgrade and in my experience if a given CPU is to slow so will a upgrade that is not at least twise as fast. So while the price of that 700 MHz card sure is tempting at least for games it start to get to be to low end or even below that

So start with that OWC 900 MHz G4 upgrade and then if you think that the overall performance increase is worth it get a graphical card as well as icing on the cake

[Luca Rescigno]

First, get the cheapest Quartz Extreme compatible graphics card you can afford. These include any Radeon, and any GeForce 2MX or better. I saw a huge difference when moving from a Rage 128 to a Radeon. Even though the Radeon is an old 32 MB card, it's still good enough for basic use in OS X, as long as you don't want to do any gaming. If you want a little more punch, go for a GeForce 4MX or Radeon 9000. Neither one is top of the line, but they're both decent for games, they both have 64 MB of VRAM instead of 32 MB, and they can both handle two monitors (the GeForce 2MX and Radeon can only use one monitor at a time).

After that, use what money you have left to get the best processor upgrade you can afford. You may even be okay getting a better processor from the same series of Macs - since you have a 400 MHz, there's no point in moving to a 450 or 500 MHz processor, but a dual 450 or dual 500 will give you a definite improvement and will probably be pretty cheap. However, dual processors does not indicate twice the power, so unless you find a very good deal, I'd go with a single 800 or 900 MHz G4.

Believe me, you NEED a faster graphics card. For general use in OS X, you won't see much difference between a lowly Radeon and a fast card like the Radeon 8500, but the addition of Quartz Extreme (by ditching the Rage 128) will show you a huge speed boost. I would not be able to tolerate OS X without Quartz Extreme for very long. So, as long as you're not gaming, get the cheapest QE capable graphics you can find, and throw all the rest of your budgeted money into a processor upgrade.

[bbales]

Thanks for the responses thus far! Now I'm delving a bit more into video cards. Any recommendations on brands? Both the Radeon and GeForce seem to get good marks. I'm thinking ebay for the graphics, as it looks like I can get lots more for my money.

I hate playing around with my computer's innards, too, so I sure hope these things are easy to install. I'm going to make my husband do it...

Thanks again. I'm getting closer to figuring out my plan of action.

[David Lee]

I have the same 400 G4, but I added a GigaDesigns 800/wL3Cache, which runs STABLE at 900MHz, and a Radion 7500, from a Quicksilver G4. The machine is now much faster than I actually need for my work, translation, word processing, internet, etc. I only use Photoshop - cgaphics apps - a little. I am very happy with this system, but you can also go for a 32MB nVidia MX4 from OC at a very reasonable cost (get the VGA adapter included version). I noticed a real increase in, ahem, "snappiness" with the overclock to 900MHz. OS X seems to love lots of RAM and a CPU running at anything over 800. It really loves dual processors too, but that seems beyond your spending budget. I agree with the other posts about getting a QE capable video card, it does make a visible difference, then add the best CPU upgrade you can afford, preferably 800MHz or better. Well, that is just my personal opinion of course, you will have to work out your own priorities. Good luck and good shopping.