[NordicMan]

I have this dual 800 G4 that I got later in 2001, from someone clever named Naughty Girl on eBay. It has worked fine for several years, and I have programmes and settings on it that I like. Since I have formed an attachment to it, I think I would like to upgrade it in the coming year, after the holidays.

I am going to wait until January, to see what will happen, as it may be more sensible to just see what new items come around.

Regarding a cpu upgrade, I see that OWC has a few choices, either single cpu upgrades from their own, or Sonnets. Or, there are dual G4s available. From these, I see PowerLogix dual 7457, which has a speed topping at 1.2 Ghz, and with 2MB L3 cache. Then there are also from PowerLogix a 7447, which has speeds from 1, 1.2, 1.6, 1.73, 1.8 dual cpus, which are not described as having the 2MB L3 cache.

Which of these are the more capable processors? If there is much difference, that is.

Really, the best course is just to wait, and to invest monies in something new. But I missed out on the conversations about the varying merits of these G4s back then anyway, and so if someone would like to report their knowledge of these Motorola cpus, I would appreciate it, just to see what I was missing.

[mduell]

L3 cache is so slow that it's hardly worth the effort. I'd go with the 1.6 dual; any faster and you're paying a lot more for tiny clockrate increases.

I'd look long and hard at the resale value of your G4 and the price of a refurb dual G5 before buying a (overpriced, IMO) G4 upgrade.

[new newton]

At a minimum, I'd wait to see if the 7448s ever see the light of day. Macgurus has had the best prices on the 7447 upgrades, if you're in a hurry.

[NordicMan]

Yes, I know, the cost of the G4 upgrade chips is several hundreds of dollars. Really, to see any appreciable improvement, one must spend close to 500$, or at least, 420$. It may be better to put it toward a new G5, or whatever else comes around the bend. The pricing on the upgrades is why I have not done it till now.

I do need to get a new HD, and so I am planning to put in something faster. I believe that machine can only use so large a HD as it is like 80GB. But if I get a SATA card, I think that it will accomodate a larger and faster HD. So that is one sensible way of improving it, as I am not ready to let it go. I like it because one can boot in to OS 9, even though I almost never do that. Just a sentimenalist, I reckon.

I can put in more RAM, as it is not maximised. Memory is not so expensive.

Well, thanks for the thoughts about things here, 1.6 is the more cost effective, and the idea about the 7448 G4s.

[spork]

Your quicksiler should take any HD you can stuff into it. Up to Digital audio had limits, 130gb, or there abouts. Sata card will allow more hds as well as faster, if you got the bucks. i have 3 standard 7200 hds in my tower 2 @40gb and 1 @120gb and so far so good and also cheap, beinge IDE.

Personally, I am leaning towards the Gigadesigns 1.6 dual upgrade for my tower. Cost is reasonable at a little over 400 clams and everybody seems to say good things about them.

I would love to see tests about differences between 7447, 7457 and 7445 chips to help me decide.www.xlr8yourmac.com has great resources about our towers.

[scottiB]

Originally Posted by spork

Your quicksiler should take any HD you can stuff into it. Up to Digital audio had limits, 130gb, or there abouts.

The first Quicksilver (2001--SP 733/867/DP800) can only handle up to 120GB. The 2002 version (800/933/DP1000) can handle larger drives. I have a DP800 with 4 drives: 120, 120, 200 and 200 (the last two with an ATA RAID card).

When I upgrade to a G5 next year, I'll use my G4 for a server and back-up machine.

[NordicMan]

Thanks for the thoughts there men. Yes, I have the first Quicksilver the dual 800. I am thinking to put in an SATA card.

What card brands do you fellows like?

I just have too many programmes to retire the 4 year old Mac, even if I will be starting to use a G5.

[scottiB]

Originally Posted by NordicMan

What card brands do you fellows like?

I like SIIG. Their prices seem to be a bit lower--at least they were a couple years ago.

[new newton]

I've got a SIIG in my G4. No complaints. If booting into 9 is something you want to do, you might want to do some research on that.

[emark]

I too have the dual 800 QS and have been toying with the idea of upgrading for some time.

Please post back if you guys follow through with your upgrades to Giga or Powerlogix upgrades. I had been leaning toward the Powerlogix dual 1.6 or 1.73. Anything less doesn't seem like worth upgrading too from a dual 7455. Powerlogix has a CPU control software but (at least for now) runs only w/ cpus at an even multiple of the bus speed. Thus, the 133 MHz QS bus would not be an even match for the 1.8 GHz chips...and the difference of 1/2 multiplier between the 1.73 and the 1.8 is likely a minimal return difference...

I for some reason thought Giga had bad ju-ju, I guess times change... looking around, it seems like Sonnet is kinda falling by the wayside in mind share (or they're not as clever w/ partnerships and product placements as PL or Giga???

Keep us posted please.

[NordicMan]

The upgrade that I am looking at is the 1.6 PowerLogix.

On the matter of the SATA card, and an HD, and the Mac OS, I mailed SIIG about my wanting the option to boot in to OS 9. Since I will be using the stock boot drive, I will have no problem, which I should have thought about, until that drive has run its course in life, which they all do eventually. SIIG said that there should be no problem with booting in to OS 9 if I wish.

[chatam]

Hi.

Just my small contribution: I installed a Gigadesign dual 1.8 in a QS 2001 single 733 a few weeks ago and, apart from minor problems in the beginning due to the jumpers settings, it appears to work very well.

I decided to settle on a less-than-best 1.6 Mhz speed, but the improvements in performance, speed and comfort are stunning, in Photoshop, audio and video tasks at least.

A nice way to bridge the gap before the Mactels arrive.