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FTrain · Jun 19, 2006, 12:46 AM

I could use some advice from those of you who might have a better sense of the realistic life of a G4 iMac 700. I bought it in early 2002, just after it debuted. It is generally working fine--all I use it for is web searching, email, basic office apps, iPhoto and iTunes. That's pretty much it. But it is starting to slow down considerably when running more than a couple of apps at once--particularly iPhoto. So I'm weighing whether to move on to a new machine, or try to upgrade it. I've got 768MB of RAM in it, so don't think it's a RAM problem. It's running Tiger, so I don't think that's an issue either. I guess I'm thinking it's either a processor issue--it just can't process stuff now the way it once did--or a hard drive issue. It has a 40GB hard drive that is just about full. I'm well under 1GB left of space, and there's not much I can get rid of to free up significant space. I've been told that the computer needs free hard drive space in order to run most effectively. So I think it's more the hard drive than the processor.

So, what would you do? Would you replace the hard drive (and how much would that cost if I had it done at an Apple Store or other authorized service center)? Or would I be replacing a hard drive in a machine near the end of its natural life anyway, so shouldn't waste the money and instead should just buy a new machine.

I don't want to buy a new machine right now if I don't have to--too many other things I need to spend money on right now. But can my machine be salvaged?

peeb · Jun 19, 2006, 04:58 PM

If the G4 is working for you right now, I'd say that a bit of extra ram and a new hard drive is a good option. I don't think you actually have enough RAM - a bit more would make it substantially faster. Putting an 80 gb hard drive would also speed things up - you might well be having speed issues since you don't have anything like enough free hard drive space. I'm not sure what drives the imacs take, but a call to the apple store nearest to you would give you the high limit, almost anywhere else would be cheaper, and since I think you're out of warrenty anyway, won't make an difference.

Anand · Jun 19, 2006, 07:28 PM

I have a 800 G4 iMac and recently replaced the HD with a 180 gig unit. I also bumped the ram from 768 to 1gig. All of these were worthwhile changes. For some reason, the machine runs a lot better with 1 gig of ram than it did with 768. I desperately want a new machine - but don't really need one. The old iMac runs just fine.

peeb · Jun 19, 2006, 07:31 PM

Definately agree - if it's not rude, how much did the upgrade cost you?

Anand · Jun 26, 2006, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by peeb

Definately agree - if it's not rude, how much did the upgrade cost you?

It was a while ago but the HD was like $120 and the ram was another $75. I also paid $5 for some more thermal paste.

FTrain · Jul 6, 2006, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by Anand

It was a while ago but the HD was like $120 and the ram was another $75. I also paid $5 for some more thermal paste.

Guys, thanks for your replies. Sorry for my slow response here. Anand, did you install that yourself? If I got a pro to do it, what would the labor be on a job like that--a new HD and new RAM? Also, does it make sense to just take it to an Apple Store, or would that be really overpriced and would you instead recommend that I should just find an authorized Apple service center?

SSharon · Jul 6, 2006, 04:05 PM

I would clear some space off the HD to confirm that it is the root of the problem here. I like to leave 10% free for swap space. If it runs faster with 5gb of free space then get a new HD and find the pdf with all the pictures and install it yourself. If it doesn't run any faster with 5gb free then consider adding more ram.

WOPR · Jul 7, 2006, 02:26 AM

A new hard disk would speed you up quite a bit I reckon, especially one that isn't so full. I remember changing the stock 20gb drive in my 400mhz G4 tower and it made a huge performance difference.

gooser · Jul 7, 2006, 06:53 AM

what are we missing here? i have a g4 imac with a 60 gig drive and when i ran out of room i got a firewire external drive and moved my itunes music over to it. cheap to do, very easy to do and when i feel the need to upgrade i will have a backup drive.

FTrain · Jul 7, 2006, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by gooser

what are we missing here? i have a g4 imac with a 60 gig drive and when i ran out of room i got a firewire external drive and moved my itunes music over to it. cheap to do, very easy to do and when i feel the need to upgrade i will have a backup drive.

Well, that's an option--I've got a 250GB external harddrive. But I've been wary of just moving everything over to that because then I won't have it backed up. Am I being too cautious?

gooser · Jul 8, 2006, 12:45 AM

no you're not being too cautious. buy a smaller drive for your music.

ChasingApple · Jul 9, 2006, 05:17 AM

Buy an external drive and backup all your saved files, run your iMac with a cleaner drive with more space. Should speed it up alot!