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vexborg · Aug 31, 2006, 05:44 AM

So, I've got this B&W G3 upgraded with a G4/500 MHz CPU, Radeon 7000 PCI and 512 MB RAM.

My question is: What is the most sensible thing to do - keep the G4/500 Mhz CPU and get some more memory, or sell the G4 CPU and get a G3/1 GHz?

I'm mostly using my Mac for internet browsing, editing and uploading photos and doing some light website design. The Mac is running 10.4.7.

Any suggestions on what to do?

seanc · Aug 31, 2006, 07:12 AM

You could send the CPU, Radeon 7000 and RAM to me

I've heard that 1ghz G3s should be faster than the G4s becasuse the G3s don't limit the bus speed. If you have the money, you could upgrade to a low end Mini.

Leonard · Aug 31, 2006, 09:27 AM

Sell everything and get a Mac Mini!

OreoCookie · Aug 31, 2006, 10:10 AM

I would also give some thought to getting a Mac mini. I don't think upgrading your BW G3 will do much to change the fact that your machine might not make the cut when Leopard comes out.

For most things, the G3 cpu upgrade will be faster, so if you can get the upgrade for very little (by selling your old cpu card), it might be worth it.

On the other hand, if you can hold out with your gear, wait till Leopard is released and get a Mac mini (its price includes a licence of OS X and iLife which you have to take into account as well when you compare the two solutions).

discotronic · Aug 31, 2006, 10:12 AM

Do you have more than 2 RAM modules installed? Since you B&W will only go to 1GB you need to look at how much you will be replacing. You should get the full 1GB if possible and if you don't already have 2x 256MB you will be running into more cash.

The the G3 1GHz would be a nice upgrade but the cost is still around $200 US. Even if you did get the new processor you should upgrade the RAM. 512MB with Tiger is just not enough in my opinion.

In short..you need both.

My brother is using his B&W that I upgraded to a 900MHz G3, 768MB RAM and a Radeon 9200 128MB video card. It is a nice running machine but it is slowly getting to the end of it's life.

OreoCookie · Aug 31, 2006, 10:20 AM

Well, but to upgrade to such a setup, you are already getting closer and closer to the price of a Mac mini. Before you upgrade, be sure to take everything into account. As others have said, 512 MB are the minimum for OS X, but on the other hand, your machine is not top-of-the-notch anyway.

SierraDragon · Aug 31, 2006, 02:30 PM

I do not think you should put one more penny into that ancient box.

"...editing and uploading photos and doing some light website design..." are functions that quite likely will involve apps that demand modern computer power/architecture.

I agree with much of what Oreo says:

Originally Posted by OreoCookie

...I don't think upgrading your BW G3 will do much to change the fact that your machine might not make the cut when Leopard comes out.
... if you can hold out with your gear, wait till Leopard is released and get a Mac mini (its price includes a licence of OS X and iLife which you have to take into account as well when you compare the two solutions).

-Allen Wicks

Tuoder · Aug 31, 2006, 03:35 PM

You could get a used PPC Mac Mini for $400. I checked completed ebay listings and saw some go for $325-$375. They were 1.25Ghz G4s. I would still upgrade the RAM in one of those, but I'd be willing to bet that they'd run Leopard with no more than a RAM upgrade (if anything at all).

vexborg · Sep 1, 2006, 05:06 AM

Thanks guys for your input!

I'll just let my old Mac live it's life as a file server / backup machine in the cabinet - no need to update it anymore, and eventually get a Mac Mini...

maní · Sep 1, 2006, 05:32 AM

if got a Apple PowerMac G3 (300MHz PowerPC G3 Processor, 64MB RAM, 6GB Hard Drive)

can anyone tell me the exact memory i need, and whats the maximum it can take. I was going to sling a 512mb module in there. Is it that important to space out the modules equally? i.e 4 x 256mb modules.

discotronic · 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by maní

if got a Apple PowerMac G3 (300MHz PowerPC G3 Processor, 64MB RAM, 6GB Hard Drive)

can anyone tell me the exact memory i need, and whats the maximum it can take. I was going to sling a 512mb module in there. Is it that important to space out the modules equally? i.e 4 x 256mb modules.

It will only take 256MB modules. You can put a 512MB in but it will only be recognized as 256. You can have a max of 1GB.

The RAM is PC100 but you should be able to put PC133 in it since they will clock down to PC100 when put on a board that can't take advantage of higher speed RAM.

You can mix and match the sizes if needed. So it is possible to have a 256MB, 128MB, 64MB and a 32MB. In other words you don't need to install in pairs.

Another thing to look at would be to overclock your processor. Before I installed the 900MHz processor in my brothers B&W he had the 300MHz G3. I was able to overlclock it to 450MHz without adding additional fans or heatsinks which is very rare. Most people have reported success in getting it to overclock to 350 or 400.

The first released B&W had a faulty hard drive controller. It would cause data corruption with larger hard drives. I don't remember what the definition of larger hard drives where but it could be fixed by adding a PCI IDE or SATA card. The first released logicboard will only take one hard drive so this is something you should look at. Also, the largest hard drive that would be recognized is somthing like 137GB (or along those lines) so be careful if you are trying to add a big HD to your setup.

GabrieL^ · Sep 2, 2006, 01:16 PM

who sells upgrades for the B&W G3's?

thanks

SierraDragon · Sep 2, 2006, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by GabrieL^

who sells upgrades for the B&W G3's?

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-Allen Wicks