Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

I WAS the One · May 16, 2006, 09:38 PM

I'm happy with my Pismo, it do it's job, I use it for net porpuses most of the time, but suddenly it running slow the videos I download from the net, a friend told me that the graphic card it's too weak for that now, it's that true? and how can I upgrade the graphic card of a PB Pismo?

Thanx

shunt · May 16, 2006, 11:21 PM

If you're on Panther, downgrade quicktime 7.x back to QT 6.5.2 for a systemwide speed increase. This is a noticeable difference for both wmv's and mpg's (via flip4mac). It's a two step process:

1. from 7.0.4 to 7.0.1 go here http://www.apple.com/support/downloa...cktime704.html

2. from 7.0.1 to 6.5.2 go here http://www.apple.com/support/downloa...cktime701.html

The video card is not upgradeable AFAIK.

I WAS the One · May 17, 2006, 05:27 AM

but can I see Quicktime trailers and all with that downgrade?

it seems weird but maybe it's the solution... anyone with the same opinion?

just to read different point of views before I made the changes...

btw thanx Shunt!

Powerbook · May 17, 2006, 05:51 AM

Originally Posted by I WAS the One

but can I see Quicktime trailers and all with that downgrade?

No. All trailer stuff, HD and the iTMS movies are AFAIK Quicktime 7 only.
But the Pismo just isn't meant for QT7.

PB.

icruise · May 17, 2006, 06:20 AM

New quicktime trailers use h.264 encoding, which basically requires a G4 processor.

I WAS the One · May 17, 2006, 07:25 AM

so, do that means that I can't use my pismo for internet porpuses anymore?

icruise · May 17, 2006, 07:29 AM

I hope you're misspelling "purpose" on purpose....

You can use it, just not for viewing Apple's trailers.

rjt1000 · May 17, 2006, 08:55 AM

Although there are no graphic card upgrades for the Pismo, there are G4 processor upgrades, including those from Daystar, Fastmac and others.

http://daystar-store.com/index.asp?P...&ProdID=47
http://www.fastmac.com/products/processors/pismo.php
http://www.wegenermedia.com/pg4550.htm

A G4 550mhz processor would make the Pismo more functional overall, although its debateable whether it would make sense to invest more money in such an old (albeit beloved) model. The good news is that the price of these upgrades has dropped recently.

Macopinion's Roadwarrior column (Charles Moore) has reviewed these upgrades as well as other upgrades for older laptops.

http://www.macopinion.com/columns/ro.../30/index.html

-rjt1000

Powerbook · May 17, 2006, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by rjt1000

http://www.wegenermedia.com/pg4550.htm

As a sidenote, stay away from Wegener media. I have never seen a more incompetent, lying and idiotic company in the Mac business. These guys are ****ing clowns.

PB.

I WAS the One · May 18, 2006, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by Powerbook

As a sidenote, stay away from Wegener media. I have never seen a more incompetent, lying and idiotic company in the Mac business. These guys are ****ing clowns.

PB.

why? it is a fake company? because those guys offer a great deal! installation and round trip for less than 300 bucks! ... mmm I don't know, Daystar is another great deal too, so I'm stuck here.

so with that upgrade I will be using Tiger more faster and with no issues on the internet?

rjt1000 · May 18, 2006, 09:53 AM

Hi,

I would encourage you to read the Roadwarrior review on the Pismo upgrades:
http://www.macopinion.com/columns/ro.../30/index.html

In general, I have heard mostly favorable reviews about the Daystar and Fastmac upgrades. You can check out user reviews of these upgrades using the database at xlr8yourmac (just enter the model Powerbook G3 2000 Rage 128 mobility):
http://forums.xlr8yourmac.com/cpureview.lasso

Although some folks are running Tiger on their G4 upgraded Pismos, I think you will have better results with Panther. (Tiger wants more graphics power than the Pismo can provide).

These upgrades will NOT turn your Pismo into the equivalent of a modern G4 laptop, but they will make it significantly more useful depending on your specific needs.

rjt1000

icruise · May 18, 2006, 09:58 AM

I run Tiger on my Pismo (upgraded 500mhz G4) with no problems. It's at least as fast as it was using Panther.

Don Pickett · May 18, 2006, 11:43 AM

My $0.02: If you processor upgrade your Pismo, stay away from Powerlogix. The card they sold me never worked right. About a month ago it died completely, and I was told by tech support the program is considered dead and they will not replace or refund.

I WAS the One · May 18, 2006, 12:36 PM

anyone wants to buy a 500mhz Pismo, with a CD/CD-R/CD-RW/DVD/DVD-R/DVD-RW Dual Layer internal Drive, brand new battery, 16g HD, and 256mb of Ram... it has Tiger on it. Offer me a price and I tell you if I can sell it for that..

I need a dual boot iBook then... (that runs OS9 too)

Anyone?