[wei]

hi guys, just wanna share my upgrade project for the Powermac 400Mhz (1999 Sawtooth). The system was bought in as a cheap used unit. Being save some $ on the G4 purchase meaning I have some extra buck to upgrade it.

So here's what I've done:
• Maxtor 10GB (not sure the rpm n cache) HDD ---> Western Digital 80GB 7200rpm HDD
• 448MB RAM ---> 768MB RAM (soon 1.25GB)
• ATI 128 Rage Pro 16MB graphic card ---> nVidia FX5200 128MB graphic card
• DVD-ROM ---> Plextor 710A DVD Burner
• 400MHz PPC G4 proc ---> 1.8GHz 7447A G4 proc
• Mac OS 10.4.3
• Front media reader bay

here's the Xbench result before:

Code:
Results	62.44
System Info		
Xbench Version		1.1.3
System Version		10.4.3 (8F1099)
Physical RAM		448 MB
Model		PowerMac3,1
Processor		PowerPC G4 @ 400 MHz
Version		7400 (Max) v2.8
L1 Cache		32K (instruction), 32K (data)
L2 Cache		1024K @ 200 MHz
Bus Frequency		100 MHz
Video Card		ATY,Rage128Pro
Drive Type		WDC WD800JB-00CRA1

CPU Test	45.77	
GCD Loop	41.79	1.63 Mops/sec
Floating Point Basic	56.20	203.22 Mflop/sec
AltiVec Basic	32.08	931.88 Mflop/sec
vecLib FFT	44.32	688.06 Mflop/sec
Floating Point Library	72.58	2.91 Mops/sec
Thread Test	36.22	
Computation	24.96	337.01 Kops/sec, 4 threads
Lock Contention	65.96	828.05 Klocks/sec, 4 threads

Memory Test	74.93	
System	79.00	
Allocate	208.29	135.87 Kalloc/sec
Fill	91.99	732.27 MB/sec
Copy	44.83	224.17 MB/sec
Stream	71.25	
Copy	71.36	521.67 MB/sec [altivec]
Scale	71.56	528.08 MB/sec [altivec]
Add	69.46	444.55 MB/sec [altivec]
Triad	72.71	444.26 MB/sec [altivec]

Quartz Graphics Test	65.14	
		Line	49.80	1.27 Klines/sec [50% alpha]
		Rectangle	64.94	4.57 Krects/sec [50% alpha]
		Circle	64.63	1.49 Kcircles/sec [50% alpha]
		Bezier	60.69	659.44 beziers/sec [50% alpha]
		Text	107.26	1.75 Kchars/sec
OpenGL Graphics Test	74.05	
		Spinning Squares	74.05	51.82 frames/sec
User Interface Test	129.13	
		Elements	129.13	41.53 refresh/sec
Disk Test	78.72	
		Sequential	64.58	
			Uncached Write	32.28	13.46 MB/sec [4K blocks]
			Uncached Write	104.87	42.95 MB/sec [256K blocks]
			Uncached Read	78.30	12.40 MB/sec [4K blocks]
			Uncached Read	115.57	46.70 MB/sec [256K blocks]
		Random	100.79	
			Uncached Write	93.19	1.40 MB/sec [4K blocks]
			Uncached Write	108.22	24.41 MB/sec [256K blocks]
			Uncached Read	95.93	0.63 MB/sec [4K blocks]
			Uncached Read	107.64	22.15 MB/sec [256K blocks]

After the upgrade:

Code:
Results	128.70
System Info		
Xbench Version		1.1.3
System Version		10.4.3 (8F1099)
Physical RAM		768 MB
Model		PowerMac3,1
Processor		PowerPC G4 @ 1.80 GHz
L1 Cache		16K (instruction), 16K (data)
L2 Cache		512K
Bus Frequency		100 MHz
Video Card		GeForce FX 5200
Drive Type		WDC WD800JB-00CRA1

CPU Test	219.86	
GCD Loop	221.24	8.64 Mops/sec
Floating Point Basic	220.84	798.63 Mflop/sec
AltiVec Basic	216.79	6.30 Gflop/sec
vecLib FFT	218.33	3.39 Gflop/sec
Floating Point Library	222.16	8.89 Mops/sec
Thread Test	155.33	
Computation	111.43	1.50 Mops/sec, 4 threads
Lock Contention	256.32	3.22 Mlocks/sec, 4 threads

Memory Test	79.33	
System	97.89	
Allocate	1038.93	677.70 Kalloc/sec
Fill	135.40	1077.76 MB/sec
Copy	44.85	224.23 MB/sec
Stream	66.69	
Copy	67.85	495.95 MB/sec [altivec]
Scale	68.53	505.77 MB/sec [altivec]
Add	68.96	441.33 MB/sec [altivec]
Triad	61.92	378.32 MB/sec [altivec]

Quartz Graphics Test	130.94	
		Line	95.72	2.44 Klines/sec [50% alpha]
		Rectangle	106.83	7.52 Krects/sec [50% alpha]
		Circle	120.92	2.79 Kcircles/sec [50% alpha]
		Bezier	152.71	1.66 Kbeziers/sec [50% alpha]
		Text	280.89	4.58 Kchars/sec
OpenGL Graphics Test	125.86	
		Spinning Squares	125.86	88.08 frames/sec
User Interface Test	187.19	
		Elements	187.19	60.21 refresh/sec
Disk Test	101.29	
		Sequential	106.52	
			Uncached Write	99.60	41.52 MB/sec [4K blocks]
			Uncached Write	100.58	41.19 MB/sec [256K blocks]
			Uncached Read	139.71	22.12 MB/sec [4K blocks]
			Uncached Read	96.04	38.80 MB/sec [256K blocks]
		Random	96.55	
			Uncached Write	88.48	1.33 MB/sec [4K blocks]
			Uncached Write	99.88	22.53 MB/sec [256K blocks]
			Uncached Read	96.83	0.64 MB/sec [4K blocks]
			Uncached Read	102.16	21.02 MB/sec [256K blocks]

just some comparison of other machines:
iMac G5 1.9 iSight
Dual 2.3 Powermac G5
Dual 2.5 Powermac G5
Quad 2.5 Powermac G5

this is just raw speed comparison. I'm pretty sure the newer machine will run faster when come to real life testing with application stress test. Being 100Mhz FSB is the limit.

And here's the media reader:

[leehotti]

Seems okay except for your choice in graphics card. The 5200 was outdated years ago. A regular 9600 from a g5 (the 64 meg variety) which can be had on ebay for $30-50 will smoke a 5200 like a big fatty blunt. The 9600XT will smoke the regular 9600. 5200s are garbage.

[Dork.]

Where did you get the media bay from?

[Lateralus]

Originally Posted by leehotti

Seems okay except for your choice in graphics card. The 5200 was outdated years ago. A regular 9600 from a g5 (the 64 meg variety) which can be had on ebay for $30-50 will smoke a 5200 like a big fatty blunt. The 9600XT will smoke the regular 9600. 5200s are garbage.

And it can't be made to work in a 2x AGP slot, so it doesn't really matter how much faster it is.

[leehotti]

Originally Posted by Lateralus

And it can't be made to work in a 2x AGP slot, so it doesn't really matter how much faster it is.

... .. oh yeah. 2x agp. That sucks.

Nevermind. The 5200 is a great card. Really.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by Dork.

Where did you get the media bay from?

Looks like he cut the panel and put one in.

[leehotti]

Originally Posted by olePigeon

Looks like he cut the panel and put one in.

...um... You get an F. The question was 'WHERE' did he get the media reader from, not how he installed it.

[rparke1]

Originally Posted by leehotti

...um... You get an F. The question was 'WHERE' did he get the media reader from, not how he installed it.

and you get an A in smartbutt replies 101

[newtech]

Those Xbench scores are from an older version of Xbench. Try usuning v1.2 instead of 1.1.3 to get a better comparison with more current hardware.

[newtech]

Those Xbench scores are from an older version of Xbench. Try usuning v1.2 instead of 1.1.3 to get a better comparison with more current hardware.

[newtech]

Those Xbench scores are from an older version of Xbench. Try usuning v1.2 instead of 1.1.3 to get a better comparison with more current hardware.

[wei]

Will get the newer XBench to test again. Thanks for the reminder (3 times)...

As for the media bay, i just bought those el-cheapo PC type. As for the internal connection I hacked the cables and connect to a PC PCI USB card that I found in my old PC.

For the graphic cards, budget is my concern, and since I didn't play much games I think the 128MB FX5200 serve me right at the moment. Like most of you mentioned, the 2x AGP doesnt worth a 9600 upgrade. It's a waste I think.

I will start my next project if I'm able to collect enough parts: Sawsmurf or Quicksilver.

[rcpmac]

Wei,
Nice post. Do a cost breakdown for us. Love to see the individual and final costs. A sawtooth runs about $200 to $250 in the seattle market.

[wei]

rcpmac, here's the breakdown:
• Western Digital 80GB 7200rpm HDD - $40
• 2x 256MB RAM - $50
• nVidia FX5200 128MB graphic card - $70
• Plextor 710A DVD Burner - $50
• 1.8GHz 7447A G4 proc - $299
• Mac OS 10.4.3 - got it from friend
• Front media reader + PCI USB card - $15

rough total: $524

[D0GtheBOUNTYhntr]

Originally Posted by wei

rcpmac, here's the breakdown:
• Western Digital 80GB 7200rpm HDD - $40
• 2x 256MB RAM - $50
• nVidia FX5200 128MB graphic card - $70
• Plextor 710A DVD Burner - $50
• 1.8GHz 7447A G4 proc - $299
• Mac OS 10.4.3 - got it from friend
• Front media reader + PCI USB card - $15

rough total: $524

Hey, which brand/type of FX5200 did you choose?
I've heard they're a bit buggy with many DVI LCD displays.
But, I'm thinking of going this route in my aged sawtooth.
By the way, XBench is not a very good way to compare your old video card & the new one.
I've read Marine Aquarium or Openmark will show the the difference more.

oh, and is the Plextor drive supported in iTunes?
I'm thinking of doing that upgrade too.

[wei]

Originally Posted by D0GtheBOUNTYhntr

Hey, which brand/type of FX5200 did you choose?
I've heard they're a bit buggy with many DVI LCD displays.
But, I'm thinking of going this route in my aged sawtooth.
By the way, XBench is not a very good way to compare your old video card & the new one.
I've read Marine Aquarium or Openmark will show the the difference more.

oh, and is the Plextor drive supported in iTunes?
I'm thinking of doing that upgrade too.

The brand for the FX5200 is Galaxy. Havn't have a chance to hook up a DVI LCD to try it out. Im happy with the 21" CRT at the moment.

Will try out the two benchmark software, thanks for pointing out.

Regarding the Plextor burner, I'm yet to try iTunes (or any apple apps) burning. So far only using for DVD backup with Toast. Will try it out. Give me some time

[lothar56]

Originally Posted by wei

• Mac OS 10.4.3 - got it from friend

If sued for civil copyright infringement, the penalty is up to $100,000 per title infringed. If charged with a criminal violation, the fine is up to $250,000 per title infringed and up to five years imprisonment.

Maybe not so cheap?

[wei]

yes it is. the OSX is FREE from a friend that made a new machine upgrade (bundled 10.4.4) and downgraded his previous mac to classic. So he gave me the 10.4.3 FOC.

[lothar56]

good deal