[popstar92]

im gettin a free 8500 32megs of ram 2 gig hd. for now i am letting my mother use it to web surf. but when my imac dv has passed its prime, would it be worth upgrading the 8500? g5 maybe?

[Kozmik]

I don't think you'll be able to upgrade an 8500 to a G5, when it is available. Even if you could, it would probably be a much wiser investment to get a new computer. Whereas a G5 may have a 200MHz system bus and PC166 RAM, the 8500 has a 50MHz system bus (I believe) and slow RAM. And where G5s will probably have 4x or even 8x AGP slots by the time they are released, you'll be saddled with 33MHz PCI slots for graphics upgrades.

[MacNZ]

Mind you, you could upgrade the 8500 quite nicely as a G3. You could add a cheap G3 upgrade ($200) and add say 128 Mb Ram ($190), a Voodoo 3 ($60) and you'd have quite a reasonable second computer. It beats throwing the system away!!!

[popstar92]

would the g3 upgrade allow me to run osx at a reasonable speed?

[iPad]

Probably, it depends on what speed you get.

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People aren't as dumb as you think. Wait, what was I thinking, 90% of the world uses WINDOWS!
You don't like Macs? Good, more for me.

[SpeedRacer]

Originally posted by popstar92:
im gettin a free 8500 32megs of ram 2 gig hd. for now i am letting my mother use it to web surf. but when my imac dv has passed its prime, would it be worth upgrading the 8500? g5 maybe?

I'll cast a vote on the No, do not upgrade the 8500 side.

The 8500 is a tremendously upgradeable machine, but you need to weigh those upgrades vs. the cost of a new machine. With the cost of a new iMac nowadays dipping below $800 and refurb models approaching $500 the upgrade argument is getting to be a tougher and tougher call.

I have an 8500 and an iMac/333. I've used both and i must say that (irregardless of its consumer focus), the iMac line (especially the newer models) are no sleepers. Being the owner of a DV model i'm sure you know this.

And having used both new and old machines, i don't think you're going to be able to even approach the speed of even a new 500mHz iMac SE. If you say you're DV is getting slow with it's UltraDMA drive, 100 mHz bus, and PC100 RAM, how do you think you're going to fare with an older, slower 2gig, 50mHz bus, 168pin RAM 8500?

Being based on nonstandard RAM and SCSI will bump the cost of your 8500 ugprades up. And being inhernetly locked into an older, slower motherboard/bus design is going to severly limit your performance no matter what.

Cost of upgrading the 8500 -> new iMac specs:

G3 CPU: $300
RAM: $200
Drive: $200
CD: $100
Graphics: $150
Modem: $50
USB/Firewire Card: $150
Display: $150

Total: $1300 = cost of new iMac DV+ and you still don't get:

DVD, Airport capability, 100mHz bus, or fast ethernet, or optical mouse

I loved my 8500, but unless you've got an itching fascination for wasting a lot of time, money, and patience i'd absolutely recommend leaving the 8500 for mom and going for a new iMac SE or G3/G4 refurb for yourself.

Given that you're already finding the DV slow, maybe you ought to think about a Cube or G4/G3 tower this time around. Their fast 100mHz bus and great upgradeability will keep you happy for many years to come (ie: 1000mHz G4/5 & OSX compatibility - there's no guaranteed compatibility with the 8500).

Speed


[This message has been edited by SpeedRacer (edited 08-28-2000).]

[SpeedRacer]

sorry. double post

[This message has been edited by SpeedRacer (edited 08-28-2000).]

[popstar92]

hey thanks for the informative response. i think ill just leave the 8500 the way it is. i love my imacdv to much to give it up anytime soon. for me the difference in specs between the G3 and G4 doesnt warrant an upgrade.ill save my pennies for a G6 tower in 2003.

[iPad]

Yeah, but with the iMac DV, you don't get

45GB DiamondMax Plus 7200RPM ATA/100 (200 dollar hard drive for 8500)
Ability to get larger monitor without crappy mirroring
PCI Slots
As much RAM as your indicated 200 dollars for RAM cost (200 dollars can get you around 192 MB nowadays)
Extra Internal Bays (none in the iMac's case)

IT's actually not that bad to upgrade your 8500...do it if you like, but don't spend a fortune on it.

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People aren't as dumb as you think. Wait, what was I thinking, 90% of the world uses WINDOWS!
You don't like Macs? Good, more for me.

[Zwilnik]

quote
'45GB DiamondMax Plus 7200RPM ATA/100 (200 dollar hard drive for 8500)'
the 8500 is SCSI only, no IDE bus. So you'd have to spend another $100 on an ATA Card, which will take up one of the PCI slots.
Wheras, you could just put the 45gig drive into the iMac (replacing the old one), or add it on externally as a Firewire drive.

[TheDoctor]

Forgive me for sounding stupid, but since I don't have an iMac, I really don't know the answer to this question. Doesn't the iMac's monitor connect to the computer using a standard monitor connector so to get a bigger monitor, don't you just have to unplug the built-in monitor and plug in the external?

[MacNZ]

Yeah, but wouldn't that be dumb?? iMac in case with 15" monitor wasting space and other monitor next to it. I suppose you could rack mount it!

I've found some good deals on G3 upgrades and stuff recently. Way less than $1300 Speed Racer said but he is right. I'd save and go for the iMac.

[TheDoctor]

Now rack-mounting the iMac sounds like a great idea.

[l008com]

G6 tower in 2003, don't you mean 700MHz G4 tower? They should be here by then right??

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I see dead people.

[Kozmik]

Good point.

[mattyrug]

hey y'all i'm kinda new here... used to belong a long time ago... forgot about the forum.... and couldn't remember username.... whatever.....
I don't know if any of you have seem this, but the I-Mac Rackmount site is pretty cool, i had e-mailed this guy in the past and he says he will probally start selling these cases.... if you haven't seen this check it out http://imac.pointinspace.com/
enjoy

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PMac7200 W/ATA66 64Megs Ram
KA7-Athalon 500@550 ATA100/GeForce....blah..blah