Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

Mac-User · Jul 20, 2002, 01:21 PM

Hi guys, I'm stuck with Performa 6320 and don't have the cash right now for new G4 macs.

I'm planning to get a used 9600 and upgrade it to a G3. Costs way less than getting a new Mac. I plan to set up a home studio and do some audio restoration work.I dig Mac OSX but currently most digital audio editing software runs on 9.1. For less than $1200 I can get an upgraded 9600 plus internal CDRW,Firewire/USB, 10/10/1000 ethernet card and a 19" monitor.

What do you think? Please advice.

Captain Obvious · Jul 20, 2002, 02:42 PM

you plan on spending up to $1200?
Walk me through the spending plan again with the expected costs of each item. Because right now if you plan on spending all that to upgrade a 9600 I think its a bad plan. For an almost equal cost you can buy a used G4 tower and for about half of that you can get a Blue&White G3 with firewire and almost all that stuff you plan to add.

If you can upgrade that machine for under $300 then its a good plan any more than that then you should start to look elsewhere for another machine.

Mac-User · Jul 20, 2002, 03:32 PM

Thanks.

I'm waiting for a quote from one of the internet sites that custom make old macs for you. I made a mistake. I actually estimated the cost of all peripherals needed to jump start my restoration project.

Roland has a good package that includes everything that I need (audio editing software, the PCI card plus a 24 bit multitrack digital workstation) for $700. That leaves me about 500-600 for a Mac that can handle my project. Maximum (really stretching my budget) that I can shell out is $1500.

I guess I am really frustrated with my Performa that this time I really want to have an expandable Mac.(6 PCI's and 1.5 gig of ram really bulged my eyes..)

You're not the first one to advise me against this. Can you help me devise a plan? I've looked at numerous sites for used G4. The most competitive ones are PowerMax and resale.headgap.com. Unfortunately, neither provides monitors for the price they offer. So, I have to keep some cash for the monitor.

anyway, suggestions are most welcomed.Thanks in anticipation.

Captain Obvious · Jul 20, 2002, 05:01 PM

I know ZERO about the software you'll need so take that into consideration. The added cost of that is a variable I won't include.

A Blue and White G3 should cost you about $500. That's a 400MHz model. It sounds like you have your mind set on buying from an eStore. That's fine but they have a pretty hefty mark-up. I would go the eBay route or maybe try asking around this forum's buy and sell area. That would be cheaper than a resale store.

*RAM would be cheaper for the B&W than any beige machine, faster also.
*Hard drives per gig are a lot cheaper and for the cost fast for newer machines.
*You won't need PCI slots for USB and FW since its built in, but you still have 3 open on the B&W
*BUS speeds... so much better on the B&W G3 (100MHz vs 50)
*OS X, it would run better on a native G3 if you ever go that route
*You can add an external burner (FW even) and have DVD if you want

I don't know why the monitor is such a selling point for you. But you can get a cheap one at BestBuy for under $100 or just shop around online . Since you are doing audio and not heavy graphics you don't need a top of the line monitor.

I just think that for $700 you can do better than a 9600 and the trade offs are pretty big. A 400 MHz G4 would be about $250 than the G3.

Mac-User · Jul 20, 2002, 05:07 PM

Shiver me timbers!

Thanks a bunch. I heeded your advice and took the iniative of registering myself on eBay. You're absolutely right, if I'm a little bit patient, there are tons of deals that will fit my budget.

I've some items that I'm watching right now. For $1300 Buy It Now option one seller is getting rid of G4400 MHz with 21" monitor!

Hmm...How's your experience on eBay? Honestly, I've never dealth with eBay. If I find a good deal, it'll be my first.

I need a big monitor because the audio application has many windows that show control knobs etc.

Anyway, I'm glad that I posted my plea here. I'll keep you updated! Thanks.

Captain Obvious · Jul 20, 2002, 05:22 PM

Go over to the lounge forum and ask about eBay you'll get more answers and advice than on this forum. But more advice will follow on this thread just give it a few days and don't be quick to buy anyhting on eBay without looking at the seller's feedback and watching a few auctions as an index of how prices are going for.

WizOSX · Jul 20, 2002, 10:55 PM

Mac-user:

I'd be very, very cautious buying a machine on ebay. The problem is that if it has problems or the person is not honest, you're completely out of luck. Ebay really is the Wild west of purchasing. I have a 7600 that I upgraded a lot through ebay (in order to run OS X), and most of the parts I bought were very good deals. But in one instance I was completely conned. In that case I only lost about $45, so I consider myself lucky. If you put out over $1000 on ebay, that's a lot of risk.

Where do you live? In a larger urban area? If so, and you really want to go the ebay route, I would watch for a machine on ebay where the person would let you pick it up locally. This has two advantages: if they are willing to meet you face-to-face, they are more likely honest AND you save a LOT on shipping. If you are buying MAC and monitor, the shipping will be substantial.

WizOSX · Jul 20, 2002, 11:07 PM

BTW, I think Captain Obvious' advice to you on the 9600 is sound. I really wouldn't go that route. My 7600 works very well in OS X (even without a G3 or G4 card) but if I were starting from scratch I wouldn't do it this way. I just happened to already have the 7600, it was a second machine (I also have a Powerbook G4) and decided to see how cheaply I could make it run OS X (as a sort of hobby project and to have as a backup machine). But all the parts you will end up wanting are more expensive and/or hard to find--CDRW, hard drive, RAM, video card etc.

If it were me, I'd go for a 400+ mhz G4. They are pretty reasonable now and very easy and cheap to upgrade--even the processor.

Captain Obvious · Jul 21, 2002, 01:46 AM

.

[ 07-22-2002, 02:15 AM: Message edited by: Captain Obvious ]

Mac-User · Jul 21, 2002, 07:27 PM

Thanks a lot guys.

I have some good news. I might be able to spend at least 2K for my restoration project. I don't know whether to get a used mac or new.

Anyway, I live in Oklahoma, the only Mac retailer here in my city, is CompUSA.I bought my first mac through catalog and if I were buying new, I'd rather buy from Mac Mall etc since they give RAM upgrades for free.

I've been reading professional audio magazines and trying to find the exact cost that I have to spend. I like the iMac 800MhZ, in fact it can run one of the applications that I may use for the project, but I'm afraid I'll end up like I am right now. Limited expansion.

Thanks again for the advice. Maybe I'll find some excellent deals on used 933Mhz Quicksilver on Powermax. I'll keep you guys updated.

Mac-User · Jul 21, 2002, 08:08 PM

<img border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" title="" src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" /> They just sold a brand new never used 867 MhZ G4 for $1775 on eBay.

The same model (albeit higher memory) at Powermax.com is $1749. Both less shipping and handling.

I wonder, how come the new Mac G4's come with 800 MhZ, but before that we had models that are DP 800 and 867? Shouldn't the processor speed be higher as new ones are built? <img border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" title="" src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" />

WizOSX · Jul 21, 2002, 10:28 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Mac-User
I wonder, how come the new Mac G4's come with 800 MhZ, but before that we had models that are DP 800 and 867? Shouldn't the processor speed be higher as new ones are built? <hr /></blockquote>The 867 model was discontinued in January 2002. At that time the 733 was the low-end machine, which was also discontinued then. At that time the current three models were introduced with the 800 mhz as the low-end, the 933 int the middle and the dual 1ghz as the top. So the 733 "moved up" to the 800.

WizOSX · Jul 21, 2002, 10:36 PM

Orginally posted by Mac-User
<blockquote>quote:<hr /> I've been reading professional audio magazines and trying to find the exact cost that I have to spend. I like the iMac 800MhZ, in fact it can run one of the applications that I may use for the project, but I'm afraid I'll end up like I am right now. Limited expansion. <hr /></blockquote>You said that you needed a PCI card for some of your work. I hope you realize that the iMac does not have PCI slots!!

Mac-User · Jul 21, 2002, 11:03 PM

You're right Whiz. The Digital Performer (a digital audio editing software runs only on Mac) runs great on an iMac. In fact in its ad,
Digital Performaer exclusively mentioned iMac as powerful computer that will run it.

But it's a software see, the hardware is when I need a PCI audio card (cheapest i could find was 199.99 at Musician Friend.com, so that I can connect my mac to a digital workstation that connects microphones, keyboards, amps, cassette decks etc...

I have been doing some reading on Quicksilver and Quickcilver 2002. It just doesn't make sense to me that the DP 800 MhZ is dc'ed and then a "new" 800 Mhz comes along.

Anyway, I'm still shopping around. i'll keep you guys updated. Thanks a bunch!

WizOSX · Jul 21, 2002, 11:19 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr /> Originally posted by Mac-user
It just doesn't make sense to me that the DP 800 MhZ is dc'ed and then a "new" 800 Mhz comes along. <hr /></blockquote>Because the DP 800 became the DP 1 ghz in January.

In late August or early September Apple will be doing the same thing again. The current three models have already been discontinued. We will probably see a single processor 1 ghz, a single processor 1.4 ghz and a dual 1.2 as the high end.

And, BTW, this is a good reason to wait on your purchase. Buying in the next few weeks will mean that you will probably regret it in September. Anything you are looking at now will be cheaper then.

Captain Obvious · Jul 22, 2002, 02:14 AM

Scratch all of this... your profile says you are a teacher. Edu can buy a 733 G4 tower for a little over 1100. If you are in the 2K neighborhood then forget buying used and go for education prices.