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has anyone gone for the Pismo upgrade? (Page 2)
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seanyepez,
I look forward to reading your review. I don't know if you were planning to do this, but I would like to sugest you do a benchmark in Virtual PC, to see if the G4 really helps, and if so, by how much. Maybe there's some lightweight Windows benchmark you can run?
I have a Pismo 400, and am eagarly awaiting "the verdict" on the new upgrades...
Thanks!
-Ching-Wei
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">Originally posted by seanyepez:
<strong><a href="http://reviews.macnn.com/review.php?id=17" target="_blank">http://reviews.macnn.com/review.php?id=17</a>
That's a reader review of the Newer G4 upgrade. Hope it helps.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">Interesting, I still am really wanting to get this upgrade... I think I'll wait until I get my RAM first, though.
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">Originally posted by tkmd
<strong>I read the review and it left me, well, about, were I am now- not any better off at making a descion. What kind of benchmark is this guy using? Graphics jumped 158%???? There has been no GPU upgrade. I question this "benchmark" not in its assertion that the Newer Pismo will be faster but in its quantifing its speed inprovment.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">I imagine that the graphics gains were from some Altivec-enhanced graphics application like Photoshop.
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">Originally posted by tkmd:
<strong>BTW, I read in a review i at XLR8yourmac that if you send in a 400, the 1Mb cache on the upgrade runs at 166mhz while people who send in 500 Mhz units run the same cache at 200Mhz. Can anyone explain this to me ? Isn't this a completely new chip?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">The cache chips are on the same card as the cpu, but they are not replaced. Many 166 rated cache chips will overclock to 200 no problem. Mine does. Of course, many 200 rated will overclock even more.
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OK, this G4 upgrade requires re-soldering the new chip onto the PISMO, right.
So, why can the video card chip be upgraded in the same way now? How many chips on the MOBO would be required to be changed?
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The reason it's not impossible to swap the g3 and g4 chips is that they are pin-compatible with each other. The g4 sits perfectly where the g3 used to sit.
I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing that a new Radeon chip is not the same size or shape pinout as the rage 128 we all have. Secondly, you'd have to swap the 8mb of video memory for something more substantial. Third, even if you could do this, how much of a market is there for it? Are there boatloads of people just waiting to pay through the nose for a new graphics chip? No. Fourth, this all assumes ATI or even nVidia would let someone do this with their chips. Lastly, when PowerLogix took my g3, they probably turned right around and put that on a g3 upgrade board for someone with a beige mac. They can make money off that. They can't sell a used rage 128 chip to anyone anymore.
Video upgrades for laptops where there isn't a daughtercard for video (read: nearly every laptop ever and all powerbooks ever) will probably not have an upgrade path anytime soon.
<small>[ 07-14-2002, 12:11 PM: Message edited by: PerfectlyNormalBeast ]</small>
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That's interesting. I'll note that in my review. <img border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" title="" src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" />
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">Originally posted by BigMark:
<strong>No way I'm letting my Pismo out of my sight. Besides OS X runs great on it as it is (G3/500). X even runs well on my brothers 333MHz Lombard.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">OS X also runs sweet on my old 333mhz Strawberry iMac(192mb RAM) which sits next to my 800mhz DP QuickSilver.
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">Originally posted by PerfectlyNormalBeast:
<strong>
Video upgrades for laptops where there isn't a daughtercard for video (read: nearly every laptop ever and all powerbooks ever) will probably not have an upgrade path anytime soon.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">Just an exception here. My old 1400 could be upgraded from .5 mb to 1 mb via the NewerTech video card. It also upgraded the video from 8 to 16 bit. It worked great.
PeteWK
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Wow, I stand corrected. I didn't know that.
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I don't know if any of you have seen this review on xlr8, but it's pretty convincing for me:
<a href="http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/G4CARDS/newertech_pismoG4/Bluechip_G4_Pismo.html" target="_blank">http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/G4CARDS/newertech_pismoG4/Bluechip_G4_Pismo.html</a>
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">Originally posted by [APi]TheMan:
<strong>I don't know if any of you have seen this review on xlr8, but it's pretty convincing for me:
<a href="http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/G4CARDS/newertech_pismoG4/Bluechip_G4_Pismo.html" target="_blank">http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/G4CARDS/newertech_pismoG4/Bluechip_G4_Pismo.html</a></strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">ah, thanks for the great read [APi]TheMan.
aloha
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<small>[ 07-23-2002, 11:36 AM: Message edited by: Leonard ]</small>
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I just came back from Macworld, and my Pismo's off to PowerLogix. Just thought I'd give you guys an update. I'm looking forward to reviewing it!
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">Originally posted by seanyepez:
<strong>I just came back from Macworld, and my Pismo's off to PowerLogix. Just thought I'd give you guys an update. I'm looking forward to reviewing it!</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">I don't know what I'm waiting for... I have the money... and I have plenty of time... I guess I should just go for it as well.
But I think it'd be wise to wait... I just hope I can read a little more about users' experiences and have enough time to send it in and all before I leave for College.
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">Originally posted by Fyre4ce:I would take out my hard drive and put the system install CD in the drive. I don't think there are any drivers the would have to install. But they aren't getting access to my files.[/QB]</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">Oh? You don't want them seeing your nasty porn? I got the G4 upgrade - I just ordered a Ti 800 MHZ. Plus I get to keep my Pismo here and safe from all those "prying eyes."
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I have ordered the upgrade. Is there any before and after test someone wants me to perform. I am going to test iTunes encode and probably some quicktime stuff. I hope iPhoto is a bit faster, but it even seems to be slow on the Dual 1Ghz G4 at CompUSA. <img border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" title="" src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" />
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">originally posted by MrK:
Oh? You don't want them seeing your nasty porn? I got the G4 upgrade - I just ordered a Ti 800 MHZ. Plus I get to keep my Pismo here and safe from all those "prying eyes."</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">What is this **** ? I would LOVE to have $3500 to blow on a new laptop, but I'm going to be hard-pressed to dig up the $299 for the G4 upgrade.
And what's wrong with me not liking the idea of someone snooping around my HD? Truth is, there is information on there that I wouldn't want certain people getting their hands on. **** off.
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Fyre4ce
Let it burn.
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okay, okay...here's something not 100% on topic, but it's a good reference point, i figure...
currently, I'm running OS X only on 3 boxes (neigher is a PB though ):
1) iBook 2001 500Mhz/66Mhz bus/4400 RPM HD
2) iMac 500Mhz G3/100Mhz bus/5400 RPM HD
3) Sawtooth 450Mhz/100Mhz bus/7200 RPM HD
from daily usage, it seems that the Sawtooth is slightly faster than the iMac, which is slightly faster than the iBook...
What does it all have to do with Pismos? my dad got a pismo 500...i figure I'll leave it be since getting an Altivec for such price is not really worth it...heavy photoshop should be done on the Pro models, and MP3 encoding and OS X will be optimized, but as far as OS X is concerned, I don't think it's that noticeable of a difference...the graphic card on the other hand, does make a world of difference when it comes to even the simplest task...if someone offered Radeon Mobility upgrade on the Pismo, I'd rather go for that instead...Just MHO...
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G4/450, T-bird 1.05GHz, iBook 500, iBook 233...4 different machines, 4 different OSes...(9, 2k, X.1, YDL2.2 respectively) PiA to maintain...
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">Originally posted by Fyre4ce:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">originally posted by MrK:
Oh? You don't want them seeing your nasty porn? I got the G4 upgrade - I just ordered a Ti 800 MHZ. Plus I get to keep my Pismo here and safe from all those "prying eyes."</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">What is this **** ? I would LOVE to have $3500 to blow on a new laptop, but I'm going to be hard-pressed to dig up the $299 for the G4 upgrade.
And what's wrong with me not liking the idea of someone snooping around my HD? Truth is, there is information on there that I wouldn't want certain people getting their hands on. **** off.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">I don't have personal files on my Pismo. I don't think my real name is even in it anywhere... hehehe.
But if you have personal data, then you have every right to protect yourself and your data.
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The deal is that if you've used your Powerbook to buy even one thing online, then your personal information and credit card info is in there somewhere. Any expert could dig it out. And gee, that would be experts we were sending the Powerbook too.
I'm going to put a different harddrive in mine when I send it.
PeteWK
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How paranoid are you people? Put in a different hard drive? Pathetic. Truly pathetic. Grow up. This is business. Powerlogix has enlisted specialists in chip replacement. This kind of stuff has to go down in a professional manner or else who would want to buy from Powerlogix again? I doubt seriously that these people are paid so poorly that they should want to rummage thru your hard drive and find your oh so important personal data. Your life matters to you, not some chip replacer in Austin Texas. They will do their job for you and move on to the next book. Calm down, back up this precious data, and do it. S**t or get off the pot.
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">Originally posted by jgm50d:
<strong>How paranoid are you people? Put in a different hard drive? Pathetic. Truly pathetic. Grow up. This is business. Powerlogix has enlisted specialists in chip replacement. This kind of stuff has to go down in a professional manner or else who would want to buy from Powerlogix again? I doubt seriously that these people are paid so poorly that they should want to rummage thru your hard drive and find your oh so important personal data. Your life matters to you, not some chip replacer in Austin Texas. They will do their job for you and move on to the next book. Calm down, back up this precious data, and do it. S**t or get off the pot.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">Hey, if some people are overly concerned, that's their deal. We can tell them to not worry as much and anything more is a waste of our time and words.
I'm super happy about the thought of this upgrade, I can't wait till I decide to take the plunge and go for it.
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">Originally posted by jgm50d:
<strong>How paranoid are you people? Put in a different hard drive? Pathetic. Truly pathetic. Grow up. This is business. Powerlogix has enlisted specialists in chip replacement. This kind of stuff has to go down in a professional manner or else who would want to buy from Powerlogix again? I doubt seriously that these people are paid so poorly that they should want to rummage thru your hard drive and find your oh so important personal data. Your life matters to you, not some chip replacer in Austin Texas. They will do their job for you and move on to the next book. Calm down, back up this precious data, and do it. S**t or get off the pot.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Geneva, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif">I'm going to guess that you don't know anyone who's had their identy stolen, I have. And they were people who once sounded a lot like you. Be VERY careful with your personal information because some poor schmuck in the receiving dept who makes 30K a year can make 50 grand by stealing your identy. It happens a lot more than you think. Grow Up.
PeteWK
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Sent mine off today.
I put a bunch of fake information on the HD first though just to throw the theives off.
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Here is my comments about the upgrade. Also sent to xlr8yourmac.com
I ordered the Powerlogix Pismo G4/500 upgrade on a Tuesday. I received the shipping box on Thursday. They received my powerbook on Monday and I had my powerbook back one week later on Tuesday. I am very happy with the turn around. My only complaint is with the shipping insurance. My label was filled out for only $600. My powerbook had 512Mb Ram, 30GbHD and an airport card. I valued my powerbook at something close to $900.
NOTE: It was also valued at $600 on the way back after receiving a $300 upgrade. I don't understand their math.
Now on to the speed. I love all the iSoftware. iTunes encoding went from 3.5x-4x upto 8.5x-9.3x. iTunes Visuals frame rate averages around 23 now. Before it was 19-20. I'm sure this isn't a very scientific test. Very pleased with iTunes' results. Obvisouly the Altivec helped here.
iPhoto is much easier to use, but is still very slugish sometimes. I have 1300 pictures in the library. I often export a group of pics from iPhoto to 640x480. This was easily twice as fast after the upgrade.
I am not much of a video junkie, but encoding in Quicktime was much faster.
My powerbook was a G3/400 and so far has had no problems with setting the cache speed to 200Mhz vs the original 160Mhz.
The fan has never come on in the past and has not come on once during the last week. I wish I could turn it on manually, just so that I know I have one.
I don't notice any extra battery life. If there is any it is small.
I never had a problem using OSX, but after the upgrade I definately notice a nice improvement. Applications open faster. Moving and re-sizing windows is much better. Hopefully Jagwire will be even better for this.
I definately recomend this upgrade. I give it a 9 only because of the shipping insurance issue.
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Originally posted by Jeffrey P. Kempster:
I definately recomend this upgrade. I give it a 9 only because of the shipping insurance issue.
Whew, that's awesome to hear, Jeffrey. I am really excited to send mine in, but I have to wait a bit because I'm going to be moving to Northern California in a few day... College
I also want to see if 10.2 can help me hold out a little longer for the upgrade, but I'll definitely be getting it eventually.
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I have been running a g4 upgrade in my pismo for a few days now. Stability and performance under X.1.5 are awesome ; however, my powerbook gets very hot. In fact, the fan came on, something that has never happened before. Apparently, the upgrade involves decreasing the voltage by exchanging two resistors on the CPU card. This little detail was overlooked in my upgrade, and without lower voltage, the thing runs hot.
--------------------------------------------------
Anybody with a g4 pismo that seems a little less cool than expected may wish to check on those resistors (need a magnifying glass, the numbers on the back of the resistors are tiny). Affected resistors are R111 and R113, located near the bottom edge of the card 1" from the right corner just beneath the upper RAM card.
If R111 reads 24C and R113 reads 74A, at least one of the resistors is incorrect (I don't know the correct numbers; maybe folks with an unaffected upgrade could check this out and post the correct numbers).
--------------------------------------------------
I'll have to send in my card to get it fixed...
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Jeffrey, Powerduck, and others who have the upgrade,
How is the Virtual PC performance with the new G4/500?
Any "snappier"? if you have Virtual PC, and have extra time, I would really appreciate a couple of Windows benchmarks...I still have my un-upgraded Pismo 400, I can run the same benchmark on mine, and we can compare...Just let me know what version of VPC, which benchmark, etc...
Thanks!
-Ching-Wei
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I don't have Virtual PC, but am like you and would like to see if the G4 helps out...
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iMac 500/256MB ram/30GB HD/CD-RW/10.2.3/9.2.2
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Quote:
--------------------------------------------------
Anybody with a g4 pismo that seems a little less cool than expected may wish to check on those resistors (need a magnifying glass, the numbers on the back of the resistors are tiny). Affected resistors are R111 and R113, located near the bottom edge of the card 1" from the right corner just beneath the upper RAM card.
If R111 reads 24C and R113 reads 74A, at least one of the resistors is incorrect
--------------------------------------------------
Got my card back: R111 is 23C and R113 is 74A
Runs a lot cooler now, but still not as cool as it used to.
Also installed Jag today - sweet!!
Pismo G4 500/1024/40 10.2 (6C115)
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Originally posted by seanyepez:
I just came back from Macworld, and my Pismo's off to PowerLogix. Just thought I'd give you guys an update. I'm looking forward to reviewing it!
Hi Seanyepez,
So, have you gotten your Pismo back from Powerlogix yet? I've been eagerly awaiting your review...
-Ching-Wei
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GAMES!!! performance requested! Quake I-III, Unreal, SOF, Warcraft3?
Regards,
PB
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