Cheapest CPU Upgrade??

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Level 2

342 points

Cheapest CPU Upgrade??

I just sold my 17" MBP because of the new speed bump, yet I wasn't aware that the new screen in the 17" wasn't LED as is the 15" and I really disliked the screen I had because of it's unevenness. So I'm going to wait a while and see where things go.

In the mean time I'm back into my Pismo 400 and kind of continuing where I left off, the CPU. Yet this time I'm not going to do Daystar, Fastmac etc., their prices just don't make sence for me. I was wondering what the absolute cheapest way is to bump up to a faster CPU, even if it's just a 500Mhz. Ebay? Other? Or where I can pick up a G4 CPU that will work and be cost effective.

Thanks for any help,
Tony

17" MBP C2D, 20" iMac C2D, iPod 30gb 5th Gen, MDD 1.25,, Mac OS X (10.4.9), Sawtooth 1.4ghz (ATI 9800), Pismo 400, BeigeG3 400MT

Posted on Jun 19, 2007 2:00 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 28, 2007 8:24 AM in response to Tony Giordano

Cheapest CPU upgrade? That would be a new Mac, I think. Seriously - those CPU upgrades are really expensive and they generally require the CPU card to be returned to the vendor. A second hand PowerBook G4 would be a better bet. Other than that, try to find a broken 500MHz Pismo on eBay.

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Answer 2

Doctor X

Level 1

5 points

Aug 15, 2007 8:42 AM in response to Tony Giordano

You can easily upgrade to a G4 550 MHz for about $200-$250. You will not get a decent used Mac for that price unless you are very lucky. This assumes you have upgraded your RAM to the 1G. That costs about another $140 depending on vendor and what chips you already have.

So, as with the responder noted, you have to add up the cost and see if you can get a better Mac for the price.

Here is an older article on the subject with links to some companies: LowEndMac.

If you look for upgrades, you will see a number of companies that will want you to send you your computer--through a box--do this or that, and pay about ~$350. Changing the processor is easier than changing the memory, which you may know, or you will know if you go to ifixit. Depending on the type, you just have to be sure the heat sink is in contact with the processor--which is almost impossible for it not to be, seriously. This saves you a lot of money. Comparing, you are looking at about $200-250.

Going from 400 MHz to 500 MHz for a G3 is not going to do much for you. You have to do a processor upgrade to a G4 550.

Wegener sells a simple kit--the paste, the torque wrench, and all that which you send back with your old processor board--which he uses to make more methinks. That was the cheapest one I found for about $200. You have to give a deposit for the kit which gets refunded after you send it back. The guy who runs it is a schmuck to deal with sometimes. He tries to make replacing one or sorting out problems far more arcane then it is. He will tell you the processor runs cool. It does not; it will run hot. That little fan that never turned on? It will turn on. However, I have had his processor for a little over a year and have not had a problem.

I use a cooling plate powered off the USB and have no problems with over-heating--fan never turns on now.

You really need a G4 to run the OS X, your browser, all of those good things. Otherwise, get use to very slow on a G3 400-500.

The article has a broken link to Daystar, the functioning one is Daystar. If you send your parts to them, the price is comparable.

--J.D.

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