G4 Dual 450 CPU Upgrade Question
I just got a MAC G4 DUAL 450 AGP system and I'd like to know if I can get faster CPU's for it - something real simple to install and easy to buy.
Thanks!
Thanks!
MAC G4 DUAL 450 AGP, Mac OS 9.2.x
10 replies
Hi
Processor upgrades are available from a number of manufacturers including Giga Designs, Sonnet and OWC/PowerLogix:
http://www.gigadesigns.com/
http://www.sonnettech.com/
http://www.macsales.com/
All of the above sites have the installation manuals and/or QuickTime movies available for download, so you can see what would be involved.
Processor upgrades are available from a number of manufacturers including Giga Designs, Sonnet and OWC/PowerLogix:
http://www.gigadesigns.com/
http://www.sonnettech.com/
http://www.macsales.com/
All of the above sites have the installation manuals and/or QuickTime movies available for download, so you can see what would be involved.
it's sometimes a ***** tho because some of the upgrades require you to be running the latest firmware which means you have to install os 9
Thanks for your replies!
I received this G4 (SAWTOOTH) as a gift and I'm a slight newbie to Mac's (MS user). I've successfully upgraded it to OS X 10.4.7 and have been using it primarily for my 3 1/2 year old twins for education and I am very pleased with the G4 and operating system.
Based on your replies I have been doing a lot of reading on CPU updates and I was wondering which brand would be the most reliable? I want to get a dual CPU upgrade over 1 GHz in speed but I don't want troubles. WILL OS X 10.4.x TIGER support these CPU upgrades? Also, do all native OS X programs use dual processors if they are present? If not can I just put a super fast single CPU upgrade in it's place to save money and benefit from it's speed?
Thanks!
I received this G4 (SAWTOOTH) as a gift and I'm a slight newbie to Mac's (MS user). I've successfully upgraded it to OS X 10.4.7 and have been using it primarily for my 3 1/2 year old twins for education and I am very pleased with the G4 and operating system.
Based on your replies I have been doing a lot of reading on CPU updates and I was wondering which brand would be the most reliable? I want to get a dual CPU upgrade over 1 GHz in speed but I don't want troubles. WILL OS X 10.4.x TIGER support these CPU upgrades? Also, do all native OS X programs use dual processors if they are present? If not can I just put a super fast single CPU upgrade in it's place to save money and benefit from it's speed?
Thanks!
Not all programs will use both processors, but even if they don't, there are enough other things running to use the other processor that you will get a speedup anyway. Before considering a faster CPU, make sure you have the maximum RAM the machine can use. CPU upgrades are expensive, and can have problems.
I had a single CPU Sawtooth (AGP) 400 and upgraded it to a Sonnet 1Ghz single. Very easily. I would consider your expected use of the Mac if you are thinking of a Dual upgrade.
Yes it will provide a overall performace upgrade for regular programs but it maximize the CPU's output, you would probably need to do some DVD rendering or Quicktime movie rendering. Otherwise, a decent single CPU (i.e. 1.4GHZ or higher) would work quite well and not be as expensive as a dual.
Rodney has indicated several good sites for those upgrades. Macsales is very good about warranty too.
Also it was indicated that your memory should be maxed out if possible. I believe that 2 GIG is the max for your system (1.5G in OS 9). I am running 1 G in mine and I use it as a backup system for DVD rendering for my G5. It works well but there is always a "NEED FOR SPEED", and if I had more Memory and Higher CPU speed it would function better.
Just think about your future needs and buy accordingly. But it is possible to buy Remanufactured Macmini on Apples web site for under $500 ($479 actually) for this model as of today...
Refurbished Mac mini 1.5GHz Intel Core Solo
512MB memory (667MHz DDR2 SDRAM)
60GB Serial ATA hard drive
Combo drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
Built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0
Apple Remote
Just think before you spend...
ROA #58 There is no substitute for QAPLA!
Yes it will provide a overall performace upgrade for regular programs but it maximize the CPU's output, you would probably need to do some DVD rendering or Quicktime movie rendering. Otherwise, a decent single CPU (i.e. 1.4GHZ or higher) would work quite well and not be as expensive as a dual.
Rodney has indicated several good sites for those upgrades. Macsales is very good about warranty too.
Also it was indicated that your memory should be maxed out if possible. I believe that 2 GIG is the max for your system (1.5G in OS 9). I am running 1 G in mine and I use it as a backup system for DVD rendering for my G5. It works well but there is always a "NEED FOR SPEED", and if I had more Memory and Higher CPU speed it would function better.
Just think about your future needs and buy accordingly. But it is possible to buy Remanufactured Macmini on Apples web site for under $500 ($479 actually) for this model as of today...
Refurbished Mac mini 1.5GHz Intel Core Solo
512MB memory (667MHz DDR2 SDRAM)
60GB Serial ATA hard drive
Combo drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
Built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0
Apple Remote
Just think before you spend...
ROA #58 There is no substitute for QAPLA!
I've just upgraded my G4 Dual 500 with a Powerlogix G4 Dual 1.3 from MacSales/OWC. I am pleasantly surprised with the increase of speed. OWC walked me through the firmware upgrade on the phone. I didn't need the Apple one, but did need the Powerlogix one provided on a bootable CD-ROM.
By the way, I added a DVD/CD burner as replacement to the old DVD-RAM drive. Install was easy. However, Apple Profiler reports it is "not supported". I'll have to play around with this.
By the way, I added a DVD/CD burner as replacement to the old DVD-RAM drive. Install was easy. However, Apple Profiler reports it is "not supported". I'll have to play around with this.
you'll be able to find a driver somewhere for it - my cheap (£30) pioneer cd/dvd rw went in with no fuss.
Talk to a pro. Try Other World Computing or go to XLR*yourmac.com and go thru their databases.
You can download Patchburn at WWW.PATCHBURN.DE which should help to solve that problem.
HTH
HTH
G4 Dual 450 CPU Upgrade Question