[Kahloz]

I've been splitting my head open over this for a few weeks now, maybe someone can help me out.
I own a G4 500mhz, it runs well but slow when I use Dreamweaver, Flash, Photoshop and most games. Since the release of the G5 I've been itching to buy one, instead I bought myself an iPod /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
So here goes, I don't NEED any new computer but I'd like to have a faster Mac, I see that Powerlogix offers a 1.4ghz upgrade for my G4 500mhz for around 450$ Obviously the Front Side Buz will remain at 100mhz, and I got a gig of mem in my G4 now plus a 64mb Video card, dvd burner, and it works like it was just taken out of the box.
My dilema is, I can't justify buying an ibook or powerbook because it's still a G4, the iBook front-side bus mem is 133 (from what the guys at the apple store told me today) and the Powerbook is 166 (or 167) The iBook has a 32mb vid card at 1024x768, the powerbook has a 64mb vid card at 1280x768, memory wise the PB can go up to 2gigs (or something like that) while the iBook can only go up to 640mb (or around that)
If I SELL my G4, I'm sure I can get an easy 1000$ for it (similar models selling at that price without vid, mem and dvd burner which mine has) but then there's the hassle of selling it and the chance of loss (some models are selling as low as 600$)
What do ya'll suggest?
From the NEED point of view, I don't need it, I got a G4 500mhz and I got a beefed up PC which I use for gaming and internet. My Mac is just a second computer I've used for the last few years (for those wonderful times when Windows decides to die out every 3 - 6 months) /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
From the WANT point of view, I'd like portability, speed and graphics. I'd like to be able to play games, as well as do video editing and graphic rendering.
From Reality's point of view, I should just get a CPU upgrade and call it a night. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif But then, which is better? The Double Processor 933mhz for the G4 or the 1.4ghz Single Processor for the G4?
Oh decisions, decisions, life is so difficult... /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[my58vw]

Hello, I have been in a simular situation as you for some time now...
First some comments and questions...
500 MHz G4's do not go for 1000 even with video card and 1 GB ram... Prices may well have gone up in the past few weeks but I am not sure if 1000 is the correct price range. If it is the digital audio model 700 - 800 may be obtainable but that is also pushing it a little. I have seen quicksilvers with the same stuff around that price.
Now since we got past that...
The G5 is an awsome machiene in the dual processor models... I don't think that the 1.6 is anywhere as fast as the dual processor models and their are monay limitations to the 1.6 that has been discussed in other articles. Search for more information.
If you want portibilty then get a powerbook. There are some limitations to the powerbook though. Unless you get the 15 or 17 inch you are limiting your screen space with the laptop. Even the 15 inch is not that big compared to a 17 inch or larger studio display. The powerbooks are only G4's and are quick but are not superfast for some audio video photographic applications but will work. Plus look at the cost of these models, the 1.25 GHz powerbook 15 inch stock is 2599 tax apple care = 3000 out the door.

I would stay away from the ibook if you want to computer to be as fast as possible. With the memory limitations and the vga and no digital out for video plus no superdrive option and nothing faster than a 1 GHz chip they are not the best for applications mentioned above. The ibook is good for students and other people who are rough with notebooks. If that is you than the ibook may be for you.

Video rendering, editing you say... the ibook is not for you. The powerbook is nice for that but you will need an external hard disk for any major amount of importing as the 60 or 80 GB drive will fill fast with 14 GB hour useage. Same thing for gaming. Now while the powerbook will game don't expect PC or desktop level performance. If framerates are your thing than Halo will not be the game for the powerbook. (Don't flame me for that comment but I really need good framerates and while the powerbook is good it is still not as good as some G5's and PCs I have used).

What we have so far... G5 with dual processors - 2500 studio display 699 warrenty 150 so 3300 for the G5 out the door. The powerbook- 3000 out the door. The ibook - not what you need. The G4 - 500 dollars!
The powermacs will increse in speed alot with the processor. Read the reviews on XLRyourmac.com and see the reviews of the CPU's if you have not done so. With all the money that you have in the computer that is the best way to go for now. With a good graphics card (9800 mac ed rings a bell now) and the 1.4 GHz chip and the L3 cache your computer will be fsat enought to play all the games that you could want now and could extend the life of your machiene for some time.
This year we suspect that the powerbooks and G5's will increase a lot. If you wait and upgrade now, you will be better off. Your intuition pays off in the end. Just remeber what the new machene costs and how much the upgrades cost. The actual cost right now is the value of your mac (700) + the cost of the upgrade (500) and no more, that is 1200 dollars, that is half the cost of the cheepest option for what you want to do... many people have been happy with the upgrade and I will be doing the same to my 450 MHz as soon as I can get 500 dollars to do it.
Good Luck with your decision.

[Kahloz]

Well funny enough I had made a purchase for a Canon S50 digital camera from macmall and had ordered but then cancelled the 1.4ghz G4 upgrade...
It arrived the same day I posted this original thread and I decided to giveit a try.
I have to say that I am beyond SHOCKED, SURPRISED, and deliriously hpapy I decided to try the upgrade chip!
At 448$ it made my computer feel a brand new computer!
Normally it would take my computer up to seven minutes to unstuff a 150meg file, I tested it and it unstuffed it just under a minute!
I ran Unreal Tournament 2003 Demo on it at it's default settings at 800x600 full screen and normal/highest settings and it ran so smoothly!
When the demo first came out for OSX I tried it and was annoyed so much that it ran so slow and lagged so much even set at the lowest graphics settings.
(well, I tried putting an image link here but it only showed code, here is a link to that image if you scroll down a bit)
I'm very very very very very very very happy and glad I didn't choose to sell it.

[my58vw]

Glad to hear that... I will have to make the purchace soon

[Kahloz]

Well, I was going to give you a link to macmall.com where I got my upgrade but it doesn't seem to be there anymore.
POWERFORCE G4 100 1.4GHZ PROCESSOR
That's what I purchased for 448$ but the closest one I see is the dual-processor 933mhz G4 upgrade... I hope they didn't discontinue it, although if they did I'll demand at least 30% of the cost returned to me
this processor runs great, I can't say enough at how happy I am that I went for the upgrade (and digital camera, and ipod, and ps2 )
For those who don't have mommy and daddy to buy them things (wish I did) I highly suggest this upgrade to keep you happy for at least the next four years.
BIG THUMBS UP FROM KAHLOZ!!!