Couple of G4 questions

stugotz006 · Mar 30, 2005

Hey everyone. I have one of the very first G4s made, the 350mhz model (PCI, I think) I got it in 1999 for graduation.

1.) It only has a CD reader, no burner.
When shopping for an internal one, I only find SCSI/IDE connectivity, which I don't think will work. Will it? The back of them look different than the drive in my machine. Am I missing something here? Do I have to spring for an external?

2.) As for upgrading my RAM, will any typoe of SDRAM work? In the manual it calls for PC100, unbuffered, 168 pin, “no more than 16 memory modules.” How important is the last part?

Any good links would be much appreciated. Sorry for the dumb questions, but I am mainly just a graphics guy with limited hardware knowledge. Thanks in advance!

-Stu

TTheInfamous1 · Mar 30, 2005

I cant really comment here as I am new to Macs.

I think however, you may need to use the same RAM that it calls for. Someone else may be able to help out in detail here.

IMO, no question is dumb. Just some comments are.

stugotz006 · Mar 30, 2005

Look at this:
http://faq.arstechnica.com/link.php?i=897

It says as long as you have better than a G3, you can use “PC-66, PC-100, PC-133 or SO-DIMM SDRAM, just like PCs!

WHAT!? So is my original RAM question answered here?

Padawan · Mar 30, 2005

Macs can at times be a bit "picky" with RAM, so I would highly recommend that you purchase memory that completely meets Apple's stated requirements for your system. I personally only by my memory from sellers that test and guarantee 100% compatibility, so I can be certain it won't cause any problems in my machine.

deus_ex_machina · Mar 30, 2005

http://www.transintl.com/store/category.cfm?Category=31&RequestTimeOut=500
you can order upgrades here...no answer for the CD burner...theres mention of SCSI adapters going from 68-50 pin but I don't know what's in the AGP G4. Hope this helps.

stugotz006 · Mar 30, 2005

Thanks. What confuses me the most is what kind of G4 I really have. I found photos of the backs of the PCI and AGP machines, so I'll compare them when I get home (to the cpu in question) Of course the CD drive connects via IDE “ribbon” or whatever, but the back of mine is totally different than ones I see on tigerdirect for example. I will also take pics and post them tonight. Maybe you guys will know more from them.

-Stu

deus_ex_machina · Mar 30, 2005

you're gonna like this...
http://www.lowendmac.com/ppc/g4.shtml
this should help

stugotz006 · Mar 30, 2005

Dude, thanks so much, that's a great link! I definitely have the PCI unit. I just ordered 2 sticks of 256 RAM for a total of $92 shipped. Now on to the optical drive. The DVD±RW drive in that link is a great price, but can I burn music CDs to play in the car and stuff?

-Stu

deus_ex_machina · Mar 31, 2005

definitely....MP3 CDs if your deck can play it

stugotz006 · Mar 31, 2005

Upon more careful reading of the features, it does mention CD-RW

I found a much cheaper LG CD-RW burner that I think I'll go with, but they don't say if it supports MAC compatible software, like Toast. It has ATAPI connectivity, which is what I need instead of IDE. Here's the link: http://www.axiontech.com/prdt.php?src=FG&item=65076
I emailed LG. Let's see how long it takes for a response.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

-Stu

jhelm007 · Mar 31, 2005

stugotz006 said:
Upon more careful reading of the features, it does mention CD-RW

I found a much cheaper LG CD-RW burner that I think I'll go with, but they don't say if it supports MAC compatible software, like Toast. It has ATAPI connectivity, which is what I need instead of IDE. Here's the link: http://www.axiontech.com/prdt.php?src=FG&item=65076
I emailed LG. Let's see how long it takes for a response.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

-Stu

You could check the drive compatibility database on www.xlr8yourmac.com. If there is no listing and you get the LG drive to work you could post a review so others can benefit from your experience.

good luck

dtravis7 · Mar 31, 2005

A Little late but this might help in the future!

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58418

I have a Yikes PCI G4 here. Those 256 Meg Simms you ordered should work fine. What will not work is 512 Meg Simms or some of the newer 256 Meg High Density RAM. Most of it has very few chips on one side. I have tried a few of those that will not work.

I have done a lot with that system, so if you have any more questions down the line just ask. I use it as a Server now on the Mac side of things.

It's been a very reliable machine.

Subzero3886 · Mar 31, 2005

I'd say you upgrade your machine stu... I just bet that you computer might not beable to perform many Ram aquiring programs and VRAM

stugotz006 · Apr 13, 2005

Update: My RAM worked fine (640 megs now.) I got Panther from MacMall and I love it! It is very sluggish though. Can I really benefit from a Sonnet Processor upgrade? I am thinking going up to 800mhz will be a night and day difference.

I ordered a LiteOn internal burner from MacMall, and when I got it, it wan't compatible!
Everything hooked up and went in correctly, but my machine just never recognized it.
I called tech support at MacMall and they said that absolutely NO LitOn products are Mac compatible. This got me pretty pissed, since the website listed this one, and most all the other LitOns as PC&Mac. I let them know about it and they said they will make correctons to the site. We'll see :/

I finally ordered an external CD-RW / DVD ROM directly from Iomega. I KNOW this will work, because it ships with Mac software (CharisMac Discribe.)

D3v1L80Y · Apr 13, 2005

stugotz006 said:
Update: My RAM worked fine (640 megs now.) I got Panther from MacMall and I love it! It is very sluggish though. Can I really benefit from a Sonnet Processor upgrade? I am thinking going up to 800mhz will be a night and day difference.

You will definitely see a difference, but if you are willing to spend the $300 on an upgrade card, you may want to consider just getting a Mini. I know this sounds like a generic reply..."Just get a new computer"...but you would really see a bigger benefit, IMO.

stugotz006 · Apr 13, 2005

The fact that the Mini isn't very expandable makes me nervous. I feel like I am going to become a computer junkie now or something!

dtravis7 · Apr 13, 2005

stugotz006 said:
Update: My RAM worked fine (640 megs now.) I got Panther from MacMall and I love it! It is very sluggish though. Can I really benefit from a Sonnet Processor upgrade? I am thinking going up to 800mhz will be a night and day difference.

I ordered a LiteOn internal burner from MacMall, and when I got it, it wan't compatible!
Everything hooked up and went in correctly, but my machine just never recognized it.
I called tech support at MacMall and they said that absolutely NO LitOn products are Mac compatible. This got me pretty pissed, since the website listed this one, and most all the other LitOns as PC&Mac. I let them know about it and they said they will make correctons to the site. We'll see :/

I finally ordered an external CD-RW / DVD ROM directly from Iomega. I KNOW this will work, because it ships with Mac software (CharisMac Discribe.)

Some LiteOns will work fine in Macs. I have one of the few that does not work properly. It works as a CDDrive but not in any of the I-Apps like IDVD ETC. Other LiteOns work just fine though. Go with something that for sure comes with Mac software or that is on a list of approved drives.

rman · Apr 14, 2005

dtravis7 said:
Some LiteOns will work fine in Macs. I have one of the few that does not work properly. It works as a CDDrive but not in any of the I-Apps like IDVD ETC. Other LiteOns work just fine though. Go with something that for sure comes with Mac software or that is on a list of approved drives.

Try getting a copy of patchburn. From what I have read here and other places, you should be able to use your burner with your iApps.

stugotz006 · Apr 20, 2005

Update: I now have an external Iomega and it doesn't work with Apple software

Patchburn 3.1 didn't solve anyhthing either, but someone said I should try repairing permisisons. I will try that when I get home today. I think I will just return it and get a firewire LaCie.

Couple of G4 questions

stugotz006

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TTheInfamous1

stugotz006

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Padawan

deus_ex_machina

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deus_ex_machina

stugotz006

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deus_ex_machina

stugotz006

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jhelm007

dtravis7

Subzero3886

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stugotz006

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D3v1L80Y

stugotz006

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dtravis7

rman

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