Upgrading G4

A

andrew_fenner

Guest
I currently have a G4 Mac with the following spec (don't laugh):
G4 (AGP Graphics), Power PC G4 (2.8), 400hz, Mem 348Mb, Bus 100Mhz, Boot ROM 3.22f1, HD 10MB (oh go on then, laugh).

I would like to upgrade this machine, ideally with a view to run Final Cut Pro. I can easily fit a 160GB HD, and upgrade the memory, but I would also need to upgrade the processor.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what size processor I need to go to, and reccomend any makes?

Thanks.
 
Joined
Oct 18, 2004
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Your Mac's Specs
MacBook: 2GHz, 2GB RAM, 120GB HD; PowerTower Pro (300MHz G3 clone): 608MB RAM, 10GB HD
andrew_fenner said:
I currently have a G4 Mac with the following spec (don't laugh):
G4 (AGP Graphics), Power PC G4 (2.8), 400hz, Mem 348Mb, Bus 100Mhz, Boot ROM 3.22f1, HD 10MB (oh go on then, laugh).

I would like to upgrade this machine, ideally with a view to run Final Cut Pro. I can easily fit a 160GB HD, and upgrade the memory, but I would also need to upgrade the processor.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what size processor I need to go to, and reccomend any makes?

Thanks.

I have a 1.4 GHz gigadesigns processor upgrade in my PM G4. If I were you I would go to OWC at www.macsales.com and find the fastest processor in your pricerange and go for it. All of the brands that they sell are good and if there is any problem OWC has really good customer service and will take care of it. Your computer probably won't support dual processor upgrades so don't go that route.
 
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Location
Luxemburg, Europe
Your Mac's Specs
PowerMac G5 Dual 2GHz (June 2004), 2.5GB, Airport, black 5G iPod 30GB, white MacBook 2.0 2GB
andrew_fenner said:
I currently have a G4 Mac with the following spec (don't laugh):
G4 (AGP Graphics), Power PC G4 (2.8), 400hz, Mem 348Mb, Bus 100Mhz, Boot ROM 3.22f1, HD 10MB (oh go on then, laugh).

I would like to upgrade this machine, ideally with a view to run Final Cut Pro. I can easily fit a 160GB HD, and upgrade the memory, but I would also need to upgrade the processor.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what size processor I need to go to, and reccomend any makes?

Thanks.

You can't fit a 160GB in a stock G4 older than the MDD. It will only recognise 128GB, which is the limitation of the old IDE controller. To use bigger disks, you'd need a PCI IDE-controler card.
But honestly, if you want to use Final Cut Pro seriously, that Mac is not a good option. Even with maxed out RAM, the fastest CPU you can get (preferably Dual CPU), you will still be limited by the 100MHz bus speed. Needless to say that at that price you could get a newer and faster Mac anyway.
 

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