Upgrading a First Generation Power Mac G4
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Evan Kleiman - 2003.02.03
The G4 processor is the pinnacle of processing power. The whole time it has been around (since August 1999) it has been the best of the best compared to competing processors. However, many of the original G4s no longer seem the speed-demons they used to be.
Is it time to replace these 350 and 450 MHz computers with new ones? Of course not! This is Low End Mac!
Let's get started renovating your former PIII wreckers into the PC eaters they should be.
Processor speed is probably the biggest concern for speeding up
these computers, and it should probably be the major 
concern for anyone upgrading. Companies such as XLR8
and Sonnet make upgrade cards for the Power Mac G4, some running as
fast as 1 GHz! Low End Mac has an excellent page where you can
find an upgrade card to suit your needs.
Memory is another big concern for those using an older G4. They originally came with only 64 MB in the lowest models, but they can hold up to a half-gig. Adding on memory will definitely help. The PC100 SDRAM that the G4 uses can be found on the cheap. A quick look on eBay shows 256 MB sticks going for as little as US$30.
The next G4 slowdown is the video card. The original PowerMac G4s had two different configurations, each with a different type of video card. The "Yikes!" model, with a 350 or 400 MHz processor, supports PCI video cards, just like the Blue and White G3 it was based on, so card choices for this computer are rather limited today. There are a few Voodoo cards that will work with the PCI version, however, you might be better to spend your money on other upgrades for this computer, which we'll cover later. Adding a second video card, instead of replacing the one you have, will add the capability for multiple monitors, which is a whole other topic.
The "Sawtooth" version of this computer came with a 2X AGP port. AGP is another way of connecting a video card to a computer. It is much faster than PCI. For this computer, there is a plethora of available video cards. There all kinds of ATI cards that can be had very cheaply from after-market vendors, eBay, or even places like CompUSA.
Lastly, the 10 GB hard drive found in these Macs seemed huge three years ago. However, with MP3 and video editing an everyday use for many Mac users, a larger hard drive may be needed. The Power Mac G4s all use some flavor of an Ultra ATA drive (33 on the first Yikes, 66 thereafter). These drives are the cheapest to find. 60 GB 7200 RPM drives can be found for less than US$90.
For true speed-demons, a SCSI drive can be installed, too. However, since an additional SCSI card needs to be installed, prices can really climb here (in addition to the cost of the card, SCSI drives cost more than IDE drives), and since we're trying to stay under the price of buying a newer Mac, this probably isn't the best solution. Also keep in mind that some SCSI cards have problems with Mac OS X, so if you're running or plan to run OS X, do your homework.
Why buy a new computer when you can easily upgrade yours? There's no reason, especially with great resources such as eBay. Low end isn't necessarily slow.
Evan Kleiman has been writing for Low End Mac since January 1999. He also runs his own site, Evansite. Evan uses an iMac, along with some vintage hardware. You can read more about his computing experience in The Many Macs of Evan Kleiman.
Not sure if you should upgrade your old Mac or replace it? Check the Mac Daniel index to see if we've already addressed your problem.
Recent Mac Daniel columns
- Bringing G3 iMacs and other G3 Macs into the Tiger Age, Dan Knight, 12.07. Tips on hard drives, memory, WiFi, and getting Mac OS X 10.4 installed on G3 iMacs and other older G3 Macs.
- Multiple users on the same Mac at work, Dan Knight, 11.15. How to set up a Mac so multiple users can log in and use it - and use the same pool of work files.
- 1 working eMac from 2 broken ones, Dan Knight, 11.14. A pair of matching eMacs, each with a different failure, results in one working eMac and lots of leftovers.
- Problems running Classic mode in Tiger, Dan Knight, 11.08. After upgrading to Tiger, the old Classic installation stopped working. Where to find the pieces to get everything up to date.
- More in the Mac Daniel index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: Power Mac 8200, Apr. 1996 - The minitower version of 7200 was never sold in America.
- List of the Day: G4 List is for those using Power Mac G4s or G4 upgrades.
- October 7 in LEM history: 98: Love that PowerBook G3 - 99: Troubleshooting 101 - Love at first sight - 02: Hot rodding a Power Mac for OS X - Beefing up Windows networking - 05: Choose FireWire 800 over USB 2.0 and FireWire 400 - Faster Mac minis shipping - Speedy 100 GB 7200 rpm notebook drives
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- New Apple Notebooks at Zero Minus One Week, Charles W. Moore, 'Book Value, 10.07. It's widely anticipated that Apple will overhaul the MacBook Pro and MacBook lines next Tuesday. What should we expect?
- How to Clone Mac OS X to a New Hard Drive, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 10.07. Whether you want to put a bigger, faster drive in your Mac or clone OS X for use in another Mac, here's the simple process.
- Best 12" PowerBook G4 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.07. Used 867 MHz Combo, no APX, $490; 1.33 GHz, $496; 1.5 GHz SuperDrive, $542.
- Best Mac mini Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.07. Used 1.25 GHz G4 Combo, $399; 1.42 SuperDrive, $559; 1.66 Core Duo, $499; new 1.83 Core 2 Combo, $570 after rebate; 2.0 SD, $770 a/r.
- Best Power Mac G3 and PCI Video Card Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.07. Used beige 300 MHz, $25; 333, $198; blue & white 300, $49; 350, $55; 400, $90; 450, $105; PCI video cards from $15.
- $19,800 Bentley Ego Laptop Remarkably Similar to 1999 Clamshell iBook, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 10.06. Granted, Apple's iBook didn't have white gold trim, a padded leather exterior, or come in colors to match your Bentley automobile.
- The Cost of Moving to Small Business Server vs. Moving to Leopard Server., Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 10.06. Upgrading the existing SBS 2003 Server would cost less, the the server will run up against hardware limitations long before a Mac Pro does.
- Use Your FileMaker Pro Databases on Your iPhone, Adam Rosen, Adam's Apple, 10.06. Although there's no version of FileMaker Pro for the iPhone, FMTouch will let you use your data and layouts on it.
- Best eMac Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.06. Used 700 MHz CD, $110; CD-RW, $130; Combo, $170; 800 CD, $170; 1 GHz Combo, $250; SuperDrive, $280; 1.25 Combo, $290; SD, $360; 1.42 Combo, $359.
- Best MacBook Air Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.06. Used 1.6 HD, $1,299; refurb, $1,499; new, $1,669 after rebate; 1.8, $1,919 a/r; 1.6 SSD, $2,294 a/r; used 1.8 SSD, $1,997; refurb, $2,299; new, $2,349 a/r.
- Best iPod shuffle Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.06. Refurb 3G/1 GB, $39; 2 GB, $59; new 1 GB (3G or 4G), $47; 2 GB (3G or 4G), $67. Prices include ground shipping.
- Mac Netbook Coming?, $179 64 GB SSD, Apple Owns 20% of US Notebook Market, and More, The 'Book Review, 10.03. Also head of Norton AntiVirus team uses a Mac, Toshiba demos new battery technology, 1 TB notebook drives due in 2010, bargain 'Books from $150 to $2,699, and more.
- Getting the Most from Your G3 Mac, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 10.03. Most G3 Macs can be upgraded so they can run Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger' quite nicely. Here's how.
- Apple Drops iPhone NDA, Defecting to Android, Auto Performance Apps for the iPhone, and More, iNews Review, 10.03. Also more research needed on cellphone cancer link, file sharing app for the iPhone, three new power accessories from Macally, several new iPhone apps, and more.
- Best Power Mac G4 and AGP Video Card Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.03. Used 450 MHz, $75; 500, $99; 733, $150; 800, $199; 1.25 GHz, C$349; 867 MHz dual, $225; 1 GHz, $349; 1.25, $499; 1.42, $600.
- OS X and Safari Shares Grow in September, Toxic Mac Pro?, Green Hard Drives, and More, Mac News Review, 10.03. Also Vista terrible as Mac market grows, CrossOver Mac Pro reviewed, SimpleTech Pro Drives, and a new toolkit for working on computers.
- Best iBook G3 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.03. Used 300 MHz clamshell, $150; 366, $199; 500 CD, $149; 800, $190; 600 CD-RW, $240; 800 Combo, $300; 900, $399; 14" 600, $360; 900, $469.
- Best Mac OS X 10.0-10.3 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.03. Mac OS X 10.0.3, $30; 10.1, $20; 10.2, $60; 10.3 CD, DVD, $100; CD, $119; 10.1 Server, unlimited users, $65; 10.3 Server, unlimited, $150.
- More links in our archive.
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