Miscellaneous Ramblings Mailbag
WallStreet CPU Upgrades, Quartz Extreme on Pismo, 64-bit Intel Future, Bad iTunes Track, and a TV/Monitor Solution
Charles Moore - 2005.06.27 - Tip Jar
Low End Mac Reader Specials
Memory To Go Special: New 2008 iMac 2GB $42 / iMac Intel Core2 DUO & MacBook Pro 2GB $36 - 1GB $20. MacPro 8 Core Memory 8GB kit $286 / 4GB kit $143 / 2GB kit $93 -- Free shipping available. LIfetime warranty.
Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com
LA Computer Company: Specials on AppleCare, iMac's, Apple Batteries and Apple A/C Adapters. Also Great prices on Used Apple Computers. Call 1-800-941-7654 Click Here.
Other World Computing has the Upgrades, Enhancements, and Accessories for getting the most from your Mac. Quality Products, Competitive Prices, Expert Support Staff - www.macsales.com
Mac users can finally play Party Poker for Mac. Not only that, they can also learn how to play PokerStars for Mac.
Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.
Compare products like desktop computers, laptops, and LCD TVs side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for a new cell phone GPS products or MP3 players. The Ciao network makes searching products easy for you.
- WallStreet Upgrade Question
- Enabling Quartz Extreme on Pismo
- 64-bit Intel Future
- Intel Already Has 64-bit CPUs
- Bad iTunes Track Update
- 19" Samsung LCD Monitor/TV
- Re: Pismo Upgrade and TV Tuner Question
WallStreet Upgrade Question
From Cliff Dickerson:
Charles,
Hello. I enjoyed your article on upgrading PowerBook G3s. It was very helpful. I have a question maybe you have some time to answer for me.
I bought a PowerBook G3 Wallstreet II (233 MHz, 512 KB cache) for $100 for my mom who is leaving to Africa and needed something sturdy for email and journal entrees. Also she is new to computers, and making her use Windows XP was not an option.
I have added a low profile 256 meg chip to the "service tech" RAM slot on the CPU board and another "taller" 256 chip to the user accessible RAM slot. I have also added a 40 GB Toshiba hard drive and USB 2.0 and 802.11b PCMCIA cards.
My question is what CPU boards from other PowerBook G3s can I purchase, either from an "upgrade" company or used from eBay or something, for example a Pismo or Lombard CPU board? the 233 MHz is still very slow, even for just email and text file editing.
Thanks very much for your time!
-Cliff
Hi Cliff,
You might be able to swap in a processor daughtercard from a faster WallStreet II (266 MHz or 300 MHz). The Lombard and Pismo daughtercards will definitely not work.
My suggestion, if you want more processor power without spending too much money, would be to check out the modestly priced to G3 WallStreet upgrades from Wegener Media:
- G3/400, $99.99
- G4/500, $219
Charles
Enabling Quartz Extreme on Pismo
From Jonny:
Hey Charles,
Long time reader, first time writer. I wanted to bring this program [PCI Extreme!] to your attention, as I figured it may work on your Pismo, as my friend has ran it fine on his 500 MHz iBook, which has the same graphics board and 8 MB of VRAM.
I have also ran this on my Power Mac G4 PCI and a Radeon 7000, and it works beautifully. The Fast User Switching works smoothly, Dashboard has no jitters, etc. Its a great program. I figured you may wanna give it a shot on your Pismo. :)
Enjoy!
- Jonny
Hi Jonny,
I had heard of this hack but didn't realize that it might work on laptops. Sounds like it's worth a try. Thanks for the tip!
Charles
UPDATE: Several readers have reported that PCI Extreme! requires ATI Radeon video and does not support earlier ATI video chipsets, such as the ATI Rage video found in older Macs.
- Link: PCI Extreme! 3.1
64-bit Intel Future
From Scott Selby:
Perhaps Steve knew this before the announcement.
Intel Shifts Pentium 4 to 64 Bits
ExtremeTech reports:
"Intel shifted the majority of its Pentium 4 processors to 64-bit capability over the weekend.
"Intel quietly introduced the Intel 5x1 series, which shifts the existing 775-pin, 32-bit Pentium 4 line - known as the 5xx series - to 64-bit memory addressing."
Perhaps you might not need 64 bits, I know that I don't need much more than my 400 MHz iMac to do most of the work that I do with a computer. It is nice to know that Apple isn't taking a step backward from the G5 to a 32-bit processor.
Scott Selby
Intel Already Has 64-bit CPUs
From Ed Hurtley:
This is a response to one of your "Macintel letters" - from Scott Selby.
Scott writes: "As of the last time that I checked, Intel still has not released a 64-bit [x86] processor. What justification is there for going with a 32-bit Intel when the [64-bit] Athlon exists?"
Intel does, indeed, have 64-bit x86 processors. Their Xeon line has used the x86-64 extension for months now (Intel calls it 'EMT' for 'Extended Memory Technology', but it really is an implementation of AMD's 64-bit extensions to the x86 ISA.) And 64-bit Pentium 4's are just now hitting the market. With a year to go before even the first Mac, Intel will likely have their entire line of processors supporting 'EMT', making them 64-bit.
Some links that show 64-bit support:
- Xeon: http://intel.com/products/processor/xeon/index.htm
- Pentium D (This is the new name for the dual-core, 64-bit enabled Pentium 4 core): http://intel.com/products/processor/pentium_D/index.htm
- Pentium 4: http://intel.com/products/processor/pentium4/index.htm
(Some models support 64-bit.)
Ed Hurtley
Bad iTunes Track Update
From Owen Strawn:
Apple was kind enough to offer me a refund (though they haven't posted it yet), so I deleted the tracks from my library and ordered the CD from Amazon. Guess what? The clipping is just as bad on the CD - as far as I can tell it is identical (not hardly surprising, I suppose). So it isn't actually an iTunes problem.
Owen
Thanks for the update, Owen.
Charles
19" Samsung LCD Monitor/TV
From Marion in response to Pismo Upgrade and TV Tuner Question:
My husband bought a Samsung 19" LCD from Sam's (he bought at $540, I think). I has a place to plug in a TV cable and works a treat. I just bought a second one, and it was $499. Great screen, big, clear and TV.
Marion
Thanks Marion.
Charles
Re: Pismo Upgrade and TV Tuner Question
From Ben Funk:
Oh, neat! I'll check in to those.
The route I ended up taking was an ATI Xclaim VR/TV combo. When it comes time for a new monitor, however, I'll certainly check out LCD's with the built in tuner.
Thanks for passing that along.
Letters sent may be published at our discretion. Email addresses
will not be published unless requested. If you prefer that your
message not be published, mark it "not for publication." Letters
may be edited for length, context, and to match house style.
Charles Moore has been a freelance journalist since 1987 and writing for Mac websites since May 1998. His The Road Warrior column is a regular feature on MacOpinion, and he is a news editor and columnist at Applelinks.com.
Recent Miscellaneous Ramblings
- 3 Reasons to Use a Mac, and Pismo Troubleshooting, 10.15. Why one Windows user is also a Mac user, a Pismo that can't see its AirPort card, and sources of kernel panics.
- The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Apple Design, 10.15. Apple has produced some beautiful computers and iPods over the years, but also a few of the ugliest and most ungainly computers ever seen.
- The Power of Older Macs, Why Vista Only Sees 3 GB of RAM, Wangwriter Supplies, and More, 10.08. Also the end of an era as MIT HyperArchive shuts down and another suggestion for profiling Windows computers.
- $19,800 Bentley Ego Laptop Remarkably Similar to 1999 Clamshell iBook, 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.
- More in the Miscellaneous Ramblings index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: Macintosh LC, Oct. 1990 - only 3" tall, the LC was the least expensive color Mac in 1990.
- List of the Day: The iPhone List Low End Mac's forum for discussing and supporting Apple's iPhone.
- October 15 in LEM history: 90: Mac IIsi, LC, and Classic - 97: Yale threatens to drop Mac support - 99: Decelerate your Mac - Time magazine on Jobs and Apple - 01: Is Microsoft the enemy? - 02: Confessions of a Mac to PC convert - The IT job market - 03: Microsoft's holding pattern - 04: October 1990: The first low-end Macs - Dual core 'Books - 07: When to pick Tux - SteelSeries 4D the best mousepad ever? - Irrational rantings of an Intel hater
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- The October 2008 MacBook Value Equation, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 10.15. Apple changed the entire MacBook lineup on Tuesday. How do close-out prices compare to the new ones?
- G3 and Low End G4 Mac Performance Comparison, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 10.15. Factors that impact performance are the version of CPU, the size and speed of the Level 2 cache, and how much RAM is installed.
- Best MacBook Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.15. Used 1.83 GHz, $649; 2.0 SD, $750; refurb 2.1 GHz, $849; 2.4, $1,049; black, $1,099; new 2.1, $869 after rebate; 2.4, $1,175 a/r; black, $1,194 a/r.
- Best 15" MacBook Pro Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.15. Used 2.0 GHz Core Duo, $1,000; 2.16, $1,100; refurb, 2.4, $1,349; new, $1,444 after rebate; refurb 2.5, $1,499; new, $1,644 a/r; refurb 2.6, $1,799; new, $2,594 a/r.
- Best MacBook Air Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.15. Used 1.6 80 HD, $1,200; refurb, $1,349; new, $1,549; 1.8 120, $1,999; 1.6 128 SSD, $2,299; used 1.8 64 SSD, $1,800; new, $2,100.
- MacBook (Unibody), 10.14. The MacBook gets the same aluminum treatment as the MacBook Pro - and dedicated GeForce 9400M graphics.
- 15" MacBook Pro (Unibody), 10.14. The new MacBook Pro's case is carved from a block of aluminum for increased strength.
- MacBook Air (GeForce), 10.14. More storage, a video port, and GeForce 9400M graphics improve the MacBook Air.
- MacBook White, 10.14. Entry-level white MacBook gets a SuperDrive, retail price reduced to US$999.
- Death of the iPod 'Way Off in the Future', Tim Nash, Taking Back the Market, 10.14. Someday Apple will decide that the iPod is no longer profitable and discontinue it, "but that day looks to be way off in the future."
- Best Intel iMac Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.14. Used 20" 1.83 GHz, $599; 2.0, $730; 2.16, $800; 24", $950; refurb 17" 1.83, $699; 20" 2.0, $949; 2.4, $999; 2.66, $1,299; 24" 2.4, $1,299; 2.8, $1,549; 3.06, $1,899; rebates on new.
- Best iBook G3 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.14. Used 300 MHz clamshell, $150; 366, $199; 500 CD, $149; 800, $190; 600 DVD, $200; CD-RW, $240; 700 Combo, $250; 900, $369; 14" 600, $230; 900, $449.
- Best Classic iPod Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.14. Used 60 GB color, $150; used 30 video, $140; 80, $170; refurb 80 classic, $169; new 120 GB, $240; refurb 160 GB, $249; new, $280. New & refurb include shipping.
- Will Apple's Rumored $800 Notebook Be a Netbook?, Charles W. Moore, 'Book Value, 10.13. Netbooks are hot, and with the economy in turmoil, Apple needs to offer a netbook for the OS X crowd.
- Best Titanium PowerBook G4 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.13. Used 667 MHz Combo, $480; 867 MHz, $530; 1 GHz, $590; SuperDrive, $900.
- Best Classic Mac OS Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.13. System 6, $10; 7.1, $12; 7.5.1, $4; Mac OS 7.6, $13; 8.0, $13; 8.1, $48; 8.5, $25; 8.6, $20; 9.0, $20; 9.2.2, $20; more.
- Best Xserve Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.13. Used G4/1 GHz, $999; G5/2 GHz, $1,499; new 2.0 4-core Xeon, $1,900; refurb 3.0 4-core, $2,299; 2.8 GHz, $2,599; 3.0 8-core, $3,499; 3.2, $3,699.
- More links in our archive.
About LEM | Support | Usage | Privacy | Contacts
Have a question?
Ask an expert!
Navigation
Used Mac Dealers
Apple History
Best Used Macs
Video Cards
Email Lists
InfoMac's Low
End Mac Forum
Favorite Sites
MacSurfer
MacMinute
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
Macs Only!
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac
Museum
DealMac
DealsOnTheWeb
Mac2Sell
ramseeker
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System
6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End
Mac FAQ
Abandonware
Petition
Mac vs. PC Info
Affiliates
The Apple
Store
Mac
Connection
MacMall
TechRestore
MacResQ
ExperCom
Crucial
Memory
batteries.com
Advertise
