Upgrade the Power Mac or Buy a Mac mini?
Dan Knight - 2006.11.30 - Tip Jar
Low End Mac Reader Specials
Memory To Go Special: MacPro 8 Core Memory 4GB kit $154 / 2GB kit $94, New 2008 iMac 2GB $46. MacBook Pro / MacMini / iMac Intel Core2 DUO 2GB $44 / 1GB $23--Free shipping available.
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.
New iMac 800Mhz Memory 4GB $90, 2GB $45 - Click to Maximize your Macs...
One of the things we love about the Power Mac G4 design at Low End Mac is how expandable it is. All the models with AGP video support up to 1.5 GB of RAM or more, have several hard drive bays, and make it easy to swap out the CPU for a faster one.
FastMac makes a 1.5 GHz upgrade for everything from Sawtooth through Quicksilver. Newer Tech has G4 upgrades running at up to 2.0 GHz for the same models, as well as dual processor models as fast as 1.8 GHz. Sonnet's Encore/ST G4 reaches 1.8 GHz, and the Encore/ST G4 Duet includes a pair of 1.6 or 1.8 GHz CPUs for the same range of Power Macs.
You can plug these into G4 Power Macs that shipped with a single 350 MHz CPU for up to 6x the processing power, or into a 1 GHz Quicksilver to double CPU power - and that's just using a single 2.0 GHz CPU. With dual 1.8 GHz G4s, OS X can handle even more heavy lifting with ease.
Something's Missing
Curiously missing from most of the vendors listed above are upgrades for the Mirror Drive Door G4s. These models include 867 MHz, 1.0 GHz, 1.25 GHz, and 1.42 GHz dual CPU machines as well as 1.0 GHz and 1.25 GHz single processor Power Macs.
I own one of these, and it's my workhorse computer with a pair of 1 GHz G4 CPUs, 1.75 GB of RAM, and a 250 GB 7200 rpm hard drive. It's plenty fast for everything but video work. If I did a lot of that, I'd very much want a pair of 1.5-2.0 GHz CPUs.
As I researched this article, I discovered that GigaDesigns makes a processor upgrade for the Mirror Drive Door Power Macs. This "brain transplant" puts a pair of PowerPC 7455 G4 CPUs in your MDD Power Mac, and for US$499 it boosts CPU speed to 1.33 GHz. That's not a whole lot for most of these Power Macs.
I later discovered that Sonnet has a new Encore/MDX upgrade with a pair of 1.6 GHz CPUs at US$500 and 1.8 GHz CPUs at US$600. Now we're talking serious upgrades - the slowest is 10% faster than the fastest Power Mac G4, and the fastest is 26% faster. Compared with the entry-level 867 MHz dual, we're looking at 85% to 107% improvements!
I definitely found the value leader in MDD upgrades. My 1 GHz dual would run 60-80% faster, trimming 37-45% from the time spent processing the video work I do. I'm not sure I could justify $500-600 for such an upgrade just to speed up digitizing video, importing it into iMovie, and converting iMovie projects to iDVD, but it's nice to know these upgrades are available.
One Alternative to a $600 CPU Upgrade
Since video is really the only thing I do that really taxes my computer, there's another $600 option. I could buy a Mac mini Core Duo and use it to do all of my video processing. I'd guess it would run 3-4x as fast as my 2002 Power Mac.
It's a tempting thought. I'd really like to try an "Intel" Mac, and since I don't do 3D gaming, one of the mini's biggest drawbacks (for some users) isn't a significant factor for me. And if I use it with a big, fast, external hard drive, the limitations of the mini's notebook drive become a moot point.
Tempting. The only question is which would be my primary computer. Would I continue to use the Power Mac for the bulk of my work, leaving the Mac mini to handle my video work (and maybe adding a TV tuner)? Or would the Mac mini quickly become my primary computer, relegating the Power Mac to the task of burning DVDs and giving mw quick and easy access to Classic Mode? (Since my Power Mac has a SuperDrive, I don't need to buy a Mac mini with a SuperDrive.)
A More Expensive Option
A fair bit more costly than the Mac mini, buying a Core2 Duo MacBook is another viable option - especially since my PowerBook G4/400 died earlier this year. I've been debating what to buy before Macworld Expo in January. I need something portable, and the MacBook seems practically perfect. Bump RAM to 2 GB. Buy a big, fast hard drive. Install SheepShaver for Classic (yes, I'm still using Claris Home Page 3.0).
Well, no rush on any of these decisions. A Mac mini would be nice. A MacBook would be nice. A fast accelerator for my Power Mac would be nice. But none are essential right now, and as I've decided to skip Macworld Expo, I can delay my notebook decision for some time.
Until then, I'll keep using my flexible, expandable, upgradable
Power Mac G4. In fact, I'm even picking up a second one - a nice
used 450 MHz dual processor model. Should make a great backup
computer, file server, and mule that I can set to doing video while
I go back to my main computer.
Dan Knight has been using Macs since 1986, sold Macs for several years, supported them for many more years, and has been publishing Low End Mac since April 1997. If you find Dan's articles helpful, please consider making a donation to his tip jar.
Recent Mac Musings
- Looking for a Content Management System That's as Easy as Mac, 08.29. Low End Mac needs to move to a content management system, but the few we've tried just don't cut it for people used to the simple elegance of the Mac.
- MacDrought: 4 Months with No New Macs, 08.27. The most recent Mac update was over four months ago, and the Mac mini has been unchanged for over a year.
- The iMac Legacy: After the G3, 08.15. The G3 iMac influenced the whole industry, but Apple continued to move forward with innovative designs using G4, G5, and Intel processors.
- The iMac Legacy: The G3 Era, 08.15. 10 years ago today, the original iMac went on sale. One of the most popular lines of computers ever, the G3 iMac would be Apple staples for nearly five years.
- More in the Mac Musings index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: PowerBook 170, Oct. 1991 - At 25 MHz, the PB 170 was at the top of the original PowerBook line.
- List of the Day: The iPhone List Low End Mac's forum for discussing and supporting Apple's iPhone.
- August 30 in LEM history: 99: The truth about USB speed - 00: Could Eazel kill the Mac? - Mac OS 8.1 on a IIci and LC III - 01: Beyond MHz and GHz - Getting a handle on email - Thanks for the IBM PC, Dad - Apple's anniversaries - 02: Mac OS X v10.2 - iBook video out - 04: Things that freak out my students - 06: Nvu and SeaMonkey can't replace Home Page - 07: DVD-RAM support
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- First 3 Million Mac Quarter, Skinny on Mac mini Pricing, Mac-like gOS, and More, Mac News Review, 08.29. More plan to buy Apple products than ever before, complete reset can fix MobileMac synch problems, Apple boosting computer and smartphone share, and more.
- New 'Books Likely in September, 17" PowerBook Display Fault Site, SSD Security, and More, The 'Book Review, 08.29. Also 6 ways to speed up your MacBook, next generation MacBook Air CPU, MacBook Air Update, LapStrap carrying solution, rise and fall of ultraportables, bargains from $220 to $2,699, and more.
- iPhone 3G Reception 'Completely Normal', AT&T International Data Plans for iPhone, and More, iNews Review, 08.29. Also longer life for iPod earbuds, an alternative to MobileMe, new cases and apps for iPhone, AppStoreGems website launched, and more.
- Best Power Mac G4 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.29. Used 450 MHz AGP, $75; 500, $99; 800 QS, $199; 1.25 GHz MDD, $375; 450 MHz dual, $179; 867 dual, $300; 1 GHz dual, $395; 1.42 dual, $575.
- Best iBook G3 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.29. Used 300 MHz clamshell, $150; 500 CD, $150; 800, $200; 600 CD-RW, $240; 900 Combo, $300; 14" 600, $360; 900, $400.
- Best iPod nano Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.29. Used 2 GB iPod nano, $89; refurb 3G 4 GB, $99; new, $140; refurb 8 GB, $149; new, $179.
- 10 Mac Browsers Compared, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 08.28. A look at Internet Explorer, Radon, Opera, Safari, Shiira, iCab, Firefox, Netscape Navigator, Flock, and Camino running in Leopard.
- Clone and Boot: Another Advantage of the Mac OS, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 08.28. Unlike Windows, Apple makes it possible to clone a bootable drive (Classic Mac OS or OS X) and use it with another supported Mac.
- Best MacBook Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.28. Used 1.83 GHz, $799; 2.0 black, $875; refurb 2.1 GHz, $899; 2.4, $1,099; black, $1,299; new 2.1, $1,019 after rebate; 22, $1,094; 2.4, $1,219 a/r; black, $1,394 a/r.
- Best iMac G5 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.28. Used 17" 1.6 GHz Combo, $499; 1.8 SuperDrive, $530; 2.0, $600; 1.9 iSight, $625; 20" 1.8 GHz, $580; 2.0, $650; 2.1 iSight, $700.
- Best classic Mac OS Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.28. 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.
- CrossOver Strikes Out, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 08.27. Running Windows apps on a Mac without paying for Windows is great in theory, but actually getting Windows software working is another story.
- Resurrecting a Dead Pismo, Spotlight Search Tip, and EasyFind a Good File Finder, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 08.27. Lots of tips on bringing a comatose Pismo back to life, a Spotlight file name search tip, and EasyFind as an alternative to Spotlight.
- Best Intel iMac Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.27. Used 17" 1.83 GHz, $625; 20", $599; 2.16, $749; 24", $950; refurb 20" 2.4, $999; 2.66, $1,299; 24" 2.4, $1,299; 2.8, $1,549; new 3.06, $2,094 after rebate; more.
- Best 15" PowerBook G4 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.27. Used 1.25 GHz Combo, $600; SuperDrive, $650; 1.33 Combo, $640; 1.5, $680; SD, $725; 1.67, $730; hi-res, $800.
- Best Time Capsule and AirPort Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.27. 500 GB Time Capsule, $294; 1 TB, $468; AirPort Extreme Card, $39; 802.11n Base Station, $166; 802.11g AirPort Express, $60; 802.11n, $98.
- 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
