Guide to Power Mac G4 Upgrades
for Power Mac G4 with AGP Graphics
Updated 2007.08.30
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The Power Mac G4 started life as a powerful computer, but some are already five years old and could use a speed boost. Although more memory and a faster hard drive can improve system performance, replacing the old G4 with one or two newer, faster G4 processors is just the ticket for processor-intensive work.
Current CPU upgrades range from 550 MHz to 1.5 GHz, and dual processor models offer speeds to 1.33 GHz.Upgrades on this page may work in any of the following models. Be sure to check manufacturer specifications for full compatibility details. The following numbers are used in the tables below to noted compatibility. At this time, there are no CPU upgrades for the 1.25-1.42 GHz MDD models (8 and 9), which have a 167 MHz system bus.
- G4/350-500 Sawtooth/AGP graphics
- G4/450-500 dual processor
- Cube
- G4/466-533 (digital audio)
- G4/667-733 (digital audio)
- G4/733-867 (Quicksilver)
- G4/800-1 GHz (Quicksilver 2002)
- G4/867-1.25 GHz GHz dual
(Mirror Drive Door)
G4/1-1.42 GHz (FireWire 800)
G4/1.25 GHz (June 2003)
The information is as accurate as I can find, but specifications and availability are subject to change; I suggest you check with the manufacturer to verify current models. Prices keep dropping, so these prices may be outdated. (Prices are in $US.) In fact, models are added and discontinued so often, it's impossible to keep track of which models are current.
NOTE: These upgrades are not compatible with the Yikes! G4. See our Guide to G4 ZIF Upgrades for Power Mac G3 and G4 "Yikes!" models.
Discontinued accelerators are listed for historical reasons. On dual processor upgrades, cache size is per processor.
The PowerPC 7451 and 7455 have an internal 256 KB level 2 cache. The 7447 and 7457 have 512 KB. The 7448 has 1 MB. All else being equal, the bigger cache will make upgrades a bit faster.
CPU |
L3 |
Cache |
CPU |
Estimated |
Giga Designs, CPUs may be
overclocked Compatible with 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 - see site for details |
||||
1.2 GHz | 2 MB | 240 MHz | 1.0 GHz 7455 | disc. |
1.4 GHz | 2 MB | 233 MHz | 1.25 GHz 7455B | $219 |
1.467 GHz | 2 MB | 244 MHz | 1.25 GHz 7455 | disc. |
1.5 GHz | 2 MB | 250 MHz | 1.25 GHz 7455 | disc. |
1.53 GHz | 2 MB | unknown | 1.53 GHz 7455B | $249 |
1.6 GHz | 1.6 GHz 7447A | disc. | ||
1.8 GHz | 1.8 GHz 7447A | disc. | ||
dual 1.2 GHz | 2 MB | 240 MHz | 1.0 GHz 7455 | disc. |
dual 1.3 GHz | 2 MB | 222 MHz | 1.25 GHz 7457 | disc. |
dual 1.33 GHz | 2 MB | 280 MHz | 1.25 GHz 7455B | disc. |
dual 1.4 GHz | 2 MB | 280 MHz | 1.25 GHz 7457 | $399 |
dual 1.7 GHz | 1.7 GHz 7447A | disc. | ||
dual 1.8 GHz | 1.8 GHz 7447A | disc. | ||
For the Cube | ||||
1.33-1.5 GHz | 2 MB | 222-250 MHz | 1.33 GHz 7457 | disc. |
For Mirrored Drive Door | ||||
1.33 GHz | 2 MB | 167 MHz | 1.33 GHz 7455B | $499 |
1.4 GHz | 2 MB | 233 MHz | 1.25 GHz 7455 | disc. |
Newer
Technology MAXPower
G4/7447A, MAXPower
G4/7448 Compatible with 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
||||
1.6 GHz | 512 KB | 1.6 GHz | 7447A | $230 |
1.6 GHz dual | 512 KB | 1.6 GHz | 7447A | $400 |
1.7 GHz dual | 512 MB | 1.7 GHz | 7447A | $500 |
1.8 GHz dual | 512 KB | 1.8 GHz | 7447A | $600 |
1.8 GHz | 1 MB | 1.8 GHz | 7448 | $340 |
2.0 GHz | 1 MB | 2.0 GHz | 7448 | $399 |
1.7 GHz dual | 1 MB | 1.7 GHz | 7448 | $599 |
1.8 GHz | 1 MB | 1.8 GHz | 7448 | $699 |
Other
World Computing Mercury
Extreme Compatible with 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
||||
867-933 MHz | 2 MB | 173-233 MHz | 7455A | disc. |
933 MHz-1.0 GHz | 2 MB | 233-250 MHz | 933 MHz 7455A | disc. |
1.0 GHz | 2 MB | 233-250 MHz | 1.0- GHz 7455A | $125 |
1.2 GHz | 2 MB | 240 MHz | 1.0 GHz 7455 | disc. |
1.2 GHz | 2 MB | 240 MHz | 1.2 GHz 7455B | $199 |
1.25 GHz | 2 MB | 250 MHz | 1.25 GHz 7455A | disc. |
1.25-1.33 GHz | 2 MB | 208-222 MHz | 1.25 GHz 7455B | disc. |
1.4 GHz | 2 MB | 233 MHz | 1.33 GHz 7455B | disc. |
1.467-1.5 GHz | 2 MB | 245-250 MHz | 1.5 GHz 7455B | $260 |
PowerLogix PowerForce G4
Single CPU Compatible with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
||||
800 MHz | 2 MB | 250 MHz | disc. | |
1.2 GHz | 2 MB | 200 MHz | 1.0 GHz 7455 | $179 |
1.4 GHz | 2 MB | 250 MHz | disc. | |
1.6 GHz | 2 MB | 250 MHz | 1.2 GHz 7447A | $439 |
PowerLogix
PowerForce 47/55 Compatible with 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
||||
1 GHz | 2 MB | 200 MHz | 7455 | $160 |
1.6 GHz | 7447A | $220 | ||
1.2 GHz dual | 2 MB | 250 MHz | 7455 | $300 |
1.6 GHz dual | 7447A | $429 | ||
1.7 GHz dual | 7447A | $499 | ||
1.8 GHz dual | 7447A | $629 |
PowerLogix PowerForce G4 Series
100 Compatible with 1, 2, 3; $10 more for Cube fan kit |
||||
700 MHz | 2 MB | unknown | disc. | |
800 MHz | 2 MB | 250 MHz | disc. | |
1 GHz | 2 MB | 250 MHz | disc. | |
1.2 GHz | 2 MB | 250 MHz | disc. |
PowerLogix PowerForce 47/48 for
Cube Compatible with 3 |
|||||||
1.5 GHz | 7447 | $240 | |||||
1.7 GHz | 7448 | $370 | |||||
1.5 GHz dual | 7447 | $450 | |||||
1.6 GHz dual 7447 | 7447 | $549 | |||||
1.6 GHz dual 7448 | 7448 | $680 |
PowerLogix PowerForce G4 Series
133 Compatible with 4, 5, 6, 7 |
||||
733 MHz | 2 MB | unknown | disc. | |
867 MHz | 2 MB | 250 MHz | disc. | |
1 GHz | 2 MB | 250 MHz | disc. | |
1.6 GHz | 7447A | disc. |
PowerLogix PowerForce
Dual G4 Series 100 Compatible with 1, 2, 3 "Early models of AGP have a bridge chip that is not compatible with dual processors. We recommend the PowerForce G4 Series 100 (single processor) for those machines." |
||||
800 MHz | 2 MB | 250 MHz | disc | |
900 MHz | 2 MB | 250 MHz | disc | |
1 GHz Dual | 2 MB | 250 MHz | 7455 | disc. |
1.3 GHz Dual | 2 MB | unknown | 7455 | disc. |
1.6 GHz Dual | 7447A | disc. | ||
1.7 GHz Dual | 7447A | disc. | ||
1.8 GHz Dual | 7447A | disc. |
PowerLogix PowerForce
Dual G4 Series 133 Compatible with 4, 5, 6, 7 "The PowerMac G4 Cube has a lower capacity power supply and therefore we conservatively recommend installing at most a Dual 800 MHz." |
||||
867 MHz | 2 MB | 250 MHz | disc. | |
933 MHz | 2 MB | 250 MHz | disc. | |
1 GHz | 2 MB | 250 MHz | disc. | |
1.2 GHz | 2 MB | 250 MHz | 7457 | disc. |
1.33 GHz | 2 MB | 250 MHz | 7457 | disc. |
1.6 GHz | 1.25 GHz 7447A | $429 | ||
1.73 GHz | 1.42 GHz 7447A | $499 | ||
1.8 GHz | 1.6 GHz 7447A | $629 |
Sonnet Encore/ST
G4 Compatible with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
||||
800 MHz | 2 MB | 400 MHz | 7455 | disc. |
1 GHz | 2 MB | 500 MHz | 7455 | $170 |
1.2 GHz | 2 MB | unknown | 7455 | disc. |
1.4 GHz | 2 MB | unknown | 7457 | $250 |
1.6 GHz | 7457 | $250 | ||
1.7 GHz | 7457 | disc. | ||
1.8 GHz | 7457 | $270 |
Sonnet Encore/ST G4
Duet Compatible with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
||||
500 MHz | 1 MB | 250 MHz | 7455 | disc. |
1.267-1.3 GHz | 2 MB | unknown | 7455 | disc. |
1.6 GHz | 2 MB | unknown | 7447A | disc. |
1.8 GHz | 2 MB | unknown | 7447A | $500 |
Sonnet Encore/MDX G4
Duet Compatible with 8 and G4 Xserve |
|||||||
1.6 GHz | 7447A | $450 | |||||
1.8 GHz | 7447A | $600 |
XLR8 MACh Speed G4 Sawtooth Compatible with dual G4/450 and 500 only. |
||||
500 MHz | 1 MB | 250 MHz | 7410 | disc. |
550 MHz | 1 MB | 275 MHz | 7410 | disc. |
XLR8 MACh Speed G4 ZIF MPe Compatible with dual G4/450 and 500 only. |
||||
350 MHz | disc. | |||
400 MHz | disc. | |||
450 MHz | disc. | |||
500 MHz | disc. | |||
550 MHz | disc. |
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