tumbleguts
Registered
Note - although this question is similar to the previous thread "processor upgrade", it differs slightly as it deals with how to max out a particular G4 model...
I have a G4 Digital Audio (originally 466Mhz) that I have upgraded with care. My aim was always (and still is) to create the best example of this G4 model. I've invested quite a bit of time and money into it - and honestly, it does everything I want it to do - but I want it to be a bit zippier / faster. I'm not ready to move up to a G5 just yet and I've tried very hard to keep this computer up to date. I've had one processor upgrade already - 733Mhz over-clocked to 800Mhz - which was/is brilliant.
(I plan to max out the RAM to 1.5 GB with CL2 SDRAM)
But otherwise, the final touch is a newer/faster processor upgrade:
Here are the current specs:
> 800Mhz G4 CPU
> 768 MB CL2 SDRAM 133mhz
> x2 36 GB 10K SCSI disks
> Adaptec 39160 dual channel SCSI car
(RAID as startup volume - 125 MB/sec transfer rate)
> 120 GB ATA drive
> 100MB ZIP drive
> DVD+RW drive
> Keyspan USB 2.0 card
> Radeon 8500 mac (speed 285/285)
> 21-inch Sun flat-screen CRT monitor
I use this computer to run my own business as an illustrator / designer.
The programs I most rely on include all the Adobe Creative Suite software, Macromedia Studio MX, Quark 6, Microsoft Office 2004, etc...
It seems to me there are 2 options available in order to max this computer out. The fastest single G4 CPU available or a dual G4 CPU at a slower speed. I've picked two processors at similar cost to illustrate my point:
That being - G4 CPU upgrade : fast single vs slow dual?
(My budget is roughly $500)
option 1:
Single 7447A processor at 2.0 Ghz
Gigadesigns model# 7A1620U
512KB cache - processor speed
no L3 cache
$499.00
option 2:
Dual 7455 processors at 1.3 Ghz
Gigadesigns model# M5D-1213U
512KB cache - processor speed
2MB L3 Cache operating at 1/5 the processor speed
$540.00
Now bare in mind the kind of applications I wish to use that the fact that the computer is limited by a 1 GB/sec main-memory bus...
What I want to know is which upgrade is better?
G4 CPU upgrade : fast single vs slow dual?
Pros and Cons include:
The single 2.0 Ghz uses the lower power (and apparently more responsive) 7447A chip and will get a better resale price because people tend to judge by speed. However it lacks an L3 cache and my concern is that although the speed is fantastic the system bus will not be able to feed it as fast as it runs. The dual G4 has an L3 cache, but is slower, slightly more expensive, and I wonder whether I would really take advantage of dual processing with my applications. Furthermore because the 2 processors share the same data path, won't I be starving the processors yet again?
Any knowledge, comments, or considerations would be most welcome.
I have a G4 Digital Audio (originally 466Mhz) that I have upgraded with care. My aim was always (and still is) to create the best example of this G4 model. I've invested quite a bit of time and money into it - and honestly, it does everything I want it to do - but I want it to be a bit zippier / faster. I'm not ready to move up to a G5 just yet and I've tried very hard to keep this computer up to date. I've had one processor upgrade already - 733Mhz over-clocked to 800Mhz - which was/is brilliant.
(I plan to max out the RAM to 1.5 GB with CL2 SDRAM)
But otherwise, the final touch is a newer/faster processor upgrade:
Here are the current specs:
> 800Mhz G4 CPU
> 768 MB CL2 SDRAM 133mhz
> x2 36 GB 10K SCSI disks
> Adaptec 39160 dual channel SCSI car
(RAID as startup volume - 125 MB/sec transfer rate)
> 120 GB ATA drive
> 100MB ZIP drive
> DVD+RW drive
> Keyspan USB 2.0 card
> Radeon 8500 mac (speed 285/285)
> 21-inch Sun flat-screen CRT monitor
I use this computer to run my own business as an illustrator / designer.
The programs I most rely on include all the Adobe Creative Suite software, Macromedia Studio MX, Quark 6, Microsoft Office 2004, etc...
It seems to me there are 2 options available in order to max this computer out. The fastest single G4 CPU available or a dual G4 CPU at a slower speed. I've picked two processors at similar cost to illustrate my point:
That being - G4 CPU upgrade : fast single vs slow dual?
(My budget is roughly $500)
option 1:
Single 7447A processor at 2.0 Ghz
Gigadesigns model# 7A1620U
512KB cache - processor speed
no L3 cache
$499.00
option 2:
Dual 7455 processors at 1.3 Ghz
Gigadesigns model# M5D-1213U
512KB cache - processor speed
2MB L3 Cache operating at 1/5 the processor speed
$540.00
Now bare in mind the kind of applications I wish to use that the fact that the computer is limited by a 1 GB/sec main-memory bus...
What I want to know is which upgrade is better?
G4 CPU upgrade : fast single vs slow dual?
Pros and Cons include:
The single 2.0 Ghz uses the lower power (and apparently more responsive) 7447A chip and will get a better resale price because people tend to judge by speed. However it lacks an L3 cache and my concern is that although the speed is fantastic the system bus will not be able to feed it as fast as it runs. The dual G4 has an L3 cache, but is slower, slightly more expensive, and I wonder whether I would really take advantage of dual processing with my applications. Furthermore because the 2 processors share the same data path, won't I be starving the processors yet again?
Any knowledge, comments, or considerations would be most welcome.