This is a nice perspective, though a bit flawed.. A G4/1mb cache will WAY WAY WAY outperform a G3/900/256k or 512kcache unit for issues like video editing, photo resizing, rendering, etc. basically any time a large amount of math work is done, the processor needs a lot of space for temporarily filing math problems, while it processes other math. Without a large cache size (1mb), you're going to lose speed, because the processor will write that data to a hard disk (ie., very slow), as it works....
For instance, a Pismo with the G3/500 upgrade card in it (500mhz, 1mb cache) will way outperform an iBook G3 900/512kb in video editing and rendering. It's all due to the cache-save function. The issue is compound. you have to knnow WHAT you're doing with the unit. If it's just light activity (email, word processing, etc), go for speed. The faster processor speed (mhz) will help you. But if you actually do REAL computer intensive work (audio file editing, video file editing, rendering, photo editing), the same iteration chip (ie., G3/500/1mb) with more cache will outperform it's mate wiht less cache (i.e G3/900/512k). I recently did an A/B test of daystar's G4/500/1mbcache upgrade for the Pismo, vs the PowerLogix G3/900/256k cache for the same. The results were staggering. I had upgraded the Pismo to jaguar. the G3/900 just crawled along. yes, it was a TINY TINY bit faster than my original G3/500/1mb, but it wasn't worth the $350 cost. When I put the G4/500/1mb cache card in, it was truly as if I'd purchased a new computer. screen redraws, video re-write, application switching--it was really sweet & smooth... so, my thought--figure out what you're doing first.. OSX is happier with 1. more cache and 2. a G4 processor. OS9 doesn't care QUITE as much. If you're doing day-to-day average work, the faster chip with less cache will be better. If you're doing processor intensive stuff, the higher cache unit will be your friend.... Tom In a message dated 3/27/04 2:34:54 PM, you wrote: >I feel that all this talk of the iBooks and G3 units as useful only for >light this and that is nonsense. Only a few short years ago, G3 chips were >the top of the Mac food chain. At that time G2s were only for "light" so >and so. Fact is, G3s handle heavy work just fine. In some cases, the jobs >take a little longer...that's all. In some cases, a G3 will perform even >faster. A 900mhz G3 will perform all functions more swiftly than a 500mhz >G4, all other elements being equal. So, the real issues in choosing between >an iBook and a Powerbook are extended desktop use, professional connectivity >and presentation issues, required time to get jobs done, appearance and one >other caveat: The iBooks have been suffering from a hinge problem wherein >the hinge eventually cuts through the cable bundle that wires the screen to >the mainboard. Once cut through, expecially the power cable, it shorts the >entire system. That is what has been causing all the MoBo failures in the >iBook line. Apple won't admit it, despite their limited recall, and all the >discussion sites and boards are speculating about bad mainboards and so on, >but it's scissored cable junctions, hands down. As to if the new iBooks >have finally addressed this time will tell. But it is an expensive >mitigating factor and one I don't want to have to go through again. > >on 3/26/04 9:52 AM, Nick Marshall <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: -- G-Books is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> G-Books list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/> --------------------------------------------------------------- >The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---------------------------------------------------------------
