On Jan 23, 12:14 pm, Bruce Johnson <[email protected]> wrote: > On Jan 23, 2010, at 12:05 PM, A.McCullough wrote: > > > Still learning the ins and outs of this series of Macs ... what > > basic options would I be looking at? I've read that some upgrade > > CPUS would need firmware upgrades also - how fast could I go on this > > Sawtooth as-is (i.e., drop in a new CPU, boot, and be back in > > business with no other tinkering), and - allowing for such tinkering > > - how fast could it be made to go otherwise? Could I get this to a 1 > > Ghz CPU with no firmware updating? > > No, from personal experienee, the 1GHz upgrade needs a firmware > update...there was that really bad, no good , oh crap feeling when I > thought I'd bricked my GigE (same mobo as the Sawtooth, just different > ethernet) and my new 1Ghz update. > > On the other hand, updating the firmware isn't any bigger a deal than > running any other update; the only issue is that it has to be done > while booted in OS 9. > > The main issue is cost...look at the cost differential between getting > a 1GHz or faster upgrade versus looking for a stock MDD G4 which has a > faster memory, faster video, etc to go along with the faster CPU. OWC > doesn't even sell anything less than 1.5Ghz, and it's $210. A quick > perusal online I could find a dual 1.25 MDD for $300, which is a > vastly better CPU.
my 1.5 ghz bought last year is 20% faster in a DA than my neighbor's single 1.25MDD. Given that dual gives you some extra OK but "vastly" not. A single MDD can be upgraded to a dual 1.8 7448 which is something. Anyway the MDD is Beautiful machine in my book. But I am very happy with that DA. Even though the box is ugly. > There was a time when the Sawtooth was the 'sweet spot' for upgrading > economically. That time, alas, is long, long gone. Actually the 1.5 started out in my Sawtooth, I got the DA for $40 in Febuary, the 1.5 cpu for Xmas (so I didn't pay for it). > > If you find the upgrade really cheap (and I mean <$100 cheap), go for > it, but I wouldn't put a lot of money into the system. Depends on how much you like old macs IMHO. -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
