---------- Original message ---------- Subject: Sawtooth replacement Date: Sonntag 15 August 2010N From: D Stubbs <[email protected]> To: [email protected]
> I reckon its time to move on from my faithful old tower, but being a > nongeek I really could use an opinion or two on what to move up to - my > two main reasons to go to a later model is that YouTube videos are rarely > functional, and the 128 max on internal HD is a bit confining. Otherwise > it handles all the work I throw at it fine. Maybe you just need a better graphics card. But I also suspect the CPU is way too slow. > My parameters: > Keeping Classic for 2 old apps I run would be important. > HD capacity over 300G > Ideally under $350. > Better video ability > > Otherwise I don't even know if I need to leave the G4 family. > Thanks for any suggestions! Del You cannot, since you need Classic. That is, if you want to be able to natively boot Mac OS 9.x you need a G4 that is not as new as a FW800 model. Also, models after the Quicksilver (original, 2001) need a special Mac OS 9 version to work, so I'd use a QS as the newest option. If, on the other hand, you only require Classic from Mac OS 10.x up to 10.4, you can also go for a G5. They are beautiful towers, great design from the inside and from the outside, only they seem to be less reliable than the G4s. The most modern one is the “Late 2005” G5 series with one Dual-Core 2.0 GHz, one Dual-Core 2.3 GHz or the top of the line two Dual-Core 2.5 GHz “Quad”. I'd suggest staying away from liquid cooled G5s though, so the DC2.3 would be highest I'd go for a G5 with modern the PCIe bus for expansion cards and faster DDR2 memory. Note: G5s up to the “Early 2005” use the “classic” AGP and PCI/PCI-X bus for graphics card and expansion cards and feature “only” DDR memory like the late G4s do. But watch out, there are also liquid cooled models among them. > G4 AGP > 500 MHz > 1.25 RAM > 10.4.11 > ATY,Rage128Pro That's nice. Among others, I have a G4 APG 400 MHz --> Dual-450 MHz 786 MB RAM 9.0.4, 9.2.2, 10.2.8, 10.3.9, 10.4.11, 10.5.8, Gentoo Linux ATY,Rage128Pro --> NVDA,GeForce3 Ti200 (PC-Version, flashed) You see, I upgraded it a little, and I can say that with the nVidia GeForce 3 graphics card Leopard works very well on my old G4. The Dual-450 MHz CPU is very much pushed to the limit though, so I'd say that this system is really used heavily for even simple tasks. But that's what it was build for, right? I use it only for surfing a little and mostly for watching DivX encoded videos in standard DVD resolution. That works very well, but it definitely cannot handle high-definition stuff. And yes, it is using almost 100% of it's CPU capacity to decode even the standard resolution videos, but then it does this without framedrops or flicker. So it is well suited for my needs. For you still wanting Classic support, one other solution comes to my mind: You could still walk on and get yourself a cheap new or used Intel-based Mac and then use SheepShaver as a software solution to run your Classic Mac OS inside the emulation. I did this with Mac OS 7.5 and 9.0.4 and it works, depending on what peripherial stuff you need. Normal applications run fine, but if you need a driver that runs a scanner in SCSI mode or so, I doupt that SheepShaver can do that. Since SheepShaver also works on PowerPC-based Macs, you can try this sollution before you decide anything. Given the huge performance increase of recent Intel Macs, you can safely go for a low-end model and still have very much inprovement in speed compared to your G4. BTW, I don't have an Intel Mac. Only used G3, G4s and G5. Cheers, Andreas aka Mac User #330250 -- 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
