Upgrade of Power Mac G4 - Sawtooth (Dual 500 MHz)???

[AlexHall74]

Hey everyone,

I'm requesting a sanity check.

I have a Power Mac G4, Gigabit Ethernet, Dual 500 MHz processors, 100 MHz Bus, OsX 10.4.3, 768 MB RAM.

My current DAW is a PIV 2.4 GHz - 1 GB RAM, Win XP Pro, M-Audio 2496, ESI Maya 44.

I am using Tracktion 2 as my sequencer (will work on PC and Mac).

I'm thinking about upgrading the Mac. Sort of as a science project, sort of because I want to use it for tracking and the PC solely as a software instrument.

Upgrades I'm considering for the Mac are:

(1) Upping the memory to 1.5 or 2 GB (around $200 - $250). I have read that this model of Mac will support 1.5 GB RAM under OS9 but will go up to 2 GB under OSX. If this is true I'll go for the whole 2 GB.

REF: http://macramdirect.com/g4powermac.html

(2) Replacing the dual 500 MHz chips with a Giga Designs 1.8GHz G4 Processor Upgrade for AGP - $279

REF: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...DME:L:RTQ:US:1

Part of me says to sell both machines and use that money + the upgrade money to buy one new/fast powerful PC DAW.

The other part of me says to upgrade this G4 and see what it can do.

I am not worried about having the biggest baddest DAW in the world, just a reliable and capable machine.

Plus, it would be nice to have the Mac to use when my PC is down.

Thanks for any insight you can provide.

[Merlot]

Originally Posted by AlexHall74

The other part of me says to upgrade this G4 and see what it can do.

I am not worried about having the biggest baddest DAW in the world, just a reliable and capable machine.

Plus, it would be nice to have the Mac to use when my PC is down.

Thanks for any insight you can provide.

I would go with this option. You could either get a good PC and have some $$ left over for gear or software.
You can also get a powermac G5 for decent $$ now that the intels are starting to come out.

Good luck and keep us update!

[jasedee]

If it were me, I'd ditch the PC and G4 and get me a G5 Quad...

But then again, Im a Mac whore

[AlexHall74]

Merlot wrote:
I would go with this option. You could either get a good PC and have some $$ left over for gear or software.
You can also get a powermac G5 for decent $$ now that the intels are starting to come out.

Good luck and keep us update!

This is the direction I'm leaning. I can't afford a G5 right now, even used. But someday....

Jase wrote:
If it were me, I'd ditch the PC and G4 and get me a G5 Quad...

But then again, Im a Mac whore

I can't pitch the PC, probably not for over a decade even if I wanted too.

I've got too many applications for it right now. Also, my wife uses the PC too. So, unless I can chane her mind (rarely possible) it has to stay...

[3o3]

Originally Posted by jasedee

If it were me, I'd ditch the PC and G4 and get me a G5 Quad...

But then again, Im a whore

How much jase?

[Drammy]

I would ditch them both and get a dual core 64 bit processor PC, they are tops of the benchmark tests, by far...

I can give you some specs if you are interested.

[AlexHall74]

Originally Posted by Drammy

I would ditch them both and get a dual core 64 bit processor PC, they are tops of the benchmark tests, by far...

I can give you some specs if you are interested.

Wow, that's a curve ball!

I am completely open for suggestions.

If you have any specs handy I will certainly consider them.

Are you thinking of a custom machine or of a certain manufacturer?

[Timo]

64-bit dual-core Pentium-M's are gonna rock (to be released at the back end of this year). Expensive initially though i bet.

[jasedee]

Originally Posted by 3o3

How much jase?

Mate, you could'nt afford my sweet tanned (Virgin) ass!!!!

[3o3]

Mate, you could'nt afford my sweet tanned (Virgin) ass!!!!

Pff.. You're not a virgin. I've heard stories about pigs!