Is it worth upgrading the G4 beyond 1G of ram?

Hello,
I have a 400Mhz G4 which I have upgraded to a sonnet 1Ghz processor and with 1g of ram.
This has been the best computer I've ever had. 10 Years of reliable service.
It has really started to show it's age in the last year and really appears slow now however.
So my big question is:
*Would I get any improvement by upgrading the ram to 1.5 gig?*
I'm running the latest version of Tiger and I would love to run snow leopard if you could?
The last time I tried to run Leopard it wouldn't run and had issues with the finder etc. But I never tried snow leopard.
Thanks

bluerondo7 wrote:
...It has really started to show it's age in the last year and really appears slow now however...
do you mean slower than it used to be, or in comparison to newer computers? Maybe your hard drive is filling up? When you lack actual RAM, the computer uses the free space on the hard drive for virtual memory or swap space, and when the drive gets full things can slow down to a crawl (and possibly cause data corruption problems.)

Similar Messages

  • I'm looking to buy a new iMac 27 in is it worth upgrading the ram to 8 gig from 4 gig   thank you

    im looking to buy a new imac 27 in is it worth upgrading the ram to 8 gig from 4 gig thank you

    Yes, but it's much cheaper to buy RAM from a reliable supplier like Crucial or OWC.
    Crucial Memory Upgrades for Macs - Apple Memory
    Upgrade Apple iMac Memory & more – Easy Guide, Free Installation Videos.

  • Can Apple help owners of 2nd Generation iPod touch upgrade the OS beyond 4.2.1?

    Hi,
    Can Apple help owners of 2nd Generation iPod touch upgrade the OS beyond 4.2.1?
    If Apple cannot help us, what is the alternative without us hacking the device?

    Even hacking it you cannot go further than the equivalent to 4.2.1. The only thing Apple could possibly do is add more RAM.

  • Is it worth upgrading the BT home hub to the lates...

    i have a bt version 1.5 home hub is there any advantage to going to the  latest HUB and if so how do you go about geting one?
    Solved!
    Go to Solution.

    At the risk of repeating myself, don't bother to upgrade to the latest HH unless you can get it for free (and even then its not always a good move).
    Go to that well-know internet sales site and get yourself a 2-Wire 2700HGV which is the hub issued to Business users on BT. Its very stable, hangs on to a long line very well, and you can use your BBVoice connection (albeit not with a BT HubPhone).
    Just make sure that you get one that has not been "cracked" for use on non-BT services as it will not work on BT.

  • Should I get the base model MacBook Pro Retina 13" (2.4ghz/8gb/256gb) or is it worth upgrading the processor to the 2.6ghz

    I'm looking to get a new computer and would like the the retina display. I do a fair amount of video editing and photo editing. I was wondering if the faster processor would make a difference. I was also looking at the refurbished 15" retinas and didn't know if that would be better for me or not.

    If you need photo and video editing, go for the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display. The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display won't work correctly for what you want to use the MacBook for, as it has only got an integrated GPU, and some photo and video editing applications are not compatible with these GPUs.
    Instead, the 15-inch MacBook Pro has got a quad-core processor and two GPUs, one for the general use and another one for tasks that require extra performance, so it will work better. If you don't mind losing performance to save money, go for the 13-inch MacBook Pro, and note that you have 14 days to return the MacBook Pro if it doesn't meet your needs

  • Why can't I carry on using my 2009 iPod Touch and 4 iPod Nano's. I don't wan't to buy any new versions. More and more apps are incompatible with my iPod Touch. I can't upgrade the sofware beyond v. 5. I certainly won't purchase any other Apple devices.

    My advice to any customers: Don't buy new devices. Apple is not looking after customers properly. Not all of us can afford to purchase new devices.

    Complain to the developers. The make the apps incomaptible with previour versions.

  • Worth upgrading Hard Drive?

    Hi All,
    Would appreciate any advice you can offer.
    I have a Mid 2009 Macbook Pro.
    Currently, I am running 8gbs of RAM and the standard 160gb Toshiba hard drive.
    For the most part, the system runs pretty well, except when my hard drive is full. Right now, I have about 20gb of hard drive free but will begin learning the Adobe Creative Suite soon so I will need additional space.
    My "Service Battery" notification is showing - though the battery lasts about 3.5 hours per charge.
    I am wondering if someone could advise whether it is worth upgrading the harddrive considering the computer's age and battery state. I am looking at 750gb WD Scorpio Black for $75.
    The processor is a 2.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
    I am hoping to get another two years out of this machine
    Thank you!
    Joe

    Well, from the research I've gathered, any consumer-level SSD will blow any consumer-level HDD out of the water. But for $130, I don't think you're going to find many SSD that will match your specs. A hybrid would be nice, seeing as boot times would be much faster, and you'd still get the storage. 7200 rpm HDDs aren't to hard to find. I *think* most Macs before 2012 come with a 5400 rpm drive (like mine).
    Here's a quick Google Shopping Search I did for a 256gb SDD (around $130.) I also went ahead and found a hybrid drive for you: SSHD.
    And no problem! Glad to help.

  • When I open iPhoto 9.2.1 it says that my library needs to be upgraded but when I upgrade the library I am trying to open (33 GB worth of pictures from 2006) the new application says it cannot read the files and how to find them on the system to reimport?!

    When I open iPhoto 9.2.1 it says that my library needs to be upgraded but when I upgrade the library I am trying to open (33 GB worth of pictures from 2006) the new application says it cannot read the files and how to find them on the system to reimport?! and then I'd like to erase the original files since the space requirement is huge!!!! Why is upgrading software iPhoto such a pain. I've gotta get a presentation done and all I get for my money is roadblock!!!

    hello, it sounds like the library is damaged.
    Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
    Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one. 

  • I have a late 2009 macbook and was curious if it is possible to upgrade the processor and if its worth it??

    I have a late 2009 Macbook Unibody and was curious about upgrading the processor. I just installed 8gigs of ram and was thinking about just trying to make it really fast. I am always in Adobe CS5.5 for my job and want my computer to be as fast as I can make it. Is it possible to install a new processor and is it worth it??
    Thanks

    No, the processor and the video card are integrated into the logic board.

  • Is upgrading the RAM worth the money?

    We have a dual G5 (2.0) Cluster Node that I want to turn into a full-time Compressor render machine. The primary task this Xserve will do is transcode DV material from Final Cut Pro workstation into MPEG-2 and h.264 programs. I will be connecting an XRAID to it for storage and it sits on a 1000baseT network as well. We currently have just 2 Gb of RAM in it. I am wondering if I will see a significant decrease in rendering time if I max out the RAM. Or, is render speed only a factor of processor power? Thanks!

    I have not loaded Compressor yet. I am waiting for my new FCP Studio 2 to arrive. I need to transcode a lot (4000 hours worth) of MPEG-2 program streams. Compressor 2 could not even open these files. I have tested them on a MacPro running Comp 3 at the Apple Store and everything worked fine. I only have the dual G5 cluster to dedicate to this task and just want to help it out the best I can. Upgrading the RAM seems like a cheap and quick thing to do. I know the OS in general runs better with more RAM. I was just wondering how RAM is utilized in the rendering process. I suppose more RAM means less reads from the drives and thus may increase speed but by how much? Would I even notice?

  • Is it worth buying the Airport N Upgrade.

    Hi,
    Is it worth buying the N upgrade for my Macbook. I have an Intel Core Duo and no problems with my network e.g. no network drop outs etc.
    Would the N upgrade boost my network performance or anything else?
    Thanks,
    Andrew.

    I have an Airport Extreme (802.11n) and a C2D Black Macbook, and this is my first experience using "802.11n".
    Compared to 802.11b/g, there's no difference in internet browsing speeds--it's no faster on my Mac than it is on my XP notebook (802.11g). However, I will tell you that 802.11a (5Ghz) gets a lot less interference and the range is mildly increased for me (avg. 1 more bar than 802.11g). To my knowledge, the original Core Duo Macbooks do support 802.11a
    File transfer is a whole other story... I run a 40GB hard drive off of the Airport Extreme and you can see a HUGE difference between my Macbook (running 802.11n) vs. my XP machine (802.11g).
    Unless you are doing a lot of file transfer between machines on your network, it will not make any difference.
    Black C2D Macbook 13"   Mac OS X (10.4.9)   14" HP Pavilion DV1000 CoreDuo XP SP2 iPod 30GB 5.5Gen

  • Upgrading to FF, need to upgrade the glass too... 5D mkiii and 1 lens, or 6D and 2 lenses?

    I've been shooting for several years now, and my trusty 40D has been in dire need of an upgrade. I have had some good paying jobs in the last few months and I have some cash to play with. I've just been beating my head against the wall trying to figure out the best course of action.
    I recognize that style determines one's needs, but my needs change. Sometimes it's portrait, studio/location... sometimes it's event, action... sometimes low light and long exposure. Increasingly, paid video is becoming part of my workflow.
    I waited to see what the 70D would offer, I was impressed with the new AF system, fps, ISO performance, as well as the usefulness of the flip screen/wifi (more than I thought I would have been). The problem is that it's still a crop sensor, and still on the lower end of the "prosumer" line. I try not to let my ego get in the way too much, as I know that an expensive camera doesn't always make for a good photographer. However, after shooting the xxD line for many years (since the 10D), I would like to move up, and I don't know that I have the patience to wait for the 7D mkii.
    I started looking at the 6D as the entry full frame option. The price is right, and if you put it together right, you can get the body and a good kit lens for around $2200. The limitations, as far as I can tell, would be AF system (number of points, and virtual lack of cross-type), fps, build quality, lack of headphone jack, single card slot, sync speeds, etc. If you are familiar with this camera, you are familiar with its functional shortcomings, especially when compared to the Nikon counterpart, the D600. However, I have to respect this camera in its sheer photo taking power, and that in some cases it carries better sensor ratings than the 5Dmkiii. The end result will be as good, if not better than the 5Dmkiii, so long as you are able to get the subject in focus and in frame due to the bogus AF system/fps rating. Seemingly, this camera will not do a lot of the work for you, not as much as it's big brother will, anyway.
    I had the opportunity to shoot with a 5D mkiii, and I was blown away with every aspect of its layout and functionality. The AF system was stellar, the ISO performance was amazing, the IQ was well beyond anything I am used to. I was also able to use a full stable of L glass along with it, as well, so I could really express the potential of the camera. Every shot I got was in focus. The grouping options worked flawlessly, and I didn't have to focus/recompose as I have gotten so accustomed to. On the video side, I like the headphone jack and greater resistance to moire (supposedly). It felt solid in my hand, fit perfectly, and wasn't too heavy to carry around a 12 hour corporate gig (even with a broken finger). Was pretty stoked on it.
    All of this being said, I need to upgrade the body. This much is clear. The limitation is that my lenses aren't up to par. Half of them are EF-S, and the EF lenses I have aren't much worth mentioning (28-135mm IS, 50mm f2.5 compact macro). The big question is, do I spend the money on the 5D for the greatly advanced features and functionality, and suck it up on the lenses for a while? Maybe just get the 24-105 and use that for basically everything? Or should I get the lesser 6D, and play with some classic lens options like the 16-35mm, 24-70mm, 70-200mm, etc? After all, the focus system wont matter if I don't have the lens to capture it anyway.
    What is the better option?
    1. Buy the more functional (expensive) body and maybe one lens to start.
    2. Buy the less functional (cheaper) but equally IQ rated body and a few lenses, or other pro-business expenses?
    Common knowledge seems to state that you invest in glass first.
    In the past, I have felt limited by my camera's ability to keep up with low light and focus issues. I don't want to voluntarily step into an inferior system.  Conversely, I don't want to get saddled with a pricey body and no glass to use with it.  Are the technology gains in the 5D mkiii worth it if my budget is limited?
    Just wondering if anyone has any insight to this dilemma?

    Hi jadphoto, thanks for getting back.  I shot film for many years as well.  It gave me a really good foundation for making sure that you do everything as right as possible before hitting the shutter.  Making the change to digital was certainly revolutionary in the way that I was able to approach photography (cost, learning curve, instant gratification).  I was hoping that the move from crop to FF would be liberating and vision-changing, as well. 
    Not needing a tripod as often would be awesome.  I do some long exposure stuff that will always require it, but I would like to be able to get some sharp, clean, hand-held images when I don't feel like lugging it around.  I was at a music festival recently, and basically all of my night shots were hand-held, or taken with the camera resting on something.  A lot of the shots were unusable because of blur or noise.  The lighting in those scenarios can be tough, and I've read that the 6D and 5D can basically focus in the dark.  Not needing external flash and a tripod would be great.  On the 40D, I don't like to push the ISO above 1250 (defintely the extreme end for that camera, in my opinion).
    I was looking at the 24-70 2.8, or the 24-105 4 IS in that range.  The 24-70 has a lot of clout, and I like the lens.  I really like the bokeh/DOF of a 2.8.  However, the 24-105 has a little more reach, and the IS which is nice.  So I don't know that I would want to do double duty in that range, and like everything else, they seem to spread the awesome features around a bit.  I have really enjoyed the 28-135 over the years.  It has a solid build, really good optical results, but it can be a bit long on a crop sensor, so it gets limited indoor use.  I also recently dropped it from about chest high onto the street... while attached to the body... lens down (first time I've ever done something like that).  It slipped out of the tri-pod collar which was not fully secured.  The filter shattered, and I had to convince the barrel to go back into position so it would zoom properly, but everything alse still works fine.  Still sharp with fast AF.  Pretty incredible.  The 50 compact macro can be a lot of fun for still-life/detail/nature stuff, but I rarely take it out for portrait because the AF is loud and slow, and the results are not always spot-on.  Could be user error.  I might need to keep trying it out, but it doesn't get a lot of love in the paid portrait department.  My 50 1.8 had a cheap build too, but would take some pretty awesome photos (sometimes). 
    I figured the rest of the kit would make sense once I settled on a mid-range.  I have an 11-18 EF-S that I would have to find a replacement for.  The 24mm on a FF was impressively wide, and might require less immediate attention.  Makes me realize the tunnel vision effect of the crop (good when you want it for reach)...  With that being said the 70, 105, and even 135 might need some help reaching on the FF.... and I've always wanted a fancy, beige/white 70-200.  I just don't know what would get the most use yet.  I was able to use a 70-200 2.8, and I loved the cross-room candids I could get when I wasn't all up on people.  A lot of time, they didn't know I was shooting them.  It's just a beast, though.  It's big, and not too discreet, which can serve the ego but can get you in trouble too.  I can imagine that it is a great tool to have when you need it.

  • Is it worth upgrading iMac 24" to GEForce 8800 card?

    Greetings!
    I am about to configure and order an iMac 24" model as a workstation. My employer, a large university, will pay for the bottom-of-the-line 20" model, but the cost above that comes out of my pocket. I'm definitely going for the larger model, and I am going to max out the RAM in it (I have posted a separate question asking if there is any use for the 2x1 GB RAM sticks I would remove if I buy 3rd party RAM), but the only other thing I am considering is an upgrade to the video card. I would like advice on whether it is worth doing for my use of the machine.
    I will use the machine mainly for desktop publishing, mostly text with some graphics mostly involving Photoshop. I don't do video editing, nor am I a gamer. I do plan to drive an external monitor with the iMac; I have a 22" WS LCD monitor that I am currently using with a G5 DP 2GB machine I am upgrading from, and I want to keep it for additional real estate.
    I would guess that I don't need the upgraded video card for this use BUT I will not be able to upgrade the computer further for 3 years. So I am thinking that the prime reason for the video card, if I pay for it (it costs me $135 extra) would be to allow for higher-end demands on the video performance in Snow Leopard or even beyond.
    So the real question is whether participants in this forum have any strong sense whether three years from now I'd be happier with the upgraded video card, or whether it wouldn't make any difference to me even then.
    Thanks in advance for any informed suggestions!
    George Fowler

    I spec'd out new iMacs and drove myself rather crazy trying to decide which iMac to get. I use my mac very similarly (PS, FCP, Logic Express). I'm not a gamer but figured that it would be best to by the best I could afford and opted for the 3.06/Geforce 8800/750 Gig HD don't regret it at all. It is smokin' fast with all these apps. Rendering is quick as well as converting video.
    I also figured that if I didn't by the top model I would forever be second guessing myself as to how much faster the 3.06 machine with 8800 graphics would be. I know there have been a few benchmarks that show the Radeon 256 card is faster for graphics work, but I think it is minimal and the Geforce 8800 will likely last much longer in the minimum system requirements department with futures OS's and Pro Apps.
    I love this machine and think it is worth every penny! I was a little afraid that the display may have some bright/dark spots as I've seen in other posts, but I can't tell. The glossy display doesn't bother me at all either. These were all concerns I had before purchasing this iMac, but have all been dispelled completely. I say go with the flagship model... you will be happy!
    Peace

  • Cannot upgrade the firmware.

    I am using a BEFW11S4 router Version 4. When I checked the site and after a full day of messing around I found that the problem I was having was covered in the latest update. I downloaded the bin file and tried the upgrade process from the router management. It failed. leaving the router still working but still with my original problem. Went to user groups and read what i could find. I turned off virus program, firewall and connected directly to internet to download bin file. (did this 4 times) tried again. failed. still did not upgrade the firmware and read more and downloaded the utility It could not access the router - Login failed. tried to login to router and logged in fine. spent another 4 hours trying to find any other suggestions either on the linksys site and in the forums and could not find anything. Keep in mind I have been using cisco products for about 20 years now and I am fully qualified Network technician. Please don't annoy me with any more simplistic suggestions I need a workable solution since I have about two or three hundred of these types of units out there. My interim solution was to go to staples and pick up a $49 Belkin router that works just fine. The solution suggested by the linksys person on the phone was to pay $29 to maybe resolve the issue. can anyone see the economics in that?
    P.S. went to the lela download link in the message at the top of this forum. It says to download lela click here. Did so and got a really nice demo. there was no download. so if anyone knows where to download that it might be worth a try.
    Message Edited by tekkiefirst on 07-17-2008 03:22 AM

    Try upgrading the firmware of router ... reset it & reconfigure it ... if it works ... that will be fine if not ... then possibly the router is gone bad ...

  • Is it possible to upgrade the graphics card in HP DV7-2043CL?

    Hi guys,
    I would like to upgrade my old laptop specs in order to improve a little bit its overall performance.
    The main use is for lite-mid gaming purposes and the first thing that I wish to upgrade is the graphics card of course (currently got HD4650 in it)
    The gpu is integrated with the CPU, or can I pull it out and put a new one instead?
    The second thing that I'm going to add is a new SSD (129.99 bucks for the Crucial SSD - 240GB)
    I don't have a large budget, so I cannot afford right now to buy a new laptop that will fit my requirements.
    As for upgrading the ram from 4BG to 8GB - I saw a post here from some of the experts (Paul)
    claiming that the performance difference isnt worth 200$
    What do you guys think?

    Hi,
    Basically you can, with a cost and I believe this cost may be more expensive than buying a new computer because you have to take into account:
    New card price,  and WHERE you can buy it because laptop cards are not the same as desktop cards. You can't buy from any normal shop,
    Need new system board (may be),
    Need new cooling system because generally speaking more powerfull card pumps out more heat (you want more powerfull card don't you?).
    May need new PSU because your current PSU may not suitbale to the card. (I ordered a machine with Nvidia card and I needed to order a 90W charger at the same time, not the normal 65W charger. They simply rejected my order).
    Labor cost.
    Many, many packets of Asprin.
    For SSD, I can't see any problem with this. I actually upgraded 4 of my machines. I bought a Crucial 960Gb for the 5th machine and probably will do sometimes next week.
    Hope this helps.
    BH
    **Click the KUDOS thumb up on the left to say 'Thanks'**
    Make it easier for other people to find solutions by marking a Reply 'Accept as Solution' if it solves your problem.

Maybe you are looking for