Lost L3 cache with QS 933 CPU in Digital Audio

Question

Hi All:
I recently installed a QS 933mhz processor in my G4 Digital Audio. All seems to be fine with the exception of the lost L3 cache. My question is: can I somehow achieve the L3 cache or is it an "is what it is" situation with this processor? Are there any articles on this subject?
Thanks for your thoughts and responses.

Answer 1

Jon has certainly hit the nail on the head. The base model Quicksilvers (733MHz and 800MHz 2002 version) didn't have any level 3 cache full stop. Consequently the 733MHz DA G4 (which was Apple's high end model of the time) was faster in real world performance terms compared to the 733MHz QS G4 (which, although newer, was Apple's low end model of the time). The benchmarks for the OWC processor upgrades show this as they have results for both models.
Apple often vary the level 3 cache amount between different models in the same range. For example, some MDD and FW800 models have 1MB, the high end MDD and FW800 models the full 2MB (the most supported by the 7455).
As I understand it the newer style G4 processors which support level 3 cache are actually slower in real world performance terms for a given clock speed. What makes them faster overall is the level 3 cache and the fact they clock to higher frequencies. Consequently the 733MHz QS processor, which doesn't have any level 3 cache at all and isn't clocked that highly (unless overclocked), is probably a bit of a dog.
 PM G4 QS 1GHz DP, ATI 9600, 1GB RAM, WD Raptors, 23" ACD   Mac OS X (10.4.9)