Noob in Need of Help: Where can I find a 1Ghz Processor?

Question

Hi, I'm Elaine, I was given a 450Mhz, G4 Gigabit ethernet Tower as payment for some graphics work (yeah, I feel like I got cheated, but that's just me).
Anyhoo, I'm rather fond of mac computers, but I'm finding to do the work I do I need to basically upgrade the processor, RAM, and hard drive and of course, add a TON of software (I'm a writer-filmmaker-animator-graphic novel creator-self publisher).
From what I can figure out from reading the posts here, I could make do with a 1Ghz processor and about 2Gb SDRAM and a 160Gb hard drive. Most of the hardware I can find on ebay, except for the processor.
Someone posted something about a "sonnet" processor, but I couldn't find anything like that.
Could someone PLEASE tell me where I can find an AFFORDABLE processor?
Can I use an AMD processor? Newegg seems to have one that's a single core selling for $33.00 if that's to be believed.
Well, I won't keep prattling at you, and will simply thank you all in advance for your assistance.
Namarie,
E.

Answer 1

Seeing you were given this Mac for payment, and seeing that you're new to Macs, you need to ask yourself if you have the skills needed to do these upgrades as well as whether you want to plunk down a sizeable amount of cash to upgrade a 10 year old Mac that will never perform as well as either a newer model or brand new Mac.
If this is a 450 MHz Gigabit Ethernet model it is probably a dual CPU 450 model. I do not think you can put a single CPU upgrade into a dual processor Mac. I believe you need to stick witwh dual processor CPU upgrades.
AND you cannot use just any CPU chip that would be available for Window PCs.
The CPUs in older Macs are PowerPC CPU processors made by Freescale (formerly Motorola).
Dual processor upgrades will not be cheap!
A company called Other World Computing sells CPU upgrade, but none are very cheap.
http://eshop.macsales.com/MyOWC/Upgrades.cfm?sort=pop&model=165&type=Processor&T I=5206&shoupgrds=Show+Upgrades
Based on what you listed that you would like to do with a Mac, the Mac you were given as payment is really not up to the challenges you want to put this Mac through.
It's just going to get too costly.
The Mac you've been given is just not worth plunking that kind of money into.
I would either try and sell it or recycle it and look at new or newer model Macs with more computing horsepower.
If a new Intel Mac tower or iMac is too expensive for you, my advice would be to give a serious look at the high end Mac Mini. Price to performance ratio is hard to beat and will easily do everything you want to do on a Mac.
MHO