Suggestions needed on cpu size/speed and memory req's for ilife/gar. band

Question

as is noted, I've got an older ibook/processor, w/limited RAM. Suggestions on updates to present ibook g4 vs. purchase of new mac of same size?
What have other OS X 10.39 users found helpful to speed up/free up space. I keep getting the message that i can't play a certain track(s) because of space/speed needs. any help you can give is appreciated

Answer 1

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Originally posted by blue_heart
the programs which going to run are mainly microsoft office programs,OE, IE, photshop.
In this case, I cant strongly enough recommend LOTS of ram; you wont need a fast hard drive if you can hold the whole high-res image in core  I would also suggest you consider a trinatron monitor at 18" or so; so you can have purty 1600x1200 images (except for the dead line which trinatrons have) to play with; might make keeping cost under control difficult, but they *are* the only eyes you have got
Your point about real time virus scanning and loading large files (later) is well taken; in light of this I cant fault your choice of hard drive (although there is a 72GB version available at the same speed, not cheap tho.).
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IMO, dropping $30 from the graphic card and $40 from hard disk will not save that much to get critical component or get higher one, if i do so i can add $30 to get another stick of 512 ram, but i rather keep the HD and GC, and for now the capacity is not an issue for me
Life in the US is good if such components are cheap; over here is Aus the high end graphics and disks are still BLOODY expensive whilst ram is relatively cheap.
Indeed, going from the drive and gfx card you have to a 80gb ata-4 and a more basic gfx card would save ~250 AUD; which is another stick of 512MB PC3700.
Lucky you.
Anyway, in light of your comments, I cant strongly enough recommend RAM; but your other components seem good (I tend toward HP printers down here, but that relates to print reliability at high ambient temp and ink costs); Dont forget a GOOD PSU (many discussions about such, I recommend Antec TruPower 480W).
Of course, I cant resist recommending you go linux, openoffice and GIMP (photoshop workalike); that would save you a LARGE chunk of cash to spend on better hardware (about ~$1200 bucks if you planned to buy XPpro, OfficeXP and Photoshop down here).
err!
jak.