Hello, Sounds like an excellent idea you have there. One phrase you said really seals the deal: "I have a lot of legacy peripherals that I'd like to keep using." If you make the switch to a new Mac today, you'll be stuck running OS X and most all of your legacy stuff won't work with OS X. Since you're not playing games, AGP video isn't really a must have for you so upgrading the Beige makes a great deal of sense.
What I'd do, and in this order (I've done all of this to my machine): (1) Upgrade the RAM to 768 megs (three x 256 meg sticks). Should run you around $100 from www.macsales.com (2) Upgrade the Video from built in to a PCI Radeon 7000 card. Specifically look for one of the 64 meg cards on Ebay that's a flashed version of a Sapphire Windows Radeon card. It has multiple outputs and can drive dual monitors off one card ($70-$99). Sapphire no longer makes this card in a Windows version so you'll have to buy one off Ebay that someone has already flashed. (3) Upgrade the processor. I went all the way up to a Sonnet G4/1ghz chip, which runs fine, has extremely high quality workmanship, and is super fast (though expensive $499, at last count). They have a G4/800 upgrade that is cheaper. (4) Upgrade the Hard disk. At the same time you do this, upgrade the hard disk controller to a an ATA/133 controller that fits in a PCI slot. I have an SIIG controller. Replace the stock hard disk with a fast, modern 7200 RPM, 250 meg Western Digital drive with the 8 meg cache. Make sure you replace the drive and add the PCI drive controller at the same time because (a) the Beige's stock controller is too slow to take full advantage of a modern drive and (b) adding such a controller requires formatting the drive once it's on the controller ($100-$200). Do all this and it will feel like you have a whole new machine. -- G-List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- We have Apple Refurbished Monitors in stock! | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> G-List list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
