> Message-Id: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > From: Damien Grout <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [PCI] Some very basic questions > Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2005 14:24:18 -0600 > > Forgive my ignorance, but I have some questions regarding 2 recently > acquired PCI macs. The first is a PowerMac 9500/200. The second is a > 6500/225. Both have 136mb ram in the 6500, and about 200mb in the 9500, > both run OS 9.1 I have need of doing some very basic video editing, > and I hope to be able to use these to accomplish these simple tasks. > > First, I want to know about the difference between the processors and > system buses on these two machines. I have already done some work in > photoshop on both of these machines, and there is a noticeable speed > advantage in the 9500, even though it has the slower clock speed. Does > the reason for the speed disparity reside in the chips themselves, > meaning that the 604 in the 9500/200 is that much superior to the 603 > in the 6500/225? Or, is it possible that the 10mHz difference in the > system bus makes that much difference? (40mHz in the 6500 versus 50 in > the 9500) > > Secondly, I have a question about processor upgrades and system bus > speed. Let's just say that I wanted to install a G3/400 processor > upgrade in the 9500. Would the system bus speed allow me to take > advantage of the dramatic increase in processing power? Would the bus > speed choke the transmission of high amounts of data? Would I continue > to get dropped frames? Would a G4 upgrade fare any better than a G3 in > the 9500? > > Thirdly, I have been less than impressed with the 6500. Are these > machines worth upgrading, considering that I am interested in doing > video editing? Or should I save my pennies for a dual processor G4 on > the used market? > > I admit that I am quite ignorant on these things, so forgive me if my > questions are misguided. But I do want to learn, so any input would be > appreciated. > > Damien
The 9500 has 32% more RAM and this is significant. It is still too small an amount for the sort of things you are indicating you are wanting to do. And the bus increase on the 9500 is also significant. If you were simply to keep the 9500 as is and move as much RAM over to it and more, you would find it even better. If you can pick up a cheap upgrade card G3 or G4 (I really can't tell if my XLR 8 G3 is better than my Powerlogix G3/4 (depending on an optional extension) - I do not use OS X ) Your 9500 might also have a bigger L2 cache chip than the 6500. This is a significant factor. Caches are very important and more so than raw processor speed. If you get an upgrade card, get one that has a big (backside) cache on it (1 MB is good). So, I am saying, forget about the 6500, and if working on the difficult case of the 9500 is not too bothersome, stick with it and put in a lot of RAM (put in at least 500MB, better more...) and find a cheap upgrade processor with a good cache on it (you may have to disable any on board cache then...) If you are going to spend much tho, get a G4 and be done, you will never overcome the 50 bus limit on the Legacy machines. How much is too much is a call you have to make. I would not start now investing in a legacy machine. Many of us have done this like happy robots on the legacy treadmill for years. But now is now. Probably not a sensible time to *start* ... keep the 9500 going, if you will, only with obviously bargain bits and pieces... David Elmo -- PCI-PowerMacs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Sonnet & PowerLogix Upgrades - start at $169 | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> PCI-PowerMacs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/pci-powermacs.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/pci-powermacs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> iPod Accessories for Less at 1-800-iPOD.COM Fast Delivery, Low Price, Good Deal www.1800ipod.com
