This link should help you out: http://lowendmac.com/ppc/g4-133.shtml

Upgrade the RAM to 512MB at least, you need PC-133 SD-RAM for this machine (might cost ya, they're hard to find I think). HDD upgrade will help too, an 80GB IDE HDD is only $60 these days.

I wouldn't bother with the CPU, for basic tasks its fast enough and a CPU upgrade would cost too much. Any monitor will work with that PowerMac (I'm not sure if it has a DVI port, but it will have a VGA port at least)

RAM
It uses PC133 SDRAM and can support up to 1.5GB (3x512Mb). I would max that out if you can find some cheap RAM but 1G should be enough for general computing and net surfing. Check out epowermac.com.au or fellow mactalker Clockwork.

HDD
Any ATA drives should work with the builtin ATA bus. I believe it does not have the 128Gb limitations as earlier G4 (Sawtooth) has. MSY has 320Gb for $105.

Processor
Processor upgrades are fairly cheap at the lower end and I reckon will give the best bang for buck. The difference between 466MHz and 1.2GHz is very noticeable but to get anything faster will cost a fair bit more. I have used a 1.2GHz upgraded G4 for websurfing and running Tiger. I don't find it too slow. Look on eBay.com.au or epowermac.com.au or you can try buying directly from US. Should set u back under $300.

Monitor
The type of monitor depends on your video card. Get one with a digital interface (DVI) if possible. I have used the Dell Ultrasharps and have found them good for general use. There are many cheap LCDs around and a Chimei/Benq 22inch can be had for less than $370 at some places. Dell 20inch is also around $370.

Specs for your machine:
http://www.everymac.com/systems/appl...ac_g4_466.html

A solid base machine for upgrading in my view. Good luck!

Disclaimer: I don't work for or have connections with any of the retailers, dealers or manufacturers mentioned in the post...

128MB RAM is just not going to cut it I'm afraid. More is obviously better but think of 256MB as a minimum for this machine (OS 10.3.x; 10.4.x might require 512MB to be decent IMO) A 30GB HD is SMALL but if you manage things effectively you will get away with it...

I could sell you a PC133 256MB SDRAM for about $30 plus postage. 128MB for $10 plus postage.

Two points:

Digital Audios have the 128GiB limit I'm afraid.

I have a DA with an overclocked Quicksilver CPU (amongst others). It's really not that bad.

I would probably be looking at putting 1GB in the machine. I checked epowermac, and I can get 2 x 512MB sticks for $125 each....

If it is going to be a semi-permanent backup machine you should spend a bit of money on it. I'm writing this on a Sawtooth G4/400 that's my main machine since my MDD carked it . I had already put a 160 gig HD in it and another 768mb Ram . Then I put a faster Radeon 7000 64mb graphics card in as well so I could run two monitors. It runs 10.2 and 10.3 quite well. Even my CAD program runs pretty good on it too. Now if this machine ever turns up its toes I could sell the parts and recoup probably half of what I have spent or move them to another machine. Worth doing in my book. I think most people on this forum would have at least one computer they could use as a backup should their No. 1 machine go South and be out of action for a while. It depends on your budget and your needs.
Stewie

Kim Jong Il. Can't you use the ATA Hi-Cap extender to go over the 128 Gig limit on the pre MDD machines ?
Stewie

Edit : Get it here ...http://www.speedtools.com/ATA6.shtml

Don't the DA's have ADC or was it just the cube and G4 Gigabit Ethernet?

Absolutely yes, although people have had occasional issues with it. Thanks for bringing this option up however.

I suspected that. That means only Quicksilver or later would support >128Gb.

I would suggest picking up a PCI ATA card that support >128Gb rather than the software driver. I have a client that gets around with the software driver on a Sawtooth but it is somewhat limiting. Should the system software with the driver crashes, the drive may be a bit cumbersome to resurrect.

Anyway, 80G is only $57 and should be enough for system and apps. Might need a second drive for media files though.

I have heard many people happy with overclocking CPUs and they are quite cheap to buy. Only problem is one needs to be comfortable working with electronics. I can install a G4 card in less than 5 minutes with little or no skills working with electronics... I paid a bit more for stability and plug'n play.

$125 for 512 mb Ram is not cheap. I use an ebay seller that I have used several times before and buy for two or three friends at the same time to save on the post rate. Here is a recent purchase . The 512mb stick I was quoted at $112 to $120 from Oz sellers and the Lombard standard 128mb from $99 to $110 and the Lombard Low profile 128mb from $130 to $135. All these from Oz sellers are plus postage as well.
All these ones from the US come with lifetime warranty and all Apple compliance.
Stewie

I'd upgrade the RAM, HD and flash a cheap FX5200 graphics card, but wouldn't bother with a new CPU - by the time you've forked out $300+ for a third party CPU upgrade, you're in Quicksilver or MDD land, and it's not worth the expense then.

If you're into hardware hacking though, an MDD CPU as kim mentioned would be ideal, or less adventurous a DA533 overclocks to 600 without hassles and is a straight drop-in replacement.

Take your time upgrading it, keep an eye out for cheap deals, and it'll be maxed out in specs and performance before you know it

JB

The DAs came with a Rage128 with both SVGA and ADC outputs. There is no need to spend the extra on a replacement video-card that is CoreVideo / Quartz capable unless you have to have all the bling. I've the DA's little brother, the gig-ethernet G4/500 with a stock Rage128 and I'm perfectly content.

The Intech hack to bypass the 128 GB limit on hard drives is a hack, and from my own experience, not a very good one ... i was just thankful I had all my data on the 200 GB drive I was using at the time backed up to DVD. My G4 has a single 120 GB in it now, and it's still got more than half of it free.


B.