Just scored a bewdy

Picking it up tomorrow. Next up, ATX power supply hack, then an AGP video card, then transfer all my RAM and drives over from my beige and install 10.3.

I've never had a 10.3 machine before. Sweet. Or a New World ROM machine either.

I am after suggestions as to what comes after that. I want a faster CPU for starters, and I've read up on the hacks for adding CPU modules from MDD and QS machines. A dual would be nice.

Suggestions on a suitable, reasonably priced used AGP card also welcome - a dual head would be great, TV I/O capabilities too, but for now price is the winner.

Then I'd probably like to add a RAID card.

Nice! That looks a lot like my starter G4...

You'll need PC133 RAM for it, so unless your beige has that, you won't be able to move it into your DA G4.

QuickSilver CPUs can be installed in the DA G4, but you have to add 12 V to the 4th mounting "leg" on the module or it won't boot. Beware of the 733 MHz QS module as it doesn't have any cache. Also, some 800 MHz and 867 MHz modules in the educational models also don't have cache. I made that (expensive) mistake twice before picking up a 933 MHz module and a dual 1 GHz module.

I highly reommend dual CPUs. Go after the dual 800 or 1000 MHz modules if you can. They'll be cheaper than 3rd party upgrades, and they are plug & play (after the 12 V hack).

MDD CPUs will not work in a the DA G4.

Another way to get a cheap but capable video upgrade is to buy the supposed 8x AGP OEM video card castoffs from Power Mac G5s. I've got an Nvidia FX5200 Ultra (or whatever) and a Radeon 9600 Pro (both originally from G5s) that I modified to work in the 4x AGP slot. They work great! And both were under $50 US.

I don't know about RAID, but I think that a SATA card would be your best bet these days. Plus, OS X can do software RAIDs which are also bootable in OS X (but not recognized in OS 9).

Peace,
Drew
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Power to the PowerPC!

for graphics i´d go for a PC radeon 9800. flashing is relatively easy and the card is fast as hell

Both cards are dual head capable (indeed, the Radeons are even dual link DVI!).

Check it out here: http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/Graphics/FX5200_Mods_for_G4/FX5200_G4mods.html

The mod is pretty radical, and in some cases may require the use of a Dremel or hack saw. I got the 9600 to fit without hacking any bits off, but the FX5200 I tried first did need to have some surgery. This is because the location of the ADC power connector on the G5 is different than on the G4...

Peace,
Drew
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Power to the PowerPC!

Also, if you want more details of my own setup, I'd be happy to oblige. I have a DA 466 motherboard as my base system, but I've upgraded it significantly with mixed and matched parts from all over.

Peace,
Drew
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Power to the PowerPC!

That would be great, Drew. Perhaps that would be something you could write up for your own site or AF?

It'd be a great write-up or list for this site too.
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[Insert Cool Signature here!]