G4 processor swaps

[Rick Dangerous]

I guess i'm not sure.  From what i've been reading, part of me thinks this processor upgrade should be plug and play with OS 9.2.2.

If anyone knows otherwise, please let me know before I spend $50-$100 bucks on a paperweight   Thanks

 

[Bolle]

1GHz usually means it has a 745x CPU and those do not need a firmware patch to work.

 

[Rick Dangerous]

Thanks everyone!!  Much appreciated.  1Ghz should be plenty for even the most demanding OS9 gaming.

 

[haplain]

I think that I have the software if you need it though. 

 

[Unknown_K]

I swapped both my Sawtooth CPUs with dual G4-500's (no idea what machine the CPUs came from). Adds a nice boost if you run OSX (and have the correct revision Sawtooth boards that can do dual CPU).

 

[EvieSigma]

Are Quicksilvers really restricted to just Quicksilver CPU modules and rare and obscenely expensive 3rd party upgrades? That's unfortunate, I'd like dual CPUs or a faster single in my QS'02 but 933MHz is the fastest single and the 1GHz dual module is pretty hard to find...

 

[mraroid]

http://www.jcsenterprises.com/Japamacs_Page/Processors.html

An excellent page on compatibility of G4 CPU modules between different models.

From theos911's post here.

Hello Bunsen....

Would the above link include Zif socket G4 CPUs like one might find in the Yikes! motherboard?

If not, do you know of a URL that covers this odd ball CPU?

Thanks

mraroid


 

 

[Huxley]

Are Quicksilvers really restricted to just Quicksilver CPU modules and rare and obscenely expensive 3rd party upgrades? That's unfortunate, I'd like dual CPUs or a faster single in my QS'02 but 933MHz is the fastest single and the 1GHz dual module is pretty hard to find...

I know it’s been nearly a year since this question was posed without a reply, but since I bought my own single-CPU Quicksilver G4 today (800MHz) I’m really curious about what my options are for CPU upgrades. Does anyone have a good answer to this one?

 

[ArmorAlley]

I know it’s been nearly a year since this question was posed without a reply, but since I bought my own single-CPU Quicksilver G4 today (800MHz) I’m really curious about what my options are for CPU upgrades. Does anyone have a good answer to this one?

It would be really great if it were possible to stick an MDD processor into a QS. I've read that it doesn't work, but I'm not sure why: bus-speed incompatibility (133MHz vs 166MHz), physical incompatibility (processor & heatsink is simply the wrong shape), pin/processor incompatibility (this shouldn't be, they both PPC 7455s).

 

[Bolle]

The MDD CPU would block all RAM slots in the QS.

I would love to see if it would technically work though.

 

[ArmorAlley]

The MDD CPU would block all RAM slots in the QS.

I would love to see if it would technically work though.

That's a good reason.

Thanks for this.

 

[mraroid]

I am also a big fan of Arctic Cooling, now upgraded to MX4.  I have used it in rebuilding laptops, Macs and PCs.  For novice users, the big problem is that they use far too much.  Follow the directions!  Thank you for the post Bunsen.
 
mraroid

 

[waynestewart]

It would be really great if it were possible to stick an MDD processor into a QS. I've read that it doesn't work, but I'm not sure why: bus-speed incompatibility (133MHz vs 166MHz), physical incompatibility (processor & heatsink is simply the wrong shape), pin/processor incompatibility (this shouldn't be, they both PPC 7455s).

It's not bus speed as they made a couple of MDD models with 133 mhz bus speed. If it was otherwise hardware compatible then some of the aftermarket suppliers would have made their cpu upgrades for all G4s

 

[trag]

They may just have routed the signals to the pins of the logic board/CPU card connector in different patterns for the two different models of machine.

 

[hoi polloi]

MDD CPUs don't work in anything else...

 

[Bolle]

And does it work?

I was going to try a MDD CPU in one of the earlier G4 machines. You need to solder in an angled RAM socket so you can put in at least one DIMM.

 

[waynestewart]

Physically fitting is one thing, working is another. The MDD has been out for over 15 years and in that time I haven't seen a single person demonstrate a MDD processor in anything else.

The opposite also. All those processor upgrades for the QS, DA and so forth and none of those work in the MDD. I'd love it if I could move the 1.8ghz module from my DA to my MDD.

 

[CC_333]

Physically fitting is one thing, working is another. The MDD has been out for over 15 years and in that time I haven't seen a single person demonstrate a MDD processor in anything else.

Well, aren't MDD processors interchangeable with the Xserve?

I see your point, though; the Xserve-MDD swap works because the Xserve is basically an MDD in 1U rack-mount form, so it doesn't really count.

c

 

[Alex]

Thanks macjunky. I'll add your tip to the Peripherals Links Project.

/ETA/ Darn it, wouldn't you know. The link in the OP has disappeared. Trying to dig up an archive copy now.

/ETA/ Nope, it's gone

Is this it? https://web.archive.org/web/20111112100811/https://68kmla.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=9816