Quicksilver upgrade processor option & opinion

[oneboyarmy]

As part of my 2011 Mac-related goals, I'm looking for a faster processor or dual for my Quicksilver. I'm currently running a 733Mhz single, but my machine is a 2002 model that was originally a 1Ghz dual. I've been checking eBay for a few days and the only processors I've found are the ones compatible with the MDDs. The Quicksilver-compatible processors are going for rather crazy amounts when I have seen them.

Considering a couple of very fortunate changes in my life, I'm thinking about spending about $160 to get a 1.6Ghz Sonnet upgrade from OWC. I don't think it's unreasonable and I really love the idea of hot rodding one of my favorite Macs. I just got a sweet deal ($10 shipped) on a Geforce4M, 64MB and I'm going to drop in another 512MB RAM to bring it up to 1.25GB.

Crazy idea or worthwhile splurge? Anyone have any experience with the Sonnet upgrades?

 

[Unknown_K]

I have a 1.25Ghz Sonnet G4 with 2MB cache in a 2001 Quicksilver, got it because the last owner could not get it working correctly (hardware software issues). I use that machine for my main Mac currently it has a new 22X DVD-DL burner, max RAM, a USB 2.0/firewire card, and an ATI 9000 video card booting OS 9.22 and OSX 10.4.x on seperate HDs. The benchmarks are about 2x what my 2002 Quicksilver G4-800 (no cache model) gets. I assume your G4-733 is from a 2001 Quicksilver that also has no cache, hard to even give those away.

While I love the Sonnet upgrade I can't see spending $100+ for it when you can get a Mirror Drive Door dual 1Ghz cheap these days. I paid something like $35 shipped for mine because of the software problem (machine plus CPU installed). Sooner or later I will find a cheap Dual G4-800 or 1000 with cache for my other Quicksilver to speed it up, but only when it is cheap. With the X86 only OSX versions out you will find people dumping anything G5 and earlier for peanuts, so waiting a bit might be a good idea unless this is your main machine (I use X86 PCs for my main machines).

 

[oneboyarmy]

My 733 actually has cache! My friend gave it to me back when the Quicksilver was just a carcass and I was pleasantly surprised when I checked it out in System Profiler. Come to think of it... maybe I'll ask him to check his parts farm for anything better. It would be nice if it was at least back to the 1Ghz dual.

I briefly considered the MDD... but, I really think they're so ugly compared to the Quicksilver. Not to mention the whole 'wind tunnel' bit I see all over the place. So, that's kind of a "last resort" - then I end up with an extra system.

I'm still waiting but really considering... who knows what I might find by the time I'm actually ready to do something. I may give it another month or so and see what I can find!