Video card recomendation
by Mike Rowley · in Torque Game Engine · 12/14/2006 (6:47 pm) · 4 replies
I have a G4 that I use to compile the exe and move my games over to so that I can have mac support for my games.
I'll give you the specs:
processor 350 MHz PowerPC G4
memory 256 mb
built in Apple Burgundy 44.1 KHz internal sound card
ATI VGA RV100 video card with 32 mb VRAM
I know absolutely nothing about the Mac computer, but I do know that my games, (and even the starter.fps) are working in software mode. (gag)
I don't need a "top of the line" video card for this machine as it's only for moving my game over, and testing to make sure things work correctly. What would you recomend as the "bottom of the list" vid card? Something that will work well, but isn't expensive.
Thanks.
I'll give you the specs:
processor 350 MHz PowerPC G4
memory 256 mb
built in Apple Burgundy 44.1 KHz internal sound card
ATI VGA RV100 video card with 32 mb VRAM
I know absolutely nothing about the Mac computer, but I do know that my games, (and even the starter.fps) are working in software mode. (gag)
I don't need a "top of the line" video card for this machine as it's only for moving my game over, and testing to make sure things work correctly. What would you recomend as the "bottom of the list" vid card? Something that will work well, but isn't expensive.
Thanks.
#2
@Mike: which model do you have? That Mac sounds like it's about six years old. (2000 is when I got my 450 Mhz G4 Mac Cube and 400 Mhz G4 tower.) That probably means a PCI card, although many models from that era had an AGP slot. So we need to know which model to help you figure that out. It's probably this one: lowendmac.com/ppc/g4.shtml because I don't recall any other 350 Mhz G4s. That would mean PCI graphics, not AGP.
These guys have the ATI Radeon 9200 PCI in stock: eshop.macsales.com/shop/video/hardware/ The price is $130 and that seems like highway robbery, but it will work without any further effort on your part. If you have more effort than cash, look at the links on the lowendmac page. You can usually flash a PC video card with Mac firmware. (And of course, check ebay and Froogle it for lower prices. I've seen Mac AGP cards for well under $100 on ebay.)
There's lots of info on flashing PCI cards on the usual Mac upgrade forums: cubeowner.com/kbase_2/index.php?category=2
All that said... throw out your Mac! That's an ancient six year old Mac. Would you seriously be developing on a PC you bought in 2000? Get something a touch more recent. On ebay there are several G4 Mac Minis (1.25 Ghz, Radeon 9200) under $300. Here's an 800 Mhz G4, nVidia GeForce2 MX with AGP 2X, $450, and would doubtless be the best looking computer you'd own: www.surpluscomputers.com/store/main.aspx?p=ItemDetail&item=COM10716
And actually, don't throw out the old Mac. Go into XCode and turn on distcc and the old Mac will help speed up your Torque builds.
12/15/2006 (6:06 am)
Dude, you are so wrong. No need to go to the Apple store. You can find old Mac farts right here. And this old fart says, enough with the anti-Apple/anti-Mac crap. Nearly impossible to update? Not for a long time. Throw out your Mac? Huh?@Mike: which model do you have? That Mac sounds like it's about six years old. (2000 is when I got my 450 Mhz G4 Mac Cube and 400 Mhz G4 tower.) That probably means a PCI card, although many models from that era had an AGP slot. So we need to know which model to help you figure that out. It's probably this one: lowendmac.com/ppc/g4.shtml because I don't recall any other 350 Mhz G4s. That would mean PCI graphics, not AGP.
These guys have the ATI Radeon 9200 PCI in stock: eshop.macsales.com/shop/video/hardware/ The price is $130 and that seems like highway robbery, but it will work without any further effort on your part. If you have more effort than cash, look at the links on the lowendmac page. You can usually flash a PC video card with Mac firmware. (And of course, check ebay and Froogle it for lower prices. I've seen Mac AGP cards for well under $100 on ebay.)
There's lots of info on flashing PCI cards on the usual Mac upgrade forums: cubeowner.com/kbase_2/index.php?category=2
All that said... throw out your Mac! That's an ancient six year old Mac. Would you seriously be developing on a PC you bought in 2000? Get something a touch more recent. On ebay there are several G4 Mac Minis (1.25 Ghz, Radeon 9200) under $300. Here's an 800 Mhz G4, nVidia GeForce2 MX with AGP 2X, $450, and would doubtless be the best looking computer you'd own: www.surpluscomputers.com/store/main.aspx?p=ItemDetail&item=COM10716
And actually, don't throw out the old Mac. Go into XCode and turn on distcc and the old Mac will help speed up your Torque builds.
#3
I posted everything i could find on this mac in my first post. Sorry, have no clue where to look for more information.
I need to upgrade the ram. 256mb is just wayyyy too slow. It's like going from dsl to dialup. :/
and an upgraded video card will do just fine. I'll look at the links you gave.
Thanks again. :)
LOL. Just opened the link for lowendmac.com/ppc/g4.shtml and the mac I have is pictured. :D
12/15/2006 (7:13 pm)
Thanks for the info Rob. I bought this old mac on ebay about 4 months ago, so won't be throwing it out. (I my be throwing out my pc tho soon if I cant fix it. I'm on my mac now becouse windows xp can't find its own operating system. well, that's another problem.)I posted everything i could find on this mac in my first post. Sorry, have no clue where to look for more information.
I need to upgrade the ram. 256mb is just wayyyy too slow. It's like going from dsl to dialup. :/
and an upgraded video card will do just fine. I'll look at the links you gave.
Thanks again. :)
LOL. Just opened the link for lowendmac.com/ppc/g4.shtml and the mac I have is pictured. :D
#4
@Mike: FYI, there was a 350MHz PCI G4 and a 350MHz AGP G4 and they look identical on the outside so you'll want to make sure you know which you have before you buy a graphics card for it. The easiest way to find out is probably with System Profiler in your /Applications/Utilities folder.
FYI, a great resource to figure out the specs on various Mac hardware is www.everymac.com.
12/20/2006 (7:42 pm)
Hi guys:@Mike: FYI, there was a 350MHz PCI G4 and a 350MHz AGP G4 and they look identical on the outside so you'll want to make sure you know which you have before you buy a graphics card for it. The easiest way to find out is probably with System Profiler in your /Applications/Utilities folder.
FYI, a great resource to figure out the specs on various Mac hardware is www.everymac.com.
Torque Owner Davidovich
One of the few things I hate about macs is that they are nearly impossible to update. In all honesty with an old machine like the one you state it would possibly be cheaper to get a second hand mac that's more recent than to get a new video card.
Failing that head to the nearest/biggest apple store, find someone who looks older and so has a chance of knowing something (as opposed to the teenage fassion victims who think macs are the latest new style accessory who seem to have invaded every apple store near me) and ask them. In all honesty I doubt they'll have any video cards at all for sale. Unfortunately mac has gone with a policy of throw out your old computer and get a new one.