Upgrading an Video Card on a G4/500 (Graphite) w/2x AGP

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Bernstein89

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The current video card in my older G4 is an ATI Rage Pro 128 w/16 mg video RAM. It will not support larger (19-21") displays, I am told, and I tried powering up a current model Apple Cinema Display 20" and it failed. I am not a gamer, but simply want a larger display for viewing photos, MS Office apps, and internet. My system has 512 mg RAM installed. My G4 does not support ADC, and has both a VGA and a DVI-D port.

I was informd by the Genius Bar at my local Apple retail store that either the GForce3 or the Radeon 8500 would be suitable replacements as cards that support 2x AGP slot, but when I look at their specs, they will support 1600x1200 maximum in digital DVI connection. That resolution appears to suggest a maximum of 17" panels. The Apple support forum suggested that the Redeon 8500 Mac Edition would work adequately, but I am concerned how large a panel it can support. I would like to be able to support the Apple Cinema Display (20") in the current, non-ADC version.

As I continued to research the issue, I came up with two other potential solutions; the Radeon 9800 Pro Mac Edition 128mg, and the Radeon 9800 Pro Mac Edition 256 mg, the latter currently sold by ATI. The problem is, that while both are compatible with my AGP 2x slot, the manufacturer indicates that a 300w internal power supply is necessary. I am not sure that my G4 will support this. I found discussions on the Apple site that pointed to difficult installation problems, having to use a molex T connection and find a power connection internally.

So, the bottom line question is, if I wanted to support the Apple 20" display, what video card can I use to power it adequately for the purposes that I need (i.e., non-gaming)? Is the Radeon 8500 adequate? If not, will either of the Radeon 9800 Pro Mac Edition cards work in my Mac, and if so, which one will give me the least amount of difficulty installing (I am a novice on installing hardware).

Thanks in advance for your insights and assitance.
 
Consider the voltage requirements for those AGP cards. The latest cards won't support AGP 2x, as it requires a higher voltage. I did the reverse once on a PC motherboard (install an old AGP 2x card unto a P4S800 motherboard that supported 4x and 8x AGP, and supposedly 2x) and it would not startup. On a G4 like that, you're going ot have to use something that has the proper voltage and compatible speed, which is why you might not be able to use the 9800 series RADEONs on that Mac.

Low End Mac has more information on your G4 here:

http://lowendmac.com/ppc/g4mp.html
 
I believe my G4 is a "sawtooth" as the dual-processor G4s were not yet available at the time I bought mine, nor was the Gigabite version out. But while I've seen specs on the sawtooth as 350/400/450, mine is definitely a 500, with the audio inputs in the rear vertically aligned, and both VGA and DVI-D ports on the AGP 2x slot.

So if voltage is going to be an issue, and the power supply is 260 watts, less than required for the 9800 Mac Edition card (300W), is a non-AGP card, like the 9200, a good choice? I am running twin SCSI-2 drives on the unit, which take up 2 PCI slots, but I believe that the G4 has at least 3. I am not a gamer, but do want a large display >19", which means better resolution in the digital aspect of 1600 x 1200. Would a PCI mean less issues to address for compatibility?
 
Yes, you might have to go with the PCI solution. Not the fastest solution by any means, but if it will fit the requirement for your desired resolution, then that is the way to go.
 
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