[G4] Video Card Upgrade Question

[Philip J Robar]

On May 7, 2007, at 2:19 PM, Preston Peek wrote:

> I've just purchased a Samsung 22" widescreen monitor, but can only  
> attach it
> to my analog VGA port (no DVI on my G4). The picture, even on a Hi  
> Def DVD,
> is not so hot. I know someone who runs this monitor from a PC for  
> gaming,
> and he's blown away by it. Not so me.
>
> My question is: If I upgrade my video card (I'm looking at a Mac ATI  
> Radeon
> 9200 128MB AGP DVI Video Card) will this improve my resolution? Will
> increasing the RAM (which I badly need) help?

The video card and its analog connection is probably not the problem.  
LCD monitors have a native resolution and refresh rate. If the former  
is not set correctly the display will look bad, if the latter is not  
set correctly, but the former is things will be a little fuzzy. Check  
the manual for the correct settings.

To forestall other responses, 64 MBs is more than enough to support  
this monitor at full resolution and color.

A DVI equipped card will probably give you a better looking display,  
but the difference will not be huge.

> And on a related issue: Is anyone familiar with the $299  
> "SuperCharged 1.5
> GHz PowerMac G4 CPU Upgrade G-Celerator, 1.53 GHz with the  
> supercharged 2MB
> Cache... The "Plug & Play" 1.5 GHz that will more than triple the  
> speed of
> your Power Macintosh G4 system!?" Worth it. I could sure use some  
> speed

Seems rather pricy. Check someplace like OWC, www.macsales.com, for  
alternatives. xlr8yourmac.com is a good place to look for user reviews  
of Mac hardware.

Phil
--
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary  
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin