900 MHz Sawtooth or 1.25 GHz Mini?

[Numo]

I have a choice between 2 used systems:

- 512K G4 Sawtooth upgraded to 900 MHz for $265 or

- 1 MB Mac Mini 1.25 GHz refurb for $500.

I would like to use it for Photoshop work and making movies.

Obviously, the the upgraded Sawtooth is going to be slower than the Mini, but it is also cheaper and more expandable. But I am not sure if the differences between to the 2 are going to be significant for the purposes that I will be using it for.

Any ideas?

[DaviDC.]

I've got a maxed out Sawtooth that I use for scanning & Photoshop work & iTunes.

The last time I asked about upgrading the Sawtooth processor, the overwhelming majority proclaimed the money would be better spent on a new computer.

If at all possible, I'd go with the Mini.

[Seacrest]

mini

[Jimmypoo]

You have a lot more questions to ask.

First.... how much RAM do you need and is in either machine?

Second.... if you are doing a lot of movies, the puny 512k and no level 3 on the mini may kill you.

You are soon going to be able to upgrade that Tooth to a 2+GHz 7448, with 1mb cache each, on chip, AND get them in dual configs.

In addition, you can get a card and engage hardware raid and a few fast drives (four in that machine, plus your optical).

You can actually find UNupgraded Tooth's for $75.

The mini is a great little machine. But that slow drive and it max-ing at 1GB of RAM for extensive movies might be limiting when you can load a dualie card in that Tooth and especially because the ones that are coming are going to knock your socks off.

Do more math. HDs, cards, RAM -

btw... what do you mean "- 1 MB Mac Mini 1.25 GHz refurb for $500."

1MB what? These are gen 1 machines. The drives are 4200 RPM, the video is 32mb and you don't mention if it has a combo or a super.

If this is a Superdrive/1GB machine, with wireless, then it isn't a bad deal at all.]

If it is lacking any one of the above 3 features, it is too much.

[Harry in MI]

Is the Sawtooth a complete allready upgraded to 900mhz machine, if so it's a very good deal.

[OWC Larry]

$265 for that Sawooth is a good deal and easily could be faster than the mini too.... if the G4/900 has 2MB L3.

For another $230 can make it 1.2GHz 2MB, get at least $100 for G4/900 on Ebay - $395 for something that is faster than any speed 7447 mini.

[Guitarman]

You can actually find UNupgraded Tooth's for $75.

not on craigslist. $200 min.

[Jimmypoo]

It's definitely geographical.

Wurm found a DP 450 for $150. I can't find squat around here in Billyville.

I think this all comes down to what the ultimate plans are. Mini form factors are great little things. I still can't help but look and salivate at the idea of a Tooth-QS machine
fully blown, even if it didn't make a lot of sense.

I really like the QS form Factor and the DA amp.

The death bell tolling for the software side of the G series is a real problem for me
when it comes to investing into more upgrades to keep a machine's hardware current
when the OS is being left behind.

(I still want that dual 2.2GHz 7448 set-up!)

[Numo]

Thank you very much to all who took the time to reply. I am sorry my original post was incomplete. Here is more info:

The processor upgrade in the Sawtooth is a PowerLogix PowerForce55 G4/900MHz w/2MB L3. I bought it off of OWC's bargain page several days ago for $125. I bought a used Sawtooth a couple of weeks ago for $140. Hence, the $265 total for the upgraded Sawtooth.

I also bought a 256K Mac mini 1.25 combo drive refurb from Apple last week for $379. I also bought a $20 keyboard from Apple and paid $100 for 1 gig of memory from OWC to put into it. Total: $500.

Will the Sawtooth actually be better for video work than the mini? (I assume I'd have to upgrade memory to 1 gig).

[bangman]

Isn't that price a little high for a refurbed mini.