I would like to take advice on hardware, as it looks like there is some tech freaks over there..... ;)
I use an old Mac G4 laptop, high end version from about 3 years ago.
The CPU is at 1.2Ghz, 512Mo RAM.
Im pretty happy with that. It is vastly enough for my every day use, and of course a bit slow for BOINC but i can keep pace with dead lines even with relatively big WU on Einstein.
My concern is more in the architecture of the computer. The FSB is at (please dont laugh) 133Mhz. Im not an hardware engineer, but i feel like a bus frequency as low as this just CAN'T allow the CPU to work at its best. Or am i wrong?
I know there is no need for the FSB to be as fast as the CPU, but that's 10 times!
I understand i doesnt play a role in pure CPU computation, but
since BOINC projects store about 130Mo to 260Mo on main memory, does this old fashioned FSB slow the overall process?
To be honest, when i bought this computer, the other brands (even with laptops) where in majority at 333Mhz FSB, wich seems a more fair CPU/FSB ratio.
(Sorry for my strange english, please correct me)
Sure it does. That is one of the reasons Apple changed its total architecture to Intel for its Macs even though that forced them to rewrite their Os and software. This does not mean you need to buy a new Laptop if you are happy with what you have. Maybe you should just add some memory.
Ps For a Frenchy you write better then I do.
Your confusing FSB with memory data rates.
The G4 1.2GHz uses (normally) DDR266 which which is what you're comparing the 333 to they mean DDR333, which still uses a 133MHz FSB.
Humm... no i put 333Mhz, but i realized then that it couldnt be. I should have wrote 266Mhz or *2 possibilities. But i thought, well it can figure what i want to know, so i let it like that.... ;). Thanks!
You will have been correct, DDR266, DDR333 & DDR400 are all valid memory frequencies, but ALL use a 133MHz FSB. (You may know the memory speeds as PC2100, PC2700 & PC3200 respectively), they are just 'pumped' versions.
Well, correct me if im wrong: i thought the FSB was carrying data from various elements of computer to others, like from memory to CPU. And memory frequency is the fonctional speed of the particular component. So a DDR333 with a 133Mhz FSB is quite useless... Am i wrong?
The FSB (Front Side Bus) carries data between the CPU and the Northbridge only. It's actually the memory bus that carries data between the Northbridge and the Memory, though DJStarfox is correct and is what I should have written if I was awake when typing :) But the main thing is it's actually 133MHz vs 166MHz you are comparing and not 133MHz vs 333MHz.... though note memory bus can be different to FSB..
for instance my Pentium-M uses a 100MHz bus but the memory runs at a 166MHz (DDR333) a ratio FSB:RAM 3:5 it also shows FSB is not everything as these thing churn results quite nicely..
Mind your iBook G4 will be pretty pointless on Rosetta as the PPC code is notoriously slow..
(We're talking of computers that actually have a FSB anyway ;)
battery running out so have to cut this short...
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