Daystar debuts PPC-7448 PBG4 upgrade
updated 08:10 am EST, Mon March 6, 2006
PPC-7448 PBG4 upgrade
Daystar Technology has announced a new PowerPC 7448-based processor upgrade for the 1.67GHz PowerBook G4. The "XLR8 MAChSpeed 7448 Aluminum" is a factory installed upgrade and is expected to be available within the next month. The first "customer" upgrade has already shipped as a "pre-release" edition of the forthcoming product, according to the company. The new upgrade offers a 1.83GHz G4 processor and 1MB of Level-2 cache for optimal performance, but is limited to the 1.67GHz PowerBook G4 due to hardware restrictions that prevent the use of the 7448 in earlier systems. In real-world (Photoshop) benchmarks, the 7448 performs 20 to 30 percent faster than a 7447A at the same MHz. Overall the XLR8 MAChSpeed 7448 Aluminum provides 30 to 60 percent more performance for PowerBook users, according to the company. The upgrade requires Mac OS X 10.4.4 or later. The upgrade includes shipping, testing, installation and "100 percent quality assurance." (Pricing not available.)
Only for latest G4 PB's
03/06, 01:07pm reply
The fact that this ONLY works on the latest G4 PowerBooks indicates Apple designed them to use these newer 7448's in the first place. Most likely, Freescale could not provide them in quantity at the time needed, so they had to go with the same older chips. Too bad... It would have been a nice farewell to the PPC line.
As for this product, increasing clock speed from 1.67 to 1.83 MHz makes for lousy marketing, even if the chip is a bit more efficient. Maybe they should call it the "G4+" (or "G4.5") upgrade to better distinguish the 7448 chips over the previous generation. Afterall, Apple came up with "G4" so Daystar should be able to call it a "G4+" for their marketing.
kw99
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2001
not there
11/04, 08:53am reply
the upgrade isn't on the site anymore, why not? I really want to upgrade my powerbook
Velocity211
Grizzled Veteran
Joined: Feb 2006