Apple Mac Upgrades - RAM, SSD Flash, External Drives and More

CPU Loading - Photoshop & iTunes	L2 Cache	L3 Cache	Time, Sec.

Reference Apple Systems

PM G4/466MHz Digital Audio	1024k	0MB L3	1695
PM G4/733MHz QuickSilver	256k	0MB L3	1385
PM G4/867MHz QuickSilver	256k	2MB, SDRAM	1000
PM 2x G4/1GHz QuickSilver 2002	256k x2	2x 1MB, DDRAM	545
PM 2x G4/867MHz Mirrored Drive Door	256k x2	2x 1MB, DDRAM	598
PM 2x G4/1GHz Mirrored Drive Door	256k x2	2x 1MB, DDRAM	498
PM G4/1GHz (MDD) FireWire 800	256k	1MB, DDRAM	900
PM 2x G4/1.25GHz (MDD) FireWire 800	256k x2	2x 1MB, DDRAM	433
PM 2x G4/1.42GHz (MDD) FireWire 800	256k x2	2x 1MB, DDRAM	374
PM G5/1.6GHz	512k 1:1	0MB L3	582
PM G5/1.8GHz	512k 1:1	0MB L3	519
PM 2x G5/2.0GHz	512k 1:1	0MB L3	285

Acceleration Cards

GigaDesigns G-Celerator G4/800MHz	256k	2MB SPB SRAM	1101
OWC Mercury Extreme G4/800MHz	256k	2MB SPB SRAM	1097
PowerLogix PowerForce G4/800MHz	256k	2MB SPB SRAM	1140
Sonnet Encore/ST G4/800MHz	256k	2MB DDR SRAM	1125
GigaDesigns G-Celerator G4/1GHz	256k	2MB SPB SRAM	876
GigaDesigns G-Celerator G4/1GHz (@ 1.2GHz)	256k	2MB SPB SRAM	736
Sonnet Encore/ST G4/1GHz	256k	2MB SPB SRAM	940
PowerLogix PowerForce G4/1.2GHz	256k	2MB DDR SRAM	823
Sonnet Encore/ST G4/1.2GHz	256k	2MB SPB SRAM	826
GigaDesigns G-Celerator G4/1.26GHz	256k	2MB DDR SRAM	791
OWC Mercury Extreme G4/1.26GHz	256k	2MB DDR SRAM	779
OWC Mercury Extreme G4/1.33GHz	256k	2MB DDR SRAM	690
GigaDesigns G-Celerator G4/1.4GHz @ 1.467GHz	256k	2MB DDR SRAM	668
OWC Mercury Extreme G4/1.467GHz	256k	2MB DDR SRAM	643
PowerLogix PowerForce 2x867MHz	256k	2MB DDR SRAM	648
PowerLogix PowerForce 2x933MHz	256k x2	2MB SPB SRAM x2	588
PowerLogix PowerForce 2x1.0GHz	256k x2	2MB SPB SRAM x2	576
PowerLogix PowerForce 2x1.2GHz	256k x2	2MB SPB SRAM x2	532

Time to execute Photoshop 7 test script while iTunes visuals are running full screen in the background. All times in seconds, shorter bars are better.
The above test is a seriously difficult task for any processor to run. If you wish to duplicate it, this is what is involved. I would use caution - this CAN AND WILL overheat processors. If you have problems with your machine locking up while running this test, investigate the thermal bond between the heatsink and processor - this will stress your computer more than anything! Set your monitor's resolution to 1280x1024, millions of colors. Open iTunes and play a song. For this test I chose a 10 minute live version of a Rolling Stones track, and had it repeat in a loop so all of the processors tested in this series would be having the same visual patterns displayed. Some of the iTunes visuals differ in CPU load, and this levels the playing field, so to speak. Expand the iTunes window to fill the screen Activate the visual effects, at full screen resolution. Open Photoshop Select the action script to run, and start the stopwatch.