Joe Vincent wrote: <<<Just read some interesting stuff in the latest "MacMall" catalog which doesn't make sense to my meager mind. Is the 601/120 processor in the 7200/120 line faster than the 7500/100's processor? If so, is the 7200/120 faster than the 7500/100? The only reason to buy the 7500 in that case is to get the video input capabilities. Then how much does that card (or a in/out video card) sell for separately? In the MacMall ad they are pricing their 7200/120 8 MB for $1899, while their 7200/120 16MB is going for $2299 = a $400 increase. On the same page you can upgrade the 8MB model by 8 more MB for an additional $359. Go figure!! They list no other differences in the 2 systems...>>>
Well, yes and no.... The 120Mhz PPC 601 processor in the 7200/120 IS FASTER THAN the 100Mhz PPC601 processor. However, this isn't the only thing that determines machine speed. For instance, the 7500 has interleaved memory, which boosts the speed of a 7500 nearly to the same level as the 7200/120. Second, the 7500 has a removable/upgradeable processor card. You can upgrade your 7500 to a 7600 or basically a 9500 just by gettin a CPU card with a 120, 132, or 150Mhz 604 (or faster 604e when they ship) instead of replacing the whole motherboard as you would have to ona 7200. Third, the 7500 has interleaved graphics memory architecture, which makes the graphics on the 7500 faster than a 7200. Then there is the video input capabilities of the 7500....I don't know how much that would cost to put in a 7200....you get about the same effect if you buy a $200 ColorQuickCam...but then you can't get stuff straight from the VCR like you can on the 7500.
RAM is MUCH cheaper than most places are listing right now....many places list RAM for $340 for a 16M DIMM, but will actually sell it for $250 or less....I recently bought a 16M Dimm from ClubMac for $245....apparently others have gone even cheaper....
