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Absolutely, some games need a G4. Some are very CPU and graphic intensive. They might work on a G3 but would most likely be very choppy even with all settings on minimum. Many games will run fine on a G3, but some need more.

No, I haven't heard of any games that are enhanced by altivec.  The type of graphics card you have does matter, however.  Other factors are the size of the backside cache (level 3 cache).

Soldier of Fortune II needs a G4.  It doesn't have any AltiVec optimizations (yet; Omni's working on AltiVec and SMP for an upcoming patch, which will improve performance, even if the SMP and AltiVec optimizations are limited) but because basically everything is more advanced system-wise in a G4 system, and OpenGL uses AltiVec, the G4 is necessary.  I wouldn't even try to run it on any G3.

Same goes for Freedom Force, though, I figure it would run well on a fast G3 (say, in the 800 MHz range), since there's nothing special or weird going on that would need the G4.  But G4 is just going to be faster (and who knows, there may be some AltiVec optimizations in the game, I don't know, and wouldn't put it beyond Omni to optimize for AltiVec).

Nascar 2002 absolutely needs a G4.  The physics engine was rewritten to use AltiVec (it used a dynamic x86 assembly code generator for the PC), so there's no way it would even run acceptably on any G3 unless you were driving around the track by yourself.

Well, OpenGL is Altivec enhanced, so if you're using that you'll see better performance. StarCraft runs fine on a G3, though...   

Same goes for some other parts of the system that can benefit game performance. Some in-game videos are MPEGs, which uses QuickTime which uses AltiVec.

Game engine code can be rewritten to use Altivec, but when that's the limitation, the 33% faster system bus (133 MHz vs. 100) and kickass cache setup of the G4 Powerbook will still give you a speed boostbeyond what you'd expect of the 867 MHz CPU.

A side note: The Powerbook G4 15" is only $800 more than the low-end 14" iBook ($2299 vs $1499), but the 1 GHz Powerbook is a better deal.

Get a 1 GHZ 15" Powerbook G4 but with a DVD-ROM/CDRW Combo drive instead of a Superdrive and a 40 GB instead of a 60 GB HD. You're down to $2549 and get an extra 200 MHz, A G4 instead of a G3, a 133 instead ofa 100 MHZ system bus, Radeon 9000 insteadof 7500, twice the VRAM, 256 extra MBs of RAM, and 10 GBs of HD space.

If you ask me, that's  worth it, especially since the G4 will give you better performance under MacOS X in general, to say nothing of games.

It might be that the 15 inch (speculated) Aluminum Book is more your line.  You might wait a while. 

Moreover, in 2-3 years, whatever you buy, you can sell it and get a reasonable price.

...But on the other hand, the PowerBook does have a better GPU, will be able to play Doom 3...

I'll believe it when i see it 

I think you guys mis-understand the G4 requirement. It doesn't mean you NEED a G4 it means you need something faster than a 400mhz G4. For example, an 800mhz G3 is deffinetely faster than a 400mhzG4.

Are you sure?  Wouldn't they just say "requires a 400mhz G4 or 500mhz G3" or "requires a 400 mhz processor"?

very sure, I play SOF2 on a G3 with no problems, and I know others who do as well. Same for Freedom Force.

I'll believe it when i see it

John Carmack has already said it runs nicely on the Radeon 9000.  He tried it, and said he was impressed with it being able to run on mobile systems.  The Geforce 4 Go will NOT run Doom 3 (until they make mobile versions of the REAL Geforce 4, not the 4MX).

At any rate, thanks for all the feekback.  I'm STILL torn, and I still need this thing like right now really, but thanks for the input!

I think I'll go ask about system noise over on the 'Book forums.

i would assume so.  most games only run ok on my dual 867.  my friend has an iBook, and it doenst run anything.  even war3, with everything on low, is a task.  i think his is an iBook 700/640 RAM

I know someone who plays WC3 on that same model ibook, with everything on medium even.