Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

New PowerMac G5

L

Lynxd

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 25, 2012
1
0
So im a long time reader and first time poster on the MacRumors Forums

After owning many Intel based Macs over the last 5 years (all portables) I decided to buy a desktop.

The situation kind of jumped up on me, as a wholesaler who I usally buy PC's from had a PowerMac sitting on the floor, asked him how much, he replied with $250, I ended up taking it home along with a LED Cinema Display.

Specs when I bought it:
Dual 2.0Ghz PowerPC G5
512mb DDR400
NVidia FX5600
160GB Maxtor (Stock)


First thing I noticed when I booted it up: Both CPU's arnt recognised, and if the OS boots with both loaded, within 30m of uptime it will just lock up.

Since i bought it ive upgraded a few things

8GB DDR400
500GB Seagate Front
1000GB Seagate Back
Radion 9600 128mb
Added Airport + Bluetooth.
Fibre Channel Card (For connecting to XServe Array)
Changed the Dud 3.6v Battery

After adding these parts, and installing a fresh copy of 10.5 it seems to run perfectly, im quite impressed considering its a 8 Year old computer and its cost me no more than $400 all together.

So my question is, what is it worth at this point? With the specs it currently has.
 
GermanyChris

GermanyChris

macrumors 601
Jul 3, 2011
4,185
5
Here
Lynxd said:
So im a long time reader and first time poster on the MacRumors Forums

After owning many Intel based Macs over the last 5 years (all portables) I decided to buy a desktop.

The situation kind of jumped up on me, as a wholesaler who I usally buy PC's from had a PowerMac sitting on the floor, asked him how much, he replied with $250, I ended up taking it home along with a LED Cinema Display.

Specs when I bought it:
Dual 2.0Ghz PowerPC G5
512mb DDR400
NVidia FX5600
160GB Maxtor (Stock)


First thing I noticed when I booted it up: Both CPU's arnt recognised, and if the OS boots with both loaded, within 30m of uptime it will just lock up.

Since i bought it ive upgraded a few things

8GB DDR400
500GB Seagate Front
1000GB Seagate Back
Radion 9600 128mb
Added Airport + Bluetooth.
Fibre Channel Card (For connecting to XServe Array)
Changed the Dud 3.6v Battery

After adding these parts, and installing a fresh copy of 10.5 it seems to run perfectly, im quite impressed considering its a 8 Year old computer and its cost me no more than $400 all together.

So my question is, what is it worth at this point? With the specs it currently has.
Click to expand...

I'd give you what you paid for it..
 
MAC MAN JW

MAC MAN JW

macrumors 6502
Jul 12, 2011
320
17
Buffalo,Ny
Lynxd said:
So im a long time reader and first time poster on the MacRumors Forums

After owning many Intel based Macs over the last 5 years (all portables) I decided to buy a desktop.

The situation kind of jumped up on me, as a wholesaler who I usally buy PC's from had a PowerMac sitting on the floor, asked him how much, he replied with $250, I ended up taking it home along with a LED Cinema Display.

Specs when I bought it:
Dual 2.0Ghz PowerPC G5
512mb DDR400
NVidia FX5600
160GB Maxtor (Stock)


First thing I noticed when I booted it up: Both CPU's arnt recognised, and if the OS boots with both loaded, within 30m of uptime it will just lock up.

Since i bought it ive upgraded a few things

8GB DDR400
500GB Seagate Front
1000GB Seagate Back
Radion 9600 128mb
Added Airport + Bluetooth.
Fibre Channel Card (For connecting to XServe Array)
Changed the Dud 3.6v Battery

After adding these parts, and installing a fresh copy of 10.5 it seems to run perfectly, im quite impressed considering its a 8 Year old computer and its cost me no more than $400 all together.

So my question is, what is it worth at this point? With the specs it currently has.
Click to expand...

If your in the usa i would say $200-$280 for the G5. Some G5 Quads can now be found/won on ebay for $300 so i don't think a dual 2.0GHz will sell for over $300 even that it is upgraded.:)
 
jwjsr

jwjsr

macrumors 6502
Mar 15, 2012
335
0
Fairhope, Alabama
more ram in my G5

I have this

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: Power Mac G5
Model Identifier: PowerMac7,3
Processor Name: PowerPC G5 (2.2)
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of CPUs: 2
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
Memory: 2.5 GB
Bus Speed: 1 GHz
Boot ROM Version: 5.1.8f7
Serial Number (system): RM428ZHSQPM
Hardware UUID: 00000000-0000-1000-8000-000A95D4C0D2

I was told 4 or 5 years ago 2.5 GB ram was gonna be max. Is that true?
 
O

orestes1984

macrumors 65816
Jun 10, 2005
1,000
4
Australia
I picked up a Dual 2.3ghz Xserve for $150... I've seen dual 2.5ghz Power Macs go for about that... with your upgrades I'd give you about what you paid for it if you were lucky.

----------
jwjsr said:
I have this

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: Power Mac G5
Model Identifier: PowerMac7,3
Processor Name: PowerPC G5 (2.2)
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of CPUs: 2
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
Memory: 2.5 GB
Bus Speed: 1 GHz
Boot ROM Version: 5.1.8f7
Serial Number (system): RM428ZHSQPM
Hardware UUID: 00000000-0000-1000-8000-000A95D4C0D2

I was told 4 or 5 years ago 2.5 GB ram was gonna be max. Is that true?
Click to expand...

That depends on whether it is the PCI or PCI-X model (32bit short PCI slots, or 64bit long PCI slots) both have the same model identifier so I can't easily tell you. The PCI model has a RAM ceiling of 4GB while the PCI-X model has a RAM ceiling of 8GB.

Either way if you're running Leopard its a good idea to pick up 4 cheap 1GB RAM sticks and upgrade to at least 4GB of RAM. 2GB sticks of DDR1 are produced, but they are scarcely made and a little too expensive so not really worth considering anyway.
 
Last edited:
jwjsr

jwjsr

macrumors 6502
Mar 15, 2012
335
0
Fairhope, Alabama
orestes1984 said:
I picked up a Dual 2.3ghz Xserve for $150... I've seen dual 2.5ghz Power Macs go for about that... with your upgrades I'd give you about what you paid for it if you were lucky.

----------



That depends on whether it is the PCI or PCI-X model (32bit short PCI slots, or 64bit long PCI slots) both have the same model identifier so I can't easily tell you. The PCI model has a RAM ceiling of 4GB while the PCI-X model has a RAM ceiling of 8GB.

Either way if you're running Leopard its a good idea to pick up 4 cheap 1GB RAM sticks and upgrade to at least 4GB of RAM. 2GB sticks of DDR1 are produced, but they are scarcely made and a little too expensive so not really worth considering anyway.[/QUOTE


Thks,

Does the below tell you which model I have the PCI or PCI-X ? And where do you buy your ram, Macsales/OWC?
DIMM0/J11:

Size: 256 MB
Type: DDR SDRAM
Speed: PC3200U-30330
Status: OK
Manufacturer: Unknown
Part Number: Unknown
Serial Number: Unknown

DIMM1/J12:

Size: 256 MB
Type: DDR SDRAM
Speed: PC3200U-30330
Status: OK
Manufacturer: Unknown
Part Number: Unknown
Serial Number: Unknown

DIMM2/J13:

Size: 1 GB
Type: DDR SDRAM
Speed: PC3200U-30330
Status: OK
Manufacturer: Unknown
Part Number: Unknown
Serial Number: Unknown

DIMM3/J14:

Size: 1 GB
Type: DDR SDRAM
Speed: PC3200U-30330
Status: OK
Manufacturer: Unknown
Part Number: Unknown
Serial Number: Unknown

DIMM4/J41:

Size: Empty
Type: Empty
Speed: Empty
Status: Empty
Manufacturer: Empty
Part Number: Empty
Serial Number: Empty

DIMM5/J42:

Size: Empty
Type: Empty
Speed: Empty
Status: Empty
Manufacturer: Empty
Part Number: Empty
Serial Number: Empty

DIMM6/J43:

Size: Empty
Type: Empty
Speed: Empty
Status: Empty
Manufacturer: Empty
Part Number: Empty
Serial Number: Empty

DIMM7/J44:

Size: Empty
Type: Empty
Speed: Empty
Status: Empty
Manufacturer: Empty
Part Number: Empty
Serial Number: Empty
Click to expand...
 
O

orestes1984

macrumors 65816
Jun 10, 2005
1,000
4
Australia
8 slots for a total max of 8GB of RAM. You can buy RAM through Other World Computing if you want, but it's just standard RAM so any DDR RAM will work in it bought from your local PC parts store.
 
jwjsr

jwjsr

macrumors 6502
Mar 15, 2012
335
0
Fairhope, Alabama
Ram substitute

orestes1984 said:
8 slots for a total max of 8GB of RAM. You can buy RAM through Other World Computing if you want, but it's just standard RAM so any DDR RAM will work in it bought from your local PC parts store.
Click to expand...

I think you are trying to tell me I could buy my RAM cheaper instead of the ram crucible/OWS specify? Could you elaborate further on what kind of RAM I can substitute for the below? Thanks


Part Number: CT441518
Module Size: 2GB kit (1GBx2)
Package: 184-pin DIMM
Feature: DDR PC3200
Specs: DDR PC3200 • CL=3 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR400 • 2.6V • 128Meg x 64 •
 
O

orestes1984

macrumors 65816
Jun 10, 2005
1,000
4
Australia
jwjsr said:
I think you are trying to tell me I could buy my RAM cheaper instead of the ram crucible/OWS specify? Could you elaborate further on what kind of RAM I can substitute for the below? Thanks


Part Number: CT441518
Module Size: 2GB kit (1GBx2)
Package: 184-pin DIMM
Feature: DDR PC3200
Specs: DDR PC3200 • CL=3 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR400 • 2.6V • 128Meg x 64 •
Click to expand...

I'm telling you that there is no such thing as Mac specific RAM. Given I don't live in the US I can't make any suggestions but try the usual suspects, Crucial, OWC, Newegg and your local PC parts suppliers.
 
jwjsr

jwjsr

macrumors 6502
Mar 15, 2012
335
0
Fairhope, Alabama
orestes1984 said:
I'm telling you that there is no such thing as Mac specific RAM. Given I don't live in the US I can't make any suggestions but try the usual suspects, Crucial, OWC, Newegg and your local PC parts suppliers.
Click to expand...

I am soorry I still don't quite understand, are you saying any 184 dimm ddr ram will work and does not have to be pc3200?
 
Intell

Intell

macrumors P6
Jan 24, 2010
18,955
509
Inside
jwjsr said:
I am soorry I still don't quite understand, are you saying any 184 dimm ddr ram will work and does not have to be pc3200?
Click to expand...

1.8Ghz+ G5's must take PC3200, anything slower and they'll refuse to boot. Only the 1.6Ghz can take PC2700.

orestes1984 said:
Yes and no... so long as it's DDR1 it will work, but preferably PC3200 or faster.
Click to expand...

PC3200 is the fastest DDR1 speed ever made. Most G5's will only work with PC3200. The only exceptions are the late-2005 models, iSight G5 iMacs, and the 1.6Ghz model.
 
O

orestes1984

macrumors 65816
Jun 10, 2005
1,000
4
Australia
Intell said:
PC3200 is the fastest DDR1 speed ever made. Most G5's will only work with PC3200. The only exceptions are the late-2005 models, iSight G5 iMacs, and the 1.6Ghz model.
Click to expand...

Except all those factory overclocked RAM modules I must have seen must not have existed.
 
jwjsr

jwjsr

macrumors 6502
Mar 15, 2012
335
0
Fairhope, Alabama
This is what I ordered off of EBay with no confirmation that is compatible with my G5. 24 bucks for 2gb I thought I take the chance.

Crucial DDR PC3200 1GB 184 PIM DIMM RAM, CT 12864Z40B unbuffered

will set as set of two to give you 2GB total
 
O

orestes1984

macrumors 65816
Jun 10, 2005
1,000
4
Australia
Michael Anthony said:
Entirely depends on what you're using it for though.
Click to expand...

Well lets just most recent applications in general, editing software, etc... I guess for older apps that don't take up much CPU power where you want to run a lot of them. I personally can't think of many.

I have realised just how easy it is to bottleneck a G5 though.
 
M

Michael Anthony

macrumors regular
Oct 18, 2012
131
21
Australia
orestes1984 said:
Well lets just most recent applications in general, editing software, etc... I guess for older apps that don't take up much CPU power where you want to run a lot of them. I personally can't think of many.

I have realised just how easy it is to bottleneck a G5 though.
Click to expand...
I get the feeling it's kind of because nothing was all that well multithreaded when the G5s were around, or at least, not too well. Like most games, on a PPC Mac they end up hitting CPU limitations way before the GPU, especially on slower clocked ones. But yeah I do agree that 4GB of memory should be plenty for most G5 users when you factor in CPU bottlenecks etc
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom