Making my Dual G5 "whole" again

[BufordTannen]

I am seeking a bit of advice here.

My current setup:
Dual 2.0Ghz G5
5.5 GB RAM
150GB HD
64MB GeForce FX 5200

The problem:
When i first got this thing a couple of years ago, it SMOKED. I mean it was fast. But lately it's just rediculously slow. When working in photoshop i stare at the spinning icon all the time just doing stupid standard tasks like clicking a tool, etc. Also i just hear the hard drive working like a dog. I've tried to repair it a few times, but it hasn't really helped. It's just not the same machine anymore and feels like a dog. Recently i upped the ram to 5.5gb but that did nothing. Im convinced it's just from years of hard drive abuse.

My plan:
I'm going to install 2 new dual 500gb internal drives... and a new 512mb video card, as well as a fresh install of OS X, hoping to put everything back to normal as if the machine is new again.

I'm just wondering if it's a waste of time and money. Once i put all my files back on the drives will it just be the same as it is now? I just don't understand how it seemed so fast a few years ago and pretty crappy now.

I am a web designer and only work with 72dpi files in photoshop so i think dual g5's should be plenty fast for me. I want to avoid spending $5k on an all new mac pro.

any advice is appreciated.

thanks!!

[macenforcer]

A fresh install will make it as fast as new. You are doing the right thing.

[FF_productions]

Agreed, a fresh install will make the machine feel like new.

That machine is still very capable, especially with all that ram and the upgrades you put into it.

[Cooknn]

I made mine whole again by pumping up the RAM to 4GB, replacing my video card with an X800 XT, and adding a second internal 150GB Hard Drive. Oh, and an external LaCie 150GB drive as well. I'm very happy with my box at the moment. And the beauty of my 23-inch Cinema HD has yet to wear off either

[CanadaRAM]

A new video card will do next to nothing for Photoshop - Photoshop is a 2D program and does not utilize a GPU for acceleration. The machine performance overall would pick up a bit with faster OS onscreen drawing, but it won't make any difference to the beachballing.

A clean install (or a new hard drive with a clean install) should help clear some problems up. (A failing hard drive can have some of these same symptoms.)

Also test your RAM to see if you are actually getting the full 5.5 Gb. With 5.5 Gb RAM you should be at near zero Page Outs.

[zero2dash]

New hard drive(s) are also future proof because you'll need SATAs which work in both G5s and Mac Pros, so if/when you upgrade to a Mac Pro, you'll be able to keep your drive(s) that you buy now.

[macfaninpdx]

If you are looking to save as much money as possible, you might try performing one upgrade at a time. Obviously the fresh install will be free, and that might restore most of your performance.

Also, I had a G4 laptop that was behaving very similarly - spinning beach ball, slow performance. Finally one day I checked the disk SMART status in Disk Utility and it showed the disk as failing. I rushed out and put in a new HD and the funky performance went away. The thing to note here is that the computer was performing strangely BEFORE the SMART status indicated anything.

Good luck!

[Cooknn]

Originally Posted by CanadaRAM

A new video card will do next to nothing for Photoshop - Photoshop is a 2D program and does not utilize a GPU for acceleration...

I'm pretty sure I selected a preference for PS CS3 to use my GPU. I'm in the failing HD camp though, regarding the OP's Mac sluggishness.

[RamenBooko]

Me and you are in the same boat. I'm going to do the same thing with a new 500GB hdd, but am going to weight untill Leopord is out...for a verrrrry fresh install. Only thing I ask:

Should I (even topic author) just install all the apps again, or migrate using the assistant?

[Glenn Wolsey]

Originally Posted by RamenBooko

Me and you are in the same boat. I'm going to do the same thing with a new 500GB hdd, but am going to weight untill Leopord is out...for a verrrrry fresh install. Only thing I ask:

Should I (even topic author) just install all the apps again, or migrate using the assistant?

Personally, to capture every ounce of performance I'd reinstall everything again, it'd be worth the time. But that's just my opinion.

[Fearless Leader]

my dual 1.8 had its life prolonged by a new graphics card and a 300gb HD. also I had 2gb from the start. 4 256mb sticks so upgrading isn't practical, I only have 4 slots.

[Glenn Wolsey]

Originally Posted by Rokem

my dual 1.8 had its life prolonged by a new graphics card and a 300gb HD. also I had 2gb from the start. 4 256mb sticks so upgrading isn't practical, I only have 4 slots.

PowerMac G5 RAM is dirt cheap, you could just remove all the 512MB sticks and replace them with 1GB sticks for a rather minimal cost.

[ziwi]

I am in the same boat, but am thinking it is now time to fish or cut bait - same machine and I can get $1K at least for it so if that is the minimum and figuring on new HD's (~2 500 HD ~ $400and Video card (impossible to find any and if so still AGP) for $300 xt800) That is like almost the cost of a new Mac Pro. Sure you fall in Ram and there may be software concerns (CS 2 on intel) but it almost seems to make sense to future proof for almost the same cost versus upgrading the outmode...does this make any sense? What would folks do in the same situation?

Originally Posted by BufordTannen

I am seeking a bit of advice here.

My current setup:
Dual 2.0Ghz G5
5.5 GB RAM
150GB HD
64MB GeForce FX 5200

The problem:
When i first got this thing a couple of years ago, it SMOKED. I mean it was fast. But lately it's just rediculously slow. When working in photoshop i stare at the spinning icon all the time just doing stupid standard tasks like clicking a tool, etc. Also i just hear the hard drive working like a dog. I've tried to repair it a few times, but it hasn't really helped. It's just not the same machine anymore and feels like a dog. Recently i upped the ram to 5.5gb but that did nothing. Im convinced it's just from years of hard drive abuse.

My plan:
I'm going to install 2 new dual 500gb internal drives... and a new 512mb video card, as well as a fresh install of OS X, hoping to put everything back to normal as if the machine is new again.

I'm just wondering if it's a waste of time and money. Once i put all my files back on the drives will it just be the same as it is now? I just don't understand how it seemed so fast a few years ago and pretty crappy now.

I am a web designer and only work with 72dpi files in photoshop so i think dual g5's should be plenty fast for me. I want to avoid spending $5k on an all new mac pro.

any advice is appreciated.

thanks!!

[baggss]

Originally Posted by BufordTannen

II've tried to repair it a few times, but it hasn't really helped.

What exactly have you tried?