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Inherited PowerMac G5 - Should I keep it or sell it?
- Thread starter prvt.donut
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Hi Thorns,
Sorry to revive this semi-old thread...I just purchased a PowerMac G5 dual-core 2.3 and love it, it is my first Mac following being a PC user for 20+ years. I would like to swap out the 6600LE card for a x1900 / x1950 but cannot find anywhere where I can download the ROM for it. Could you send me the ROM file please?
Thanks,
Gary
I might understand the 2 TB HDD part, but 16 GB RAM and Quadro Video Card? Seriously? With that processor, it's nearly useless as a rock. You can't run Windows off of it, that means no gaming, cancels the video card.
And it's not like you are going to do video editing on it, because, again, barely any apps run on it and that processor is really going to irk you with the rendering time, thus making the 16 GB worthless.
A low-end Mac mini is worth more than that machine. I say, sell it.
I don't know if you have used a G5, but I think you don't give it enough credit. Perhaps for gaming, you are stuck with games from 2008-2009 (I wouldn't know, I don't game), and for video editing, it's not optimal, but it can be done, Final Cut Studio 3 runs on it, etc.
However, it is good for most basic things- web browsing, that sort of thing.
The OP ended up keeping it, and judging from his recent threads, it is a media server.
I got a fairly slow G5 CPU, a dual 1.8GHz. I've also got an SSD boot drive, maxed out 4GB memory, and the fastest GPU you can get.
Everything I do, it's the CPU that is the bottleneck. Both in raw single-CPU pace, and the face that most PPC software can only work with a single CPU.
Still, it supports three PCI cards and can be easily fixed and upgraded compared to a current mini. Not to mention, you can even grate cheese on it, if you love cheese, lack a grater, and get really desperate.
I'm keeping it for now, I did buy a few upgrades for it, 8GB of RAM, and I ended up getting the Apple airport/Bluetooth card as I had a Magic Mouse and Apple Keyboard already. Also I ended up getting an SSD for it because ever since I had my first computer with an SSD 2 years ago, I refuse to have a computer with an OS on a spinning drive. And I can always move the SSD to my next computer.
Right now, it is working nice, I still might flash that x1900xt I have. I wouldn't buy a GPU for it though. It's a bit too much for the value of it. Considering the power and cost of new cards.
I will keep it for now, it fulfills a role of holding my media and I have Aperture on it for my photos.
I live in Tokyo, and space is limited, I am tempted to build a CustoMac, I can build with the latest parts and have more fun with it.
Right now, it is working nice, I still might flash that x1900xt I have. I wouldn't buy a GPU for it though. It's a bit too much for the value of it. Considering the power and cost of new cards.
I will keep it for now, it fulfills a role of holding my media and I have Aperture on it for my photos.
I live in Tokyo, and space is limited, I am tempted to build a CustoMac, I can build with the latest parts and have more fun with it.
You're being a little bit unfair - The memory and video card will be ebay/second hand so not expensive. Games wise I have the exact same machine with a 7800GTX card and yes you are limited but still run Civilisation III & IV, Quake IV, Doom III (all at maximum settings), Amnesia (surprisingly a modern game), then old Call of Duty's, Medal of Honor, Unreal Tournament 2004, Quake III etc etc. For all other tasks it is an admirable machine though I will agree with you on larger rendering jobs but as mine were all converting to .264 I used an Elgato Turbo.264 USB dongle to speed those up to almost as fast as my MacbookPro i7.....
Now used as an XMBC Media Server (because yes, the MBP is much smoother and more importantly able to run modern software) and (seriously...) runs XBMC smoother and (menu transitions) faster than my Macbook 2.4 C2D.....
Might not want to put your email up there where anyone can see. Members have the option to email you through Macrumors.
If you are still interested, I still have the ROM file I got from Thorns some time ago...
I would be interested as well. I could put it online so people stop asking for it.
Hello Colpeas,
I am sorry to parasite this thread but I am new here and I didn't find a way to PM you directly.
Somebody sent me to you about a 7800 GTX 512mb rom file. I need this file as I got me a PC Graphics card. I have a Power Mac G5 Quad.
Can you help me out with this ?
Greetings
Unfortunately I can't. In order to flash 7800GTX you need Quadro FX4500 ROM file, which I don't have and never had.
Whoever sent you to me, pointed you in the wrong direction, sorry.
See attachment.
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Ahhhh, I sold it in the end...
Got $650 for it including the 23"ACD, Magic Mouse and Apple wireless Keyboard, 240GB SSD and 1 TB data drive.
Now I have built a nice corei7 980x, 18GB Ram, 5970 Mountain Lion Hackintosh/Windows Gaming box.
As I don't have a monitor, I have to use the TV (40" 3DTV), I discovered that it plays Crysis 3 very nicely in full 3D HD!!!!
I am still working on the setup, but currently have ML on a 240GB SSD, a 250GB drive for a CCC backup, Win7 on a 160GB drive that I will change to a 120GB SSD soon and then use the 160GB drive as a backup image drive and just a little 500GB RAID 1 storage drive for both OS's to use.
Hackintosh's, they are the way forward!
Got $650 for it including the 23"ACD, Magic Mouse and Apple wireless Keyboard, 240GB SSD and 1 TB data drive.
Now I have built a nice corei7 980x, 18GB Ram, 5970 Mountain Lion Hackintosh/Windows Gaming box.
As I don't have a monitor, I have to use the TV (40" 3DTV), I discovered that it plays Crysis 3 very nicely in full 3D HD!!!!
I am still working on the setup, but currently have ML on a 240GB SSD, a 250GB drive for a CCC backup, Win7 on a 160GB drive that I will change to a 120GB SSD soon and then use the 160GB drive as a backup image drive and just a little 500GB RAID 1 storage drive for both OS's to use.
Hackintosh's, they are the way forward!
I just built one also...
I would have kept it... but that's me... I don't like the idea of running hackintosh b/c I have use it for business...
I've had it for about 3 weeks and built it out of spare parts I had laying around. I paid $200 for a g5 2.3ghz with 2 23" apple cinema displays.
I loaded a 2 1tb hard drives in it and bumped the ram up to 12gb.
I plan to use it for editing/video work... It's a much cheaper entry still than mac pros. So far it's taken everything I can throw at it, and the performance is very snappy.
I plan to use it as my main machine for the next few years... then I'll probably move the drives over to a pro, and keep the monitors.
Caveat, I don't think you made a mistake selling the G5... I would have kept the monitors if I were you though, they are awesome. The detail level and richness of blacks is worth it if you do graphics/video work/doc layouts... it is noticeably better and easier on the eyes, and accurate, than my 1920x1080 led lg.
For performance unless you *have* to run intel apps, it's a bargain. I just use Office 2008, Adobe CS4, FCP6... still can get perfect quality stuff out of them.
I have a macbook if I really need to run intel apps, but, the macbook can't handle the video/processing like this thing. nor does it have the screen space I need.
Optimally I'd get a mac pro, but this can get 95% of everything done I need to, so....didn't see the point of dumping so much more money.
I would have kept it... but that's me... I don't like the idea of running hackintosh b/c I have use it for business...
I've had it for about 3 weeks and built it out of spare parts I had laying around. I paid $200 for a g5 2.3ghz with 2 23" apple cinema displays.
I loaded a 2 1tb hard drives in it and bumped the ram up to 12gb.
I plan to use it for editing/video work... It's a much cheaper entry still than mac pros. So far it's taken everything I can throw at it, and the performance is very snappy.
I plan to use it as my main machine for the next few years... then I'll probably move the drives over to a pro, and keep the monitors.
Caveat, I don't think you made a mistake selling the G5... I would have kept the monitors if I were you though, they are awesome. The detail level and richness of blacks is worth it if you do graphics/video work/doc layouts... it is noticeably better and easier on the eyes, and accurate, than my 1920x1080 led lg.
For performance unless you *have* to run intel apps, it's a bargain. I just use Office 2008, Adobe CS4, FCP6... still can get perfect quality stuff out of them.
I have a macbook if I really need to run intel apps, but, the macbook can't handle the video/processing like this thing. nor does it have the screen space I need.
Optimally I'd get a mac pro, but this can get 95% of everything done I need to, so....didn't see the point of dumping so much more money.
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I Like It
I use a late 2005 Power Mac G5 with a 320 GB HDD (Getting a 500 GB in a few weeks) 6 GB RAM, and the same graphics you have. I love it. It makes a great media server.
I'd say keep it.
I use a late 2005 Power Mac G5 with a 320 GB HDD (Getting a 500 GB in a few weeks) 6 GB RAM, and the same graphics you have. I love it. It makes a great media server.
I'd say keep it.
