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New Tinker Toy: PowerMac G5

S.B.G

S.B.G

Moderator emeritus
Original poster
Sep 8, 2010
26,908
10,958
Detroit

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That is one nice looking PowerMac. Sadly, an SSD not going to do you all that much better than a 7200 RPM hard drive due to the SATA I controller. However, if you have one lying around, then give it a go.
 
Altemose said:
That is one nice looking PowerMac. Sadly, an SSD not going to do you all that much better than a 7200 RPM hard drive due to the SATA I controller. However, if you have one lying around, then give it a go.
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Is that all this has is SATA I? Bummer.
 
The controller is SATA I. Stay away from SATA III drives and SSDs if possible. Most SATA III SSDs won't run at all, and SATA III hard drives must be jumpered. That being said, SATA II drives are fine. I believe the iMac G5 also is SATA I, so expect similar performance.
 
Thanks. I knew about avoiding SATA III drives on these older Macs and that SSD's would have very limited performance benefits.

But it's still going to be fun to play with nonetheless.

I am wondering if the G5 has Bluetooth on it or not. The description doesn't say. If it doesn't have it, can it be added via an add-on card?
 
MultiFinder17 said:
Do you have a power supply for that Cinema Display? They don't work without one, and the description states that it does not come with one.
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That was one thing I wasn't sure about. I have power cords, but does it also need an external power pack?
 
Ive GOT to get me one of these I have always wanted one and it seems like everyone is getting them for pretty cheap,I forgot to look at my phone and let a darn good one go yesterday it was $75 and free shipping when the bidding ended.I also love the look of those displays what did you end up paying?
 
jbarley said:
I've used USB BT dongles such as this one with great success, just make sure the one you order states it is Apple compatible.
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Thanks! I'll keep this in mind when I get it and if it doesn't have it.

grockk said:
that looks like a wireless N card there too. Notice the 3 antenna.
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Yes, I believe it is and the seller is including the box and disc I think too.
 
You can easily add Bluetooth to that with a Bluetooth card. The problem will be finding the Bluetooth antenna. For a card, you can use one from an eMac, non-late 2005 PowerMac G5, iMac G4, 2006-2007 Mac Pro, or 2007 iMac. If you get the Intell board (it's blue coloured instead of green), you'll get Bluetooth 2.X. The green PowerPC Mac cards are a bit more expensive and are only Bluetooth 1.X.
 
Intell said:
You can easily add Bluetooth to that with a Bluetooth card. The problem will be finding the Bluetooth antenna. For a card, you can use one from an eMac, non-late 2005 PowerMac G5, iMac G4, 2006-2007 Mac Pro, or 2007 iMac. If you get the Intell board (it's blue coloured instead of green), you'll get Bluetooth 2.X. The green PowerPC Mac cards are a bit more expensive and are only Bluetooth 1.X.
Click to expand...

Cool, thanks! I'll look around for the blue 2.x ones I think.
 
SandboxGeneral said:
I placed a bid on and won an Apple PowerMac G5, Dual 1.8 GHz/4GB/OS X10.5.8, 2 HD-75 GB/1TB, Radeon 9800 Pro on eBay today.

I also bought a used 20" Apple Cinema Display to go with it.

This will be my new project/hobby computer to work on or just use. From the description, there probably isn't much it really needs. But maybe I'll look into doing something with SSD's if I can.

It was fun rebuilding the iMac G5 and now I have a new PPC Mac to use! I'm excited for this one too.
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Darn you! I was eyeballing that ACD earlier lol. I wanted a new ACD but at the end of the day I ended up with 2x Xeon 5355 quads for my Mac Pro. Owell!
 
Wow, this takes me back. This was the first Pro 'trimmed' Mac I ever bought myself brand new. I remember when the G5 launched, the 1.8 model was only a single processor and the performance wasn't any better than the previous gen dual G4s. I was young, just landed a job in video post production, was a huge Mac nerd, FCP buff and had a good chunk of cash to blow, but not enough to buy the DP 2.0

6 months later, when Apple released the DP 1.8 for the same price I was a giddy as anyone could ever be about a consumer product. At the time there was a little known student developer program. It allowed students to join Apple's developer program for only $99/year (this is back when the cheapest dev connection membership was much higher). Part of the benefit was that, once you signed up, you got a once in a lifetime 25% discount on any Apple system. Needless to say, I was signed up and ordered before I could have a second thought.

There was a two week back order at the time I ordered, so when it arrived a week early, and at 4:00pm on Christmas Eve 2003, my excitement level was through the roof. The poor FedEx guy hand carried the 50lb box up our driveway and didn't share my enthusiasm.

For the time, it was amazingly fast. FCP cut DVCAM footage like butter, and I remember downloading 720p footage samples and nearly loosing it when I could apply effects in real time.

TLDR:

I don't think there has been any other system since that I've gotten more work and use out of than that PowerMac G5. And, certainly nowhere near as much joy. 10 years later, all the advances in technology and it is still my favorite piece of technology that I've ever owned.
 
gavinstubbs09 said:
Darn you! I was eyeballing that ACD earlier lol. I wanted a new ACD but at the end of the day I ended up with 2x Xeon 5355 quads for my Mac Pro. Owell!
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hehe, well there are others available on eBay still. ;)

sevoneone said:
I don't think there has been any other system since that I've gotten more work and use out of than that PowerMac G5. And, certainly nowhere near as much joy. 10 years later, all the advances in technology and it is still my favorite piece of technology that I've ever owned.
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That's good to hear that you've had great times with it. I look forward to having fun with mine.

------

I ordered a Genuine Apple Power Adapter 90W for Apple 23" Cinema Display (A1097) (661-4379) which, according to Apple, will be compatible with the 20" display I bought yesterday.
 

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The cinema display just arrived! The shipper was actually within my state and not too far away so it arrived quickly.

However it was the most poorly packed parcel I've ever come across! But it did the job and it arrived undamaged so that's what counts!

Now I have to await the arrival of the computer and the display's power adapter.
 
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Intell said:
You can easily add Bluetooth to that with a Bluetooth card. The problem will be finding the Bluetooth antenna. For a card, you can use one from an eMac, non-late 2005 PowerMac G5, iMac G4, 2006-2007 Mac Pro, or 2007 iMac. If you get the Intell board (it's blue coloured instead of green), you'll get Bluetooth 2.X. The green PowerPC Mac cards are a bit more expensive and are only Bluetooth 1.X.
Click to expand...

While talking about different Airport+BT cards, I found a nice overview lately. It is unfortunately an ebay auction (not mine), but may help some people in distinguishing these cards,also names the compatible models:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Apple-AirPor...ng_Interne_Netzwerkkarten&hash=item257e09fecc

Though I still think a USB BT dongle will be cheaper.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On SATA-II and -III speeds:

There is a link, that compares several PCI-cards with benchmarks for G5s (actual not your type, it is the late2005 models with PCIe).

While booting is not possible, you will be able to get a little better than SATA-I speeds with SATA-II / -III PCI cards.
Somewhere down here https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1650568/ is a list.

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ON SATA-III HDDs and SSDs in PowerPCs:

there is someone on apple discussions forum, who calls one an idiot and says that ALL SATA-III SSDs and HDDs are compatible and he tested it, when asking which models he refuses to list at least one of those, repeatedly :)
Interesting that we get more valuable info here, than over there.
 
The G5 just arrived via FedEx. It was very well packed with form-fitting foam and bubble wrap and in a strong and sturdy box.

Though it's made of aluminum, I'm surprised at how heavy it is.
 
SandboxGeneral said:
The G5 just arrived via FedEx. It was very well packed with form-fitting foam and bubble wrap and in a strong and sturdy box.

Though it's made of aluminum, I'm surprised at how heavy it is.
Click to expand...

The surprise really kicks in when you accidentally tip it onto your foot or not paying attention when sliding it toward you and your toes are in the way. :(
 
RedCroissant said:
The surprise really kicks in when you accidentally tip it onto your foot or not paying attention when sliding it toward you and your toes are in the way. :(
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Duly noted! I don't usually wear footwear while at home. ;)

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I also ordered a Bluetooth card for it after confirming that it doesn't have one already.
 

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I'm posting this message from the G5. Everything seems to be working just fine; the G5, the cinema display and its' power brick.

I must say though, this is probably the heaviest computer I've ever lifted! What did Apple do, put lead in the bottom of this thing? I had to schlep it up the ladder-well to the third deck of my apartment building where I live. It was about as bad as when I moved in and moved all the furniture!

Anyway, I'm going to break out the Leopard disc and do a clean install on it now.
 
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