Apple Releases New PowerMacs

[Soire]

Motion Wants At Least 2 GB, So I Plan To Add 4 x 512 For $312 From 18004memory.com. Any alternative suggestions?

I have yet to buy the RAM, but I was thinking of getting two of these bad boys from Crucial

http://www.crucial.com/store/MParts...=Power+Mac+G5+(Dual+2.5GHz+DDR)&WSPN=CT392179

I hear Crucial is the way to go.... right?

 

[PowerMacMan]

I have yet to buy the RAM, but I was thinking of getting two of these bad boys from Crucial

http://www.crucial.com/store/MParts...=Power+Mac+G5+(Dual+2.5GHz+DDR)&WSPN=CT392179

I hear Crucial is the way to go.... right?

Word on the street says so.

 

[Soire]

Hey after talking with a friend, is there any foreseeable problem with a 2.5 PowerMac that comes with 2x256 sticks of RAM to then have an additional 2 sticks of 512 from Crucial put in there? The concern was that all the sticks would have to be the same size.

Additionally, will there be that big of a difference in performance between 1 gig of RAM and 1.5 Gigs? I will be doing video editing...

 

[djbahdow01]

Does this mean that if we ordered our Dual 2.5s before the offer came out we will still get the faster shipping?

I just checked my online invoice and it now says 2 day shipping. So i would guess they are giving it to us for free. Because before i had ground shipping.

 

[invaLPsion]

I just checked my online invoice and it now says 2 day shipping. So i would guess they are giving it to us for free. Because before i had ground shipping.

Same here. Thanks Apple! That shipping is a $45 value!

 

[Bhennies]

I just checked my online invoice and it now says 2 day shipping. So i would guess they are giving it to us for free. Because before i had ground shipping.

wait, you're saying that the 2.5's are shipping in two days, or that once they ship...it will be 2-day shipping? Got a little excited for a sec...

 

[rtdunham]

...New pmac is on its way, Dual 1.8, 9600XT, 1.25 gig memory (crucial of course), BT and AE, 280g HD (160 and 120 SATA) ... guess I decided 2ghz, PCI-X, and 4g of ram slots wasn't worth the extra $550 or so.
=============
17" 1ghz Book --- Dual 2.0 G5, 2g RAM, 370g HD, 80g External, 9600, AE & BT

I'm confused. Do you have a dual 2.0 G5 as your sig indicates? The msg itself suggests you are getting a 1.8 and didn't see the merits of a 2.0

clarify pls!
thanks
terry

 

[invaLPsion]

wait, you're saying that the 2.5's are shipping in two days, or that once they ship...it will be 2-day shipping? Got a little excited for a sec...

Once it's shipping it will be two-day.

 

[MacinDoc]

Power Mac G5 memory

Hey after talking with a friend, is there any foreseeable problem with a 2.5 PowerMac that comes with 2x256 sticks of RAM to then have an additional 2 sticks of 512 from Crucial put in there? The concern was that all the sticks would have to be the same size.

Additionally, will there be that big of a difference in performance between 1 gig of RAM and 1.5 Gigs? I will be doing video editing...

The memory modules just have to be added in matched pairs, they don't have to be matched with what's already installed.

With respect to your 2nd question, more memory will significantly increase the speed of handling larger video files, keeping them in memory rather than working from your hard drive. How much performance improvement you get depends on the size of the files you're working with.

 

[MacinDoc]

Hey after talking with a friend, is there any foreseeable problem with a 2.5 PowerMac that comes with 2x256 sticks of RAM to then have an additional 2 sticks of 512 from Crucial put in there? The concern was that all the sticks would have to be the same size.

Additionally, will there be that big of a difference in performance between 1 gig of RAM and 1.5 Gigs? I will be doing video editing...

macZONE is offering the 2.5 MHz G5s with 1 GB of ADDITIONAL RAM free (for a total of 1.5 GB).

 

[hotwire132002]

macZONE is offering the 2.5 MHz G5s with 1 MB of ADDITIONAL RAM free (for a total of 1.5 MB).

I think you mean 2.5 GHz with 1 GB of additional RAM free.

 

[MacinDoc]

I think you mean 2.5 GHz with 1 GB of additional RAM free.

Oops, my mistake! Thanks for the correction...original post fixed now.

 

[wdlove]

wait, you're saying that the 2.5's are shipping in two days, or that once they ship...it will be 2-day shipping? Got a little excited for a sec...

What is your actual ship date for the 2.5 dual. Congratulations on you order. These specials certainly have me tempted.

 

[Multimedia]

Turned Out FedEx Didn't Pick Up My G5 Friday. Will Have It Tuesday.

Congratulations on your purchase. It sounds awesome. I look forward to hearing your critique. Fed-Ex seems to be a great delivery company, the Saturday delivery works well.

Turned Out FedEx Didn't Pick Up My G5 Friday. So Tuesday is when it will be here.

 

[Multimedia]

All The G5 Refurbs Are Gone Again Except The Overpriced D2 @$2299

All The G5 Refurbs Are Gone Again Except The Overpriced D2 @$2299.

 

[jakemikey]

Hey after talking with a friend, is there any foreseeable problem with a 2.5 PowerMac that comes with 2x256 sticks of RAM to then have an additional 2 sticks of 512 from Crucial put in there? The concern was that all the sticks would have to be the same size.

Additionally, will there be that big of a difference in performance between 1 gig of RAM and 1.5 Gigs? I will be doing video editing...

The sticks don't have to be the same size--I've got the original 2x 256 from Apple and another 2x 512 from memorytogo.

I've never understood why so many people get their panties in a bunch over having to have Crucial RAM. I got the cheapest deal possible by looking on ramseeker.com and everything worked out great. barefeats.com suggests getting the cheapest RAM possible that's G5 spec'd, and even says (in so many words) that expensive RAM is a total waste of money. http://barefeats.com/memory.html

Also, this should give you an idea of the RAM performance breakdown for the G5: http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/G5/8GB_RAM_Tests/G5_8GB_ram_tests.html#storytop

In general, at least from the barefeats.com FCP render test (http://barefeats.com/fcp4.html) video editing performance depends more on processor speed than RAM. I rendered a clip (can't remember how big it was) in FCE before and after I installed an additional gig of RAM, and there was really no difference (I timed it). With video editing, the real benefit with more RAM (at least in my experience) was being able to have my support apps (iphoto/safari/soundtrack, etc.) open without really sacrificing performance - that's where I noticed the before/after difference in responsiveness.

 

[jsw]

... barefeats.com suggests getting the cheapest RAM possible that's G5 spec'd....

Good advice - but be sure of that last part. It's easy to muck up a G5 with RAM that looks like it should work if you don't follow the spec exactly.

But, yeah, if it meets the G5 spec, get the cheapest stuff you can find.

 

[Apple //e]

I've never understood why so many people get their panties in a bunch over having to have Crucial RAM. I got the cheapest deal possible by looking on ramseeker.com and everything worked out great. barefeats.com suggests getting the cheapest RAM possible that's G5 spec'd, and even says (in so many words) that expensive RAM is a total waste of money. http://barefeats.com/memory.html
.

that link talks about faster ram that costs more. since the g5 cant use the faster speed, it concludes rightfully that the fancy memory with lower latency adn faster speed than the mac can handle, with heatspreaders, is a waste of money. however, most pcs have bios settings for different mem speeds that will see a performance increase with faster memory. macs do not have this adjustability

that does not mean that quality memory is a waste of money.

ive used generic ram and most of it has led to kernel panics. quality ram is worth the extra $ in my opinion

 

[Multimedia]

Motion Minimum Recommended is 2 GB or More

The sticks don't have to be the same size--I've got the original 2x 256 from Apple and another 2x 512 from memorytogo.

I've never understood why so many people get their panties in a bunch over having to have Crucial RAM. I got the cheapest deal possible by looking on ramseeker.com and everything worked out great. barefeats.com suggests getting the cheapest RAM possible that's G5 spec'd, and even says (in so many words) that expensive RAM is a total waste of money. http://barefeats.com/memory.html

Also, this should give you an idea of the RAM performance breakdown for the G5: http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/G5/8GB_RAM_Tests/G5_8GB_ram_tests.html#storytop

In general, at least from the barefeats.com FCP render test (http://barefeats.com/fcp4.html) video editing performance depends more on processor speed than RAM. I rendered a clip (can't remember how big it was) in FCE before and after I installed an additional gig of RAM, and there was really no difference (I timed it). With video editing, the real benefit with more RAM (at least in my experience) was being able to have my support apps (iphoto/safari/soundtrack, etc.) open without really sacrificing performance - that's where I noticed the before/after difference in responsiveness.

Motion Minimum Recommended is 2 GB or More, So I'm going to add 2 GB (4x512) to the stock 512 for a total of 2.5 GB. I just hope they start selling MOTION pretty soon.

 

[jakemikey]

Motion Minimum Recommended is 2 GB or More, So I'm going to add 2 GB (4x512) to the stock 512 for a total of 2.5 GB. I just hope they start selling MOTION pretty soon.

I get your drift, but your wording is confusing. The way the Apple site words it is less confusing:

"Minimum System Requirements


Macintosh computer with 867MHz or faster PowerPC G4 or G5 processor

512MB of RAM (2GB or more recommended)..."

Therefore:

512 MB minimum
2 GB or more recommended

 

[ccroo]

G5 Panic

Dear Folks:

I'm in such agony. Tomorrow's the last day I can buy an "old" 2.0 Dual G5 for $1899 at the school bookstore. I keep thinking I should buy a processor upgrade (1.2 Dual G4) and save a grand. But then I realize I could get $650 or so for my 533 Digital Audio on eBay and that could go toward the G5... But still there's a grand difference. Do I want a G4 Dual or a G5 Dual?

Right now I'm editing DV on my 533 G4 and the rendering times are killing me. I think I gotta get the G5. Although it's so big it won't fit where I keep my G4 under my desk. And I'm sorta not the guy who has the latest greatest thing. (Although the 2.5 G5 is the last greatest now.) I still use my old Powerbook 150 for writing. Something weird appeals to me about having an older computer... I get attached to them, ya know? I love the idea of giving my G4 a new processor. And I get scared I won't notice the difference in performance between a faster G4 dual and a G5 dual... that the bottleneck is the harddrive.

Venting here, sorry. Tomorrow a decision will be made. Wish me luck.

Love you guys (and gals)
Raoul

 

[ccroo]

Dear Folks:

I'm in such agony. Tomorrow's the last day I can buy an "old" 2.0 Dual G5 for $1899 at the school bookstore. I keep thinking I should buy a processor upgrade (1.2 Dual G4) and save a grand. But then I realize I could get $650 or so for my 533 Digital Audio on eBay and that could go toward the G5... But still there's a grand difference. Do I want a G4 Dual or a G5 Dual?

Right now I'm editing DV on my 533 G4 and the rendering times are killing me. I think I gotta get the G5. Although it's so big it won't fit where I keep my G4 under my desk. And I'm sorta not the guy who has the latest greatest thing. (Although the 2.5 G5 is the last greatest now.) I still use my old Powerbook 150 for writing. Something weird appeals to me about having an older computer... I get attached to them, ya know? I love the idea of giving my G4 a new processor. And I get scared I won't notice the difference in performance between a faster G4 dual and a G5 dual... that the bottleneck is the harddrive.

Venting here, sorry. Tomorrow a decision will be made. Wish me luck.

Love you guys (and gals)
Raoul

By the way, none of my friends want to hear about this...

 

[jragosta]

Dear Folks:

I'm in such agony. Tomorrow's the last day I can buy an "old" 2.0 Dual G5 for $1899 at the school bookstore. I keep thinking I should buy a processor upgrade (1.2 Dual G4) and save a grand. But then I realize I could get $650 or so for my 533 Digital Audio on eBay and that could go toward the G5... But still there's a grand difference. Do I want a G4 Dual or a G5 Dual?

Right now I'm editing DV on my 533 G4 and the rendering times are killing me. I think I gotta get the G5. Although it's so big it won't fit where I keep my G4 under my desk. And I'm sorta not the guy who has the latest greatest thing. (Although the 2.5 G5 is the last greatest now.) I still use my old Powerbook 150 for writing. Something weird appeals to me about having an older computer... I get attached to them, ya know? I love the idea of giving my G4 a new processor. And I get scared I won't notice the difference in performance between a faster G4 dual and a G5 dual... that the bottleneck is the harddrive.

Venting here, sorry. Tomorrow a decision will be made. Wish me luck.

Love you guys (and gals)
Raoul

Get the G5. For video rendering, it's going to be AT LEAST 50% faster and probably much more. Not to mention that it will have a longer life (some day, some applications will require a G5).

You have a choice:
Keep G4, add processor upgrade for $1 K. Net cost $1 K.

Sell G4 for $650, buy new G5 for $1899. Net cost $1250.

The extra $250 gets you enormously faster processor speed, 6 times the memory speed, faster video, faster hard drive. PLUS, you get the latest version of Apple's software (Panther, iLife, etc) for free. AND, you get a system that has a warranty rather than a 4 year old system.

I don't think there'd be any point in even considering the processor upgrade at this point.

However, if you really insist on keeping the price down, you might find some new or refurb G4/dual 1.4 systems around somewhere. Let's say this is $1200 and you get $650 for your current system. You get some of the benefits of the G5 at half the net price.

But for video rendering, you'll wish you had the G5.

Good luck.

 

[Multimedia]

I Like 18004memory For Their Lowest Price

I have yet to buy the RAM, but I was thinking of getting two of these bad boys from Crucial

http://www.crucial.com/store/MParts...=Power+Mac+G5+(Dual+2.5GHz+DDR)&WSPN=CT392179

I hear Crucial is the way to go.... right?

I Like 18004memory For Lowest Price. Each pair of 512 (2x512=1 GB) is only $156. That's almost 25% less than the highly touted Crucial. $313 including shipping for 2GB (4x512). I'm in CA and they're in New Jersey so I don't have to pay sales tax and shipping with insurance via the USPS is only $1. They always show up.

 

[Multimedia]

CCROO Get The G5 For Sure. If You Don't, You Will Regret Not Doing So Forever.

Get the G5. For video rendering, it's going to be AT LEAST 50% faster and probably much more. Not to mention that it will have a longer life (some day, some applications will require a G5).

You have a choice:
Keep G4, add processor upgrade for $1 K. Net cost $1 K.

Sell G4 for $650, buy new G5 for $1899. Net cost $1250.

The extra $250 gets you enormously faster processor speed, 6 times the memory speed, faster video, faster hard drive. PLUS, you get the latest version of Apple's software (Panther, iLife, etc) for free. AND, you get a system that has a warranty rather than a 4 year old system.

I don't think there'd be any point in even considering the processor upgrade at this point.

However, if you really insist on keeping the price down, you might find some new or refurb G4/dual 1.4 systems around somewhere. Let's say this is $1200 and you get $650 for your current system. You get some of the benefits of the G5 at half the net price.

But for video rendering, you'll wish you had the G5.

Good luck.

Upgrading an old G4 is a really bad idea. When Tiger comes out this fall it is going to have even more G5 optimizations in it. FCP, Motion, DVDSP, Adobe CS Suite are all G5 optimized already. Don't try to "fix" your G4. That would be throwing good money after bad. The fix is in for G5's already. And the prices have never been lower than they are right now for an original field tested and proven Dual 2, 130 nm G5. And I'm a guy who was waiting for the 90 nm models to come out with every intention of buying a new one.

CCROO Get The G5 For Sure. If You Don't, You Will Regret Not Doing So Forever. This is a no brainer. I just bought a Refurbished "Old" Dual 2 for $1999 from Apple Friday morning. The fact that you can get one for $100 less is fantastic. UCLA is selling them to students and employees for $1799. This is an outstanding opportunity for all of us in the video editing space to "Go Pro". The dual 2.5 is another Rev.A. Apple didn't fix the FW800 throughput mistake in the "new" more expensive series. The new liquid cooling system needs to be field tested by others. So grab that 130 nm puppy and be grateful you had us to cheer you in the right direction and amazed at its performance capabilities.

One more thing. GarageBand BLOWS on all G4 Macs. You can not have enough power to run GarageBand properly. That is reason #1 to get the most G5 you can afford.