Dual 2.5GHz PowerMacs Shipping

[grebo]

Shhh!

Well, now our uk-chaps have their machines, this thread has become pretty quiet. Is nobody else waiting since june/july or other european fellow waiters?

Oh well, maybe it'll shift my attention a little bit, make the waiting period seem shorter, who knows.

ps : Ge4-ce, haven't received any response to my letter so far, I suppose you haven't either. What a shame..

Sorry for going quiet. It will take me a while to get my machine set up the way I want it, and at the moment I have to say I'm underwhelmed by the speed (was expecting much faster coming from a G4/500).

At the moment, I'm at work, so I will have to finish the set up over the weekend at which point I'll decide whether I send the sucker back.

There is a 10 day unconditional return policy, remember.

 

[Wolinho]

Well, now our uk-chaps have their machines, this thread has become pretty quiet. Is nobody else waiting since june/july or other european fellow waiters?

Greetings from Germany. Ordered mine from a reseller on June 16th and still waiting. Estimated shipping date: unknown !

Last week my reseller informed me that they will receive ten (!) of these machines this week for their entire sales network in Germany that includes 26 stores in all major cities and a huge online shop.

So yes i believe we are all in the same boat here !

Regards,
Wolfgang

 

[klaus]

and at the moment I have to say I'm underwhelmed by the speed (was expecting much faster coming from a G4/500).

Hmm, you are the first one to be underwhelmed by the speed. Are you sure your machine is fine?

What things do you notice, concluding it's not that fast as you would think it would be?

 

[grebo]

Hmm, you are the first one to be underwhelmed by the speed. Are you sure your machine is fine?

What things do you notice, concluding it's not that fast as you would think it would be?

It passed the hardware test fine, but to be fair I haven't run the program that monitors the CPU temperatures, etc.

Thinks like launching Safari -- taking just as long to open/load basic web pages, and Photoshop CS taking just about as long to open (haven't tried doing any work with it yet -- just basing initial impressions on load times.

Logic Pro taking quite a while to initialise too.

Not impressed.

 

[Turias]

taking just as long to open/load basic web pages

You sure that the bottleneck isn't internet speed as opposed to CPU speed?

 

[danhaupt]

Thinks like launching Safari -- taking just as long to open/load basic web pages, and Photoshop CS taking just about as long to open (haven't tried doing any work with it yet -- just basing initial impressions on load times.

I'm not blown away by the performance in regular productivity apps either. My biggest gripe is PowerPoint, where with my AlBook it took forever to render each slide in the sorter view. Clearly not optimized for OS X. I was expecting the G5 to be able to use brute force to overcome this. It definitely renders faster, but it still takes several seconds to fill the screen with slides.

-Dan

 

[klaus]

Speed is relative

I think some may be expecting to much improvement in speed in some of the cases. No doubt everything will be speedier than the machine you used before, but you expected to be a lot faster. Well, I guess some things still need loading time, especially large apps and apps that are clearly not optimized for osx, and that won't change if you have a G4 or G5 (ie powerpoint).

Some things can't go any faster than they already do, there will still be improvement, but you can't expect it to be open when you've just launched the app.

My guessing is the real potential in this machine lies in multi-tasking all these apps together (which will be A LOT faster than on your previous machine). Rendering images, using photoshop, maya or whatever app you are using. Video-editing on fcp which is optimized for dual processors, will also be a lot snappier, the interface itself will not be faster, but the rendering and previewing will.

For me at least, those things are what matter to me, not the fact that the app needs to be started in 2 seconds instead of in 8.

just my 2 cents though!

 

[grebo]

You sure that the bottleneck isn't internet speed as opposed to CPU speed?

Well, I don't know how much faster than 4 Mbps I can go. Am using a Netgear 802.11g access point too.

The reception is 'fair' (not excellent) even with the antannae.

Can anyone point me to some benchmark software I can run?

Ta

 

[DarylF2]

Dual 2.5 GHz G5 Performance Notes

I noticed a huge improvement in Photoshop CS launch time over my Dual 1.0 GHz "MDD" G4; it now launches in about 7 seconds and re-launches in about 3 seconds. This is easily twice as fast as my MDD G4. I see similar speed-ups for other apps. Java stuff runs easily 3 times as fast as on the MDD G4. Photoshop CS filters are MUCH MUCH faster. Word X and Excel X (I have Office 2004 Pro back-ordered) are quite a bit faster as well, but I (thankfully) don't use PowerPoint X so I can't comment on it.

Web stuff is faster as well, but often not markedly so due to the limitation of the connection speed.

grebo and danhaupt, how much RAM do you have installed (I have 2.0 GB)? That might be a bottleneck... Also go to System Profiler and ensure that it is showing your processors correctly (two 2.5 GHz CPUs) as some machines have had CPU failures and continue to run with onlu one CPU.

 

[danhaupt]

My guessing is the real potential in this machine lies in multi-tasking all these apps together (which will be A LOT faster than on your previous machine).

I think you've hit the nail on the head. OS X is a multitasking beast to begin with, and with the G5 it will be very difficult to bog down in normal use. Even on my AlBook, I don't bother to close apps when burning DVDs in iDVD.

Daryl: Mine has 2GB of RAM, most of which never gets allocated. Both processors are running, and it has passed the extended hardware test. Back to PowerPoint, when rendering the slide sorter view, Activity Monitor showed both processors plugging away at a fraction of their full potential, unchanged whether Processor Performance was at Automatic or Highest.

-Dan

 

[Ge4-ce]

Klaus,

No, I obvious did not receive any reaction on my letter to Apple.

danhaupt,

You also have to keep in mind that Microsoft wrote Powerpoint... The fact that when doing stuff like sorting slides, your processors only work at a fraction of their potential, you have to blame Microsoft for that. They write bad code. Have done this almost their entire life. (for more info on that one, go to www.f*ckmicrosoft.com ps, change the * into u offcourse and be amazed with all that info) heck, they got payed by intel to make windows slower so intel could sell new hardware!! The advantage we had a while ago, is that we had some lack of improvement in the hardwaresection (motorola was it's name) and therefore, Apple HAD to optimize the code to be competitive. (altivec, blabla.. ) and now we have the benefits of that. Look at apps like Final cut pro, Logic, SHake, Motion, ... all those apps do things a lot faster because they are optimised for G5

 

[danhaupt]

You also have to keep in mind that Microsoft wrote Powerpoint... The fact that when doing stuff like sorting slides, your processors only work at a fraction of their potential, you have to blame Microsoft for that. They write bad code.

Clearly, this is the case, I was just hoping that brute force would make up for sloppy code.

-Dan

 

[Ge4-ce]

Clearly, this is the case, I was just hoping that brute force would make up for sloppy code.

-Dan

Well, I think brute force will never do that. Or at least never like you want it to..

Imagine an idiot task like sorting slides takes 1 hour, but should only take 5 minutes. then a new computer wich is twice as fast would take half an hour instead of 5 minutes.. wich should be 2.5 minutes on the new machine.. But you think, HECK! it's still 6 times too slow! if Microsoft would suddenly update powerpoint and optimize, you go from 1 hour on your previous computer, to 2.5 minutes on the new one. Well that's what I call improvement..

Check apps like FCP, and stuff Apple wrote, and compare those! You'll be impressed with the new speed..

 

[SystemID]

I just ordered mine!
2.5ghz
250MB HD
2 GB RAM
9800 256MB
Bluetooth
Airport

Sweeeeet
gonna be shipped OOB 11/01/04


Currently on a Pismo 400mhz g3 with 512RAM

 

[danhaupt]

Check apps like FCP, and stuff Apple wrote, and compare those! You'll be impressed with the new speed..

I just opened my 2K photo iPhoto library, and it is smooth as glass scrolling around. Can't wait to make a DVD on this.

-Dan

 

[iriejedi]

Worth the wait

You'll love you new machine! Worth the wait and hey 4 weeks is better than my 4 months!

I'm shocked at the depate on the speed issue - going from a b/w G3 (G4 550) the speed is insane and the multi tasking is just "spadoinkly" amazing!

I've never seen the render bar on photoshop (7) and now CS go so fast. Furthermore can you boast the a PC with a 4+ gig single processor can do better?

Oh well - further proof that you can not please everyone. I bet those with speed complaints would also write a corporate memo if their CEO changes the brand of scotch tape in the office!


Iriejedi

PS - "Spadoinkle" is from the great film "Cannibal The Musical" - one of the best B films ever (by the south park guy)

B = Beer, booze or blitzed in any other fashion! Probably NOT a good date movie!


Iriejedi

I just ordered mine!
2.5ghz
250MB HD
2 GB RAM
9800 256MB
Bluetooth
Airport

Sweeeeet
gonna be shipped OOB 11/01/04


Currently on a Pismo 400mhz g3 with 512RAM

 

[wdlove]

Sorry for going quiet. It will take me a while to get my machine set up the way I want it, and at the moment I have to say I'm underwhelmed by the speed (was expecting much faster coming from a G4/500).

At the moment, I'm at work, so I will have to finish the set up over the weekend at which point I'll decide whether I send the sucker back.

There is a 10 day unconditional return policy, remember.

That is sad news to hear. Hopefully when you take your new G5 out for a spin this weekend it will meet and exceed all your expectations.

 

[sagestudio]

After reading this thread for a few weeks I decided to take the plunge myself. I called our local University to see if they'd have any coming in, they said there wasn't a lot of demand for these machines so they were special ordering them and not stocking them. Duh. Anyway, Apple with edu would take 5 weeks, but our local reseller will have some in next week, so I'm going with that. Yipee!

 

[grebo]

I just opened my 2K photo iPhoto library, and it is smooth as glass scrolling around. Can't wait to make a DVD on this.

-Dan

Wait, you got smooth scrolling? With the 9600?

Man, I'm seeing massive artifacts on that card driving my LG monitor (doing time until the 6800 card/30" HD Cinema Display show...)

Perhaps the video card will help quench my lust for speed!

 

[kornyboy]

I (thankfully) don't use PowerPoint X so I can't comment on it.

Powerpoint is noticebly faster. I am forced to use it due to the conformist acts of Public College Administration.

 

[kornyboy]

Problems Fixed

Hello all,

My 2.5 had a little problem when it arrived almost a week ago now. It is now rectifiedd and everything is working. It really beats the devil out of my powerbook G4 and is an improvement by leaps and bounds over my 4 year old iMac DV (500 MHz G3). I chose to manually migrate my data and freshly install all software on the G5. It is a great deal better than using that old iMac. Worth every bit of the wait. It hands down beats the powerbook in exporting and rendering in Final Cut Pro HD.

Curious question: Did anyone else decide to manually set up the computer?

Hang in there everyone that hasn't received theirs yet. You will be happy soon.

 

[weezer160]

I was at compusa, where they don't have any 2.5, and I was playing with the 1.8 and 2.0 DP G5s. It was fun, but I was "impressed", although it could open 10 apps up as fast as I could click them... blowing my PB away (see sig). Then, I checked the Energy saver to see if "Highest" was selected. It wasn't... so I checked "highest" was blown away.

My point is, you might not have checked the "Highest" settings under options in the Energy Saver Preferences. If you have, then I guess you're just plain older 'unimpressed' with the fastest Mac.

 

[danhaupt]

Wait, you got smooth scrolling? With the 9600?

Man, I'm seeing massive artifacts on that card driving my LG monitor (doing time until the 6800 card/30" HD Cinema Display show...)

Perhaps the video card will help quench my lust for speed!

No, I can't seem to duplicate the rippling/fan revving that people complain about with the 9600.

Kornyboy: I did a manual install because I was migrating from a PB, and I didn't want any sources of confusion. It was actually faster to just clone my PB to a firewire drive, then pick and choose what I wanted to bring over to the G5 than it was to use the migration utility to go from one PB to another.

-Dan

 

[tamtam]

Updated Spreadsheets

Hi everyone. I have updated the spreadsheets to including everything that has transpired since my last spreadsheet. Please look them over to see if I have captured your info/status. Say something if I have something wrong. I'm a big boy and can handle it.

Have to change the dashboard around since we are entering OCT and we still have 33 June orders who have not recieved a shipping notice!!!!!! Sorry Klaus and others still waiting.

Congrats on all all those who recieved their G5. Mine is working like a charm. I always like to get under the GUI and look around when I get something new. MAC OS is new to me and I have more questions than answers but it will take time reading and researching.

 

[Kairy]

Hi everyone. I have updated the spreadsheets to including everything that has transpired since my last spreadsheet. Please look them over to see if I have captured your info/status. Say something if I have something wrong. I'm a big boy and can handle it.

Amazing work tamtam !!


here's a Panther tip for ya : define the scroll wheel button (if you have such a mouse) as the "Expose" - "show all applications" (in system prefs).
That way you can lean back and switch apps with a click, instead of cmd+tab.

enjoy.