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G5 or Intel iMac?

T

TheDance511

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Hey all, Well today is the big day! I finally saved up enough money for my first Mac($1500 budget)! im so excited!😀 My only problem is I just can't make my mind up over an Intel iMac or an older Power Macg5... I want to use it for light video editing and web browsing and very light gaming... I like the fact that with the G5 you can upgrade it easily.. (I plan to buy a Mac Pro when 8 core comes out) anyhow what would be better for these tasks? Feed back ? :apple:
 
TheDance511 said:
Hey all, Well today is the big day! I finally saved up enough money for my first Mac($1500 budget)! im so excited!😀 My only problem is I just can't make my mind up over an Intel iMac or an older Power Macg5... I want to use it for light video editing and web browsing and very light gaming... I like the fact that with the G5 you can upgrade it easily.. (I plan to buy a Mac Pro when 8 core comes out) anyhow what would be better for these tasks? Feed back ? :apple:
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What upgrades are you actually going to want to do to your computer? Think carefully as to whether you need that capability. The Intel iMac is far superior in many ways - the only drawback being that expandability on video cards, more internal HDs etc. I would say get the iMac, and don't look back. 🙂 Enjoy it - I love mine.
 
Eidorian said:
iMac Intel or Mac Pro...

Was it that hard? Why do you need an 8-core Mac Pro anyways?
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I make independent movies... film stuff..plus im in college to be a camera operator and i like to run thsoe types of applications and i like fast computers..macs:apple:
 
I would get an iMac, they are already a powerful machine so it would be fine for now and then later if you feel like it sell it and buy whatever esle is new.
 
Either machine would work great for you TheDance511. 🙂

The big of the advantage of the Power Mac G5 is the ability to upgrade. Faster video cards then are available on the iMacs, the ability to install a heck of a lot more RAM, and more than one HDD.
 
dmw007 said:
Either machine would work great for you TheDance511. 🙂

The big of the advantage of the Power Mac G5 is the ability to upgrade. Faster video cards then are available on the iMacs, the ability to install a heck of a lot more RAM, and more than one HDD.
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The Power Mac G5 only has RAM and drive space that you can upgrade though...
 
Get the iMac, no question. Chances are you won't need to upgrade it for a long time. The G5, no matter how much you upgrade it, will probably always be slower than an Intel processor, and if Adobe's recent apps are any indication, you will be left behind when apps go Intel-only.
 
I would get the G5 iMac. You'll be getting an intel mac later, why not havea PowerPC one sitting around? I think my Powerbook was much more reliable than my MBP (especially with sleeping habits) and so I bought an old Powerbook as a server since I knew I could trust its reliablitity when it would be set up far away from where I am now. I wouldn't yet trust an intel mac to stay on remotely for an indefinite amount of time.
 
Unless you can get a G5 really cheap, go with the Intel. On top of everything, the iMac would allow you to run an occasional windows app/game. Plus, iMac takes way less space on the desk, which is a "gi-hugic" plus.

I myself have an older iMac (G5) and people still compliment me on a nice display and then ask where the "system block" is... Oh those PC people... 🙄
 
Eidorian said:
I meant it's a dead end to go with a Power Mac G5 over a Mac Pro when it comes to upgrading.
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Especially if you get an older PCI-X model, since any upgrades are trashed when you go to the new machine.

If you need Classic or more than 3GB of memory, buy the PowerMac G5 -- otherwise an Intel iMac should work just as well.

Face it, the only thing you will take with you when you upgrade to a Mac Pro is the drives and monitor (if you get the PowerMac) anyway.

Isn't a real big difference if they are in cases or bare drives.
 
I think with your budget, i think a PMG5 is out of range. Not to mention, the iMacs are much faster with the intel chips.
 
Eidorian said:
I meant it's a dead end to go with a Power Mac G5 over a Mac Pro when it comes to upgrading.
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I agree 100%. But the OP seemed to be weighing the pros and cons of going with an iMac or a Power Mac G5, and then buying a Mac Pro at a later date. So between the iMac and the Power Mac G5, the G5 is the winner IMHO. 🙂
 
dmw007 said:
I agree 100%. But the OP seemed to be weighing the pros and cons of going with an iMac or a Power Mac G5, and then buying a Mac Pro at a later date. So between the iMac and the Power Mac G5, the G5 is the winner IMHO. 🙂
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I'd go with the iMac Vs. Power Mac G5.
 
Are you the kind of guy that keeps his computer till death, or do you sell them after a couple years and upgrade? that being said that will tell you how important the upgradableness of the G5 is. I still say intel is the way to the future
 
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