G5 vs Rosetta

[cr2sh]

Hmm, so where an Intel iMac took 10 minutes, the dual core PM took 6 minutes? And you ended up getting a slower single core G5? I'm sure you are happy with the G6 iMac for $500 off its old price (I almost bought a G5 iMac before Christmas but something made me hold off on it), but 60% seems pretty good speed for emulation.

What memory was in the Intel vs the PM? What speeds are you getting on the G5 iMac for the same tasks?

For all the benchmarks showing the Intel iMac slow at Photoshop, there's another test showing that adding more memory speeds it up considerably.

I was playing with the machines to find out for myself how a dual g5 competed with a core duo with rosetta... I was just curious. And I completelly agree. I said in one thread already.. I wasn't AMAZED by the rosetta emulation, but I was impressed. It was certainly a "wow, that's better than I expected" moment.

Check out my reply (csnoke) over on kekus. Both machines had 512ram and I agree with you completely about the RAM hungry intels... my 2.1GHz G5 is slower than probably both the intel and definately the powermac at this task. The intel is a close, I would guess.. but I haven't ran them side by side yet. I know mine is a slower machine, period. The g5 just can't keep pace with the dual cores.

For the record, I don't think its smart to buy the intel imac... especially at full price. In 4 months apple will release an iMac that looks identical to the regular cinema display... that thick, chunky portion at the bottom will be gone from the imac. If I were in the market to spend $2k on a machine.. I wouldn't buy today - I'd wait for the new, thinner, smaller case - the one designed for much cooler running intel chips.

At the same time, I wouldn't pay full price for a dual G5 machine because I know something a LOT faster is coming down the road shortly. Apple makes it tough, the refurb store has dual 2.3's for $2k. And I really thought about ti after seeing how fast they were at what I wanted to do... but I wanted an AIO for downstairs and that machine just wouldn't fit.

I however, was in the market to buy a discounted (30% off) iMac that is plenty fast enough for what I need. I might be a specific market.. but I know the g5 will do what I need it to do and at that price with a 20" LCD.. I don't think I can go wrong. Isight, frontrow.. the only thing I wanted that I didn't get is iLife '06 (but based on the reviews of iWeb I might not be missing much).

I look at it like this.... if I bought a mac mini for $500, I'd still have to buy a display... a 2005FPW would cost me $400, so I'm at $900 and I don't have an isight or a chip that's even comparable to what I got for $1200. At the same time, there's no insentive to buy an intel cuz its emulating, its first gen , I'd be paying full price... no reason to do it (other than the "this is the newest and best" one).

--
Basically, I agree completely with you. If the g5 hadn't been such a great bargain and I didn't NEED a macintosh right now... I wouldn't have bought. It was a timing and money thing for me... the g5 is a great machine for what I payed - but not the fastest at all.

 

[bigfib]

All this info is fantastic. But none seem consistent.

It's not consistent because it's all about people with big egos trying to convince you that this or that is way faster than that or this.
Truth is if you run photoshop on a 512 intel Imac then despite certain filters which *are* faster on the intel, the overall impression is of an old G3, useable but not that nice.
With 1.5 or 2 Gig, half of photoshop seems as fast or faster, and half of it seems a little slower.
I needed a new mac, and photoshop is only half my eqation. I also go in and out of the finder, safari, iphoto when I'm working, and as all of these are faster on the intel Imac, I find my productivity as good, or slightly higher as on a G5.
In the end I want a computer for the next 4 years, not the next 18 months.
I dont want to think about binning my computer in a year when adobe brings out the native universal versions that blow the G5 away.
And thats why I chose the intel imac... Can't say I regret my choice at all.
So to sum up.
If you need best photoshop performance and nothing else, and you want it now, you'll be wanting the G5 version.
If you want overall best performance and you're prepared to accept a slight trade off with photoshop until the nex versions, youll want an intel version with lots of ram.
If you want a black and white decision, well, you ain't gonna get one ;-)

 

[sintaxi]

If you want a black and white decision, well, you ain't gonna get one ;-)

I want a black and white decision

that is all very helpful. even though what i should do isnt clear, the fog has cleared. I think I am going to try to get my hands on a used powermac or iMac G5. and I will also likely buy an Intel 13" macbook/macbook pro depending what is released on April 1st

 

[sintaxi]

Well Im almost certain that I will be getting a dual 2.0 Powermac tomorrow. I hate playing the waiting game. this way the PM will keep me happy untill it is clearly an advantage to have an intel machine.

Thanks for everyones help.

 

[generik]

I want a black and white decision

that is all very helpful. even though what i should do isnt clear, the fog has cleared. I think I am going to try to get my hands on a used powermac or iMac G5. and I will also likely buy an Intel 13" macbook/macbook pro depending what is released on April 1st

What special occasion is April 1st?

I'm literally going to explode from the wait for a small MBP

 

[jacobj]

What special occasion is April 1st?

I'm literally going to explode from the wait for a small MBP

Really? It's Apple's 30th Anniversary and they've GOT to be doing something for that.

 

[vincentseye]

Enough talk about Rosetta and Real P shop use....here R facts

I wanted to post the following facts that burned me badly. I have a G4 Duo Mirror Door... 2x 1 ghtz. 1.75 MG Ram Four Hard drives. It did the job just fine converting Fuji S2 and S3 RAW files in CS1. I used it for 17mb, 34mb and larger images sometimes 50-100 open at a time (yes no lie). There were days I would cram 300 RAW file conversions thought this machine (not batched). Anyway that machine took a tank and I purchased a 20" Imac last night. It is the Intel Duo Core 2 gightz with 2 gigs of RAM. ($2600) This machine does the previous tasks that the Mirror Door did still using P-shop CS. It took about 30 minutes to open and save just 20 RAW files! This machine running P-shop CS is a real DOG ... Dead Dog. .. I pulled out my 12" book with G4 867 htz chip which does the job slightly faster than the intel duo core. Well that day of my life is lost.... trading in this rig for a G5 tower even though I am sure CS3 and a Intel powered tower will be a sweet set-up by October. I have work to do and no time to waste. Rosetta is a real dog for real world working people. The ".45 factor" quoted is overy optomistic for these everyday tasks it is much much slower... unbelievably slow. The Apple Store employees should have known better... at least they are exchanging my set-up without hassels.

 

[the Helix]

Yup.

I agree with Vincentseye's post above. I am excited about the MacBook Pros (especially the 17"), but after working with both the MB Pro and the PowerBook doing real-world tasks (not just benchmark tests) using the meat and potatoes apps (i.e. Office, Adobe CS, etc...), the PowerBook just works better.

The MB Pros technically kick-a$$ on the PBs on speed, but the software hasn't yet appeared that will show off that speed.

I'll be buying a MB Pro. They are awesome equipment, but I will wait another year or so.

 

[dr_lha]

For the record, I don't think its smart to buy the intel imac... especially at full price. In 4 months apple will release an iMac that looks identical to the regular cinema display... that thick, chunky portion at the bottom will be gone from the imac. If I were in the market to spend $2k on a machine.. I wouldn't buy today - I'd wait for the new, thinner, smaller case - the one designed for much cooler running intel chips.

This is pure speculation! You wouldn't recommend buying a computer because of some imaginary smaller iMac in the future? Wake up buddy, there's always a better computer coming out in 6 months time, right now the current Intel iMacs are awesome machines.