HELP! contemplating 2.0 dp g5 - input PLEASE!

[darkey]

GREETINGS!

i'm looking at a 2003 dual 2.0 g5; 4.5mb ram, 250gb hd,
f/w 400 card, radeon 9800 pro/128.
i've been told this vintage dual 2.0 - M9032LL/A is known for
problems {especially logic boards}. does anyone know if this one - or dp g5's in general are problematic computers? i see a lot more posts about problems with power mac g5's than g4's.
i'm guessing power supplies, which are also mentioned, are not
moron [me] replaceable? definitely not logic boards; i see that repair is about equal to the value of the whole computer.

is there a limitation to pci-x slots? [133 and 100mhz].


some have suggested to me that a NEW mac mini is faster than a dual
g5! how would you advise me in light of that? but please keep in mind
i am on a VERY tight budget [fixed income] and i'm primarily using it
for internet {email, ebay, burning cd's, music, videos} and very light
photo editing. for what i do, is there a need for the video card to be
upgraded as some have suggested? {also that there is not a
lot of choice for good cards; true?}

even though as noted above, i'm VERY non demanding in my use of the
machine; {witness the fact i'm still using a 2000 450dp - yes, using it
has been frustrating at times for a while now} , i don't like the idea the mini [or imac] isn't upgradeable besides ram.

i laid out big money for the g4 DP in the thought it would carry me
for a long time, even though everyone questioned the expense.
in light of my budget {$1,000 MAX}, am i correct to think a g5 dp
will be the best route to economically carry me on into the future as long as
possible?

{{as an aside, am correct that its not realistic to expect a mini or even 2.8 imac being usable in 7-8 years!?}}

i can't find too much specifically about DP power mac g5, especially M9032LL/A.
ANY thoughts on this? i see the potential of a logic board alone kills
the idea of this purchase being an economical way to advance my system
for at least several years.

is a powermac g5 dp [or any g5] something Everyone {but me!} knows to
avoid???

anyone know any questions i should ask the {original} owner as to
repairs made and/or parts replaced?
any and ALL input, opinions, experiences, etc - are GREATLY
APPRECIATED!!!

thanks very much,

chris in ny

 

[voyagerd]

I have a Single 1.8GHz PowerMac G5 with 4GB of RAM, an X800XT graphics card, a 16X SuperDrive, and 1.5TB of Hard drive space. I've never had a single problem with it.

I'm also looking to sell it sometime in the future because I need a lot more processing power than what I have. It's also not the gaming rig it used to be. I need to get a Mac Pro.

 

[QCassidy352]

It's going to be hard for anything but a mac pro to carry you 7 years in to the future like your DP G4 has done. That was a top-end computer when you got it, but getting either of your two options now is a very different story (G5 is 4 years old already, and mini is current but very low end).

For what you do, either choice would be more than fine for right now, and for the next several years. Nothing you do requires a lot of graphics power, so don't worry about that which ever way you go.

If I were you, I'd get a new mini. Here's why:
- The early G5s are not incredibly problematic (if you want really problematic, check out some liquid-cooled G5s), but they did have their issues, and the one you're looking at is already 4 years old and well out of warranty, while the mini comes with a warranty and the option for more warranty.
- The mini is smaller, quieter, and uses less power.
- For the things you do, the mini will be faster.
- You do not need to upgrade your graphics card, nor will you in the foreseeable future.
- You'll get leopard free with the mini.
- The next OS update will probably run on both, but if it doesn't run on one or the other, I'd bet it won't run on the G5 (I know leopard was just released, but you do want to keep this thing well past when the next update will come out).

I don't see the sense in paying the same price for a 4 year old G5 as for a new mini unless:
- you "need" more than one internal HD
- you care a lot about graphics power (not that the early G5s have amazing graphics options anyway)
- you need more than 3 GB of RAM

So in short, get the mini and enjoy it. It will be a great upgrade from your faithful G4.