oingoboingo said:
20" but for my parenst to switch...so graphics card should be fine for them.
I wouldn't buy one or recommend it to friend pc users who play games for the reasons already given in the forums.
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New iMac G5 - When and What did you buy?
- Thread starter mdelaney123
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20" but for my parenst to switch...so graphics card should be fine for them.
I wouldn't buy one or recommend it to friend pc users who play games for the reasons already given in the forums.
DrPepper said:
No, u failed to actually read my post. I wrote "At Crucial.com, two sticks of 512mb RAM for the G5 iMac costs $186."
Crucial does sell a 1gb stick for the iMac... for $253.
Flowbee said:
I don't think that its really a lot cheaper for that $39 I would prefer getting it from Apple instead of opening my brand new Mac.
my 2 cents
Abstract said:Exactly. To upgrade with Apple, they're taking away the 256MB of RAM stick they would have normally given you anyway, and are giving you 2x 512MB sticks of RAM. The cost to you may be very similar, but I don't like to let Apple get away with crap like that. They're charging you more, and saving even MORE money by keeping that 256MB of RAM for themselves. Since you have 2 RAM slots, you may as well have kept the 256MB of RAM and installed the 1GB stick on your own. That's 1.28GB of RAM.
Again, never let Apple pocket more of your money by purchasing RAM off them.
Well, if you see it that way ....
.... OK, maybe its better to upgrade the RAM yourself.
CmdrLaForge said:
I'm with the other guy...$39 isn't a big price difference, however the price of that 256MB of ram is already built into the price of the computer...it comes standard. When you upgrade, they aren't just adding ram, they're replacing 256 with 512, or 1 gig, or whatever. So while you are still paying for the 256MB that came standard, they are taking it away from you, and charging you $39 more than the next company to upgrade. It's not a HUGE deal or anything, but it's sneaky, and I refuse to play that game, so I always buy my RAM from another source.
When you buy 3rd party ram, and add 1 gig to your Mac, you end up with 1.25 gb of ram instead of 1 gig. Some people see that as like getting 256MB free...wrong! You already paid for that 256MB...you're just making sure Apple doesn't take it away from you.
That's how I see it anyway.
To get back on subject, I hope to be ordering a 20" soon. Anyone else notice how much like a tablet computer these iMacs are? I could very ealisy see people mounting this Mac to their kitchen wall or whatever, with a BT keyboard and mouse, etc. There are a ton of new uses that arise from such a compact form. This machine would aldo be great in hospitals, etc...there are already VESA LCD arms for sale that come with a keyboard and mouse tray attached...add the iMac with BT, and you have a great little setup
CmdrLaForge said:
Exactly. So many people automatically assume that buying RAM from Apple is a total rip-off. I was just pointing out that it's not always the case.
That being said, if you want to upgrade your iMac to 2gb RAM, go with Crucial (you'll save about $500).
10:34 am (CST) 9/1/04
Well, mine is ordered!!! I wanted to order it sooner, but I had to call the bank and up my credit card limit (I just have never done that since I got the card in High School).
This is what I ordered...
iMac 1.8 GHz w/20" TFT / standard ram (will upgrade of course) / AirPort Extreme Card / Bluetooth Module + Apple Wireless Keyboard & Mouse + Mac OS X - U.S. English / AirPort Express Base Station / HP DeskJet 5740
Also, I wanted to see if you guys could confirm something for me. That Bluetooth line up there means that they will install the bluetooth right? Because in my order it says "None - Bluetooth Module 065-4717". I assume that means that I will get it anyways because I ordered it with the keyboard? Let me know...
By the way, I'm really giddy right now. This is the first computer that I've ever purchased from Apple! I've always used Macs, but I've never actually got a new top of the line one from Apple!!!!
Well, mine is ordered!!! I wanted to order it sooner, but I had to call the bank and up my credit card limit (I just have never done that since I got the card in High School).
This is what I ordered...
iMac 1.8 GHz w/20" TFT / standard ram (will upgrade of course) / AirPort Extreme Card / Bluetooth Module + Apple Wireless Keyboard & Mouse + Mac OS X - U.S. English / AirPort Express Base Station / HP DeskJet 5740
Also, I wanted to see if you guys could confirm something for me. That Bluetooth line up there means that they will install the bluetooth right? Because in my order it says "None - Bluetooth Module 065-4717". I assume that means that I will get it anyways because I ordered it with the keyboard? Let me know...
By the way, I'm really giddy right now. This is the first computer that I've ever purchased from Apple! I've always used Macs, but I've never actually got a new top of the line one from Apple!!!!
According to this, the FX 5200 Ultra is very similar to the Radeon 9600 Pro, so I'm not sure if it will be going backwards ... more like sideways.oingoboingo said:
Radeon 9600 Pro
Memory Bandwidth 9.6 GB/s
Fillrate 1.6 GPixels/s
FX 5200 Ultra
Memory bandwidth 10.4 GB/s
Fillrate 1.4 GPixels/s
They two card have different strengths on the Mac. Here's a quote from a test:
"Adding all of it up, the decision is difficult. If making Halo look good is a priority, then get the 9600. If making SimCity look good and play faster is a priority, stay with the 5200. Outside of that, the Radeon 9600 will deliver better performance."
Also notice that the FX 5200 Ultra has more than 40% better specs compared to the regular FX 5200.
I couldn't justify the extra £300 for 3" more screen space, so I got the middle model and bumped up the HDD to 160gb and added an extra 256mb (yes, I too left it to the capable hands of Apple) Is 512 megabytes enough for general homeuse these days?
I'm upgrading from a bondi blue iMac, so this should be quite an experience for me
I'm upgrading from a bondi blue iMac, so this should be quite an experience for me
bont said:I couldn't justify the extra £300 for 3" more screen space, so I got the middle model and bumped up the HDD to 160gb and added an extra 256mb (yes, I too left it to the capable hands of Apple) Is 512 megabytes enough for general homeuse these days?
I'm upgrading from a bondi blue iMac, so this should be quite an experience for me
512 should be fine for normal use
gekko513 said:
Sounds good.
I have no need for a new Computer right now, but I guess I will get the 20" iMac with 250gig drive and 2 gig ram bluetooth keyboard and mouse in about 8 month, I guess then the next revision will be out. Not that I think the current one is not worth it, but I have no need for a new Mac right now.
Flowbee said:
Speaking of which...why does Apple chare more than twice as much money for a 2 gig upgrade, as opposed to a 1 gig upgrade that uses 1 stick? I've been wondering why lately, sincethe 2 gig upgrade is basically two 1 gig sticks. Does anyone else know why?
gekko513 said:
I ordered a 17" 1.8 Ghz w/Bluetooth, Extreme, 512 Mb, and 160 GB. I went with the RAM from Apple since they weren't pulling their usual stunt of giving you 2 x 256 Mb. This way I will buy a 3rd party 512 Mb and have 1 GB total. I also went with the 160 GB because they are finally giving us 7200 rpm drives. It wouldn't surprise me if they have 2 Mb of cache but oh well.
My only reservation was the graphics card - I haven't been following them much, so it is nice to know the Ultra is a bit better than the well criticized 5200.
Now I get to join in the fun game of complaining about missed ship dates. Maybe it will be wrapped under the Christmas tree???
gekko513 said:
remeber the new iMac GPU card only has 64meg of Vram (50% of amont of ram that those numbers above where created with)so there is another problem to widen the gap a make it a little worse
20" stock everything + 512MB from crucial. And Dual 2.0 PM + 2x512MB from crucial. Should be fun.
Yeah, the 64MB vram thing is puzzling me a bit. Of course it's cheaper, but the way people are crying in PC forums that 256MB is so much better than 128MB you would get the impression that 64MB just won't cut it.Timelessblur said:
I would be really interested in seeing some numbers on when the performance drop kicks in with just 64MB. Maybe it is mostly of theoretical and extreme gaming interest?
Question about ram
I order the 17 inch iMac without superdrive (why spend 300 dollars more for a non-dual layer dvd burner that is also a slow cd-r burner???) and a 512 in 1 dimm slot, bluetooth, 160 gb, airport, wireless keyboard and mouse (85 bucks for bluetooth wireless keyboard and mouse, not a bad deal). So anyway, my question is this: Crucial.com already has sticks of ram for theG5 iMac for sale. They have a 512 stick for 85 bucks after a rebate. But I honestly can't figure out, shy of taking the whole computer apart, how I'd put the ram in myself. There must be a way, does anyone think they know how???
I order the 17 inch iMac without superdrive (why spend 300 dollars more for a non-dual layer dvd burner that is also a slow cd-r burner???) and a 512 in 1 dimm slot, bluetooth, 160 gb, airport, wireless keyboard and mouse (85 bucks for bluetooth wireless keyboard and mouse, not a bad deal). So anyway, my question is this: Crucial.com already has sticks of ram for theG5 iMac for sale. They have a 512 stick for 85 bucks after a rebate. But I honestly can't figure out, shy of taking the whole computer apart, how I'd put the ram in myself. There must be a way, does anyone think they know how???
Abstract said:Exactly. To upgrade with Apple, they're taking away the 256MB of RAM stick they would have normally given you anyway, and are giving you 2x 512MB sticks of RAM. The cost to you may be very similar, but I don't like to let Apple get away with crap like that. They're charging you more, and saving even MORE money by keeping that 256MB of RAM for themselves. Since you have 2 RAM slots, you may as well have kept the 256MB of RAM and installed the 1GB stick on your own. That's 1.28GB of RAM.
Again, never let Apple pocket more of your money by purchasing RAM off them.
It seems like the one thing that makes sense is to upgrade to 512mb for $75. Then buy everything else, including another 512mb, from crucial. A 512mb from crucial costs $93, so doing the upgrade with apple is cheaper than getting the 256mb and upgrading yourself, although you do get a useless $46
stick of 256mb.
reykjavik said:
Remove back panel. Insert stick into memory slot on lower right (from rear). Reinstall back panel.
Peyote said:
Maybe because teh second 1GB memory doesn't come with a 256mb stick credit? Dunno what the comparison is, but if you order 1GB stick, you're also giving back a $40 ($75 in applie prices) stick of memory. You're not for the second GB.
Peyote said:
Won't it prodtrude at least a few inches? At least until they create ethernet, USB, and firewire cables with flat L-shaped connectors.
Le Big Mac said:
I seem to recall the difference in price between the 1 gig upgrade and the 1 gig upgrade being fairly large...but that doesn't even matter. If the machine comes with 256 MB, and you upgrade to a 1 gig stick, you are giving Apple back the 256. If you upgrade to 2 gig, you are still giving apple the 256...it's the same scenario, using the same sticks of ram, yet when you double the ram, the price does more than double, when in fact it should be double the price, or maybe just a little more, but not as much as it is.
gekko513 said:
You're in for a nasty shock if you're only looking at theoretical memory bandwidth and fillrate specs. A nasty, nasty shock. From Tom's Hardware Guide video card roundup:
-UT2003, 1024x768x32:
FX5200 Ultra: 42.4 FPS
Radeon 9600 Pro: 66.7 FPS
- Battlefield 1942, Secret Weapons of WWII, 1024x768x32:
FX5200 Ultra: 93.2 FPS
Radeon 9600 Pro: 128.8 FPS
- Call of Duty, 1024x768x32
FX5200 Ultra: 55.5 FPS
Radeon 9600 Pro: 68.3 FPS
- Halo: 1024x768x32:
FX5200 Ultra: 19.58
Radeon 9600 Pro: 28.71
These games were all tested on PC systems, so you can't make direct FPS to FPS comparisons to the Mac versions. The important thing is the difference between the video cards.
In anyone's language, there's no way that it can be claimed that the FX 5200 Ultra is a 'step sideways' from a Radeon 9600 Pro. I'm not going to argue with anyone here who believes an FX 5200 Ultra will be a good enough GPU for them. If it's what you want, go for it. But like I said, it will be a step down for me from the PowerMac G5 / Radeon 9600 Pro system I currently own, and therefore, the iMac G5 out of the question.