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New Mini vs used G5, which to buy?

C

chefhow

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 28, 2008
21
0
Hi all, I am looking at buying my first Apple and I have $700 to spend. I have done endless pricing research and am at an impass. I can get either a used iMac G5 basic model from eBay or off Craigslist or I can get a new Mini at my local store. I have an LCD screen already so that is not part of the equation. The computer will be for home use with minimal web updates but nothing major. Lots of music, photo and video, some business application, and I would like to hook it up to the stereo. Should I go ahead and get an unwarranted iMac or buy a new Mini. Thanks in advance for helping a noob :D
 
This question has been asked before, mostly the advice is: go for the mini. It's faster (processor) and probably has more ram. Plus, if something is wrong you have your first year of warranty. The mini has more power.

Good luck choosing.

edit: as the others tell you: wait for the update
 
What kind of condition is the iMac? If it is a Rev. B (With iSight), and has leopard and some more RAM, I'd go for the G5
 
I went the G5 route. Got a 1.8ghz single that takes eight gigs of ram.

Happy. Paid 550. Put five gigs in and very happy.
 
California said:
I went the G5 route. Got a 1.8ghz single that takes eight gigs of ram.

Happy. Paid 550. Put five gigs in and very happy.
Click to expand...

The OP is talking about an iMac G5... not a PowerMac.

I would go with the Mini since Snow Leopard likely won't support PPC if you ever want to upgrade plus the Mini is definitely faster than the iMac.
 
With the iMac you are also paying for a screen but since you already have a screen I would go with the mini.

The only G5 I would consider at $700 would be a dual CPU Powermac G5. Since it is highly upgradeable: 8GB RAM, 2 SATA HD's, upgradeable video, other expansion slots. But if you are not looking to tinker with upgrading then a Mini would suffice.

Though unless you need it immediately the mini is using very old tech for a new computer. I would wait for a refresh.
 
This is a no brainer if you already have a display: get the new mini.

I say this as a iMac G5 user myself. In my opinion, the only G5 I would consider is a a dual processor PowerMac.
 
chefhow said:
No iSight, 1gb RAM, 1.8GHz, 80gb HD with Leopard and the dics.
Click to expand...

That sounds like a Rev. A iMac G5 (and a rather unfortunate misspelling of discs), which I'd personally avoid. Early iMac G5s are known for logic board problems and many other issues. Wait, and hope a new mini comes out soon
 
Go for the new Mini.

The processor screams, the included applications and OS will be up to date (with more functionality), you will get a one year warranty with the purchase, and you can run multiple operating systems on it.

The only major weakness of the Mini is the graphics card. So, as long as you are not using Final Cut Pro or plan on doing intense gaming, then you should be fine with the Mini.

Let me know what you think.
 
Cave Man said:
An Intel-based Mini runs FCP as well as any other 1.83 or 2 gHz Mac.
Click to expand...

It does "run" FCP, but there is a graphics chip requirement. Unless you mean just FCP, and not the entire suite. Advice for the OP, just go for the mini, but wait until october 14, apple is long overdue for a major update. older machines aren't worth it, you're better off with warranty and a brand spankin new machine that has newer tech inside it.
 
cmcbridejr said:
Then, why does Apple's website say it is not compatible?
Click to expand...

I don't know. Why does Apple's web site also say the Mini can take only 2 gigs of RAM and the MacBook Pro can only take 4 gigs, when they can take 3.1 and 8 gigs respectively?

SnowLeopard2008 said:
It does "run" FCP, but there is a graphics chip requirement. Unless you mean just FCP, and not the entire suite.
Click to expand...

The poster did not say Final Cut Studio, he said Final Cut Pro, which works perfectly well on a Mini. There are a couple of filters that leverage the gpu (as do Color and Motion) that would be slowed down, but otherwise it's all done by the cpu.
 
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