Powermac G5 or home use?

[cmm]

What are your feelings on using a Powermac G5 for home use instead of getting a Core 2 duo Mac?

Are you going to notice a big difference in speed? How long will the life of the machine last?

The only proc intensive tasks I do is mathematica and matlab.

Just thinking about picking up an extra one.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[SMM]

What are your feelings on using a Powermac G5 for home use instead of getting a Core 2 duo Mac?

Are you going to notice a big difference in speed? How long will the life of the machine last?

The only proc intensive tasks I do is mathematica and matlab.

Just thinking about picking up an extra one.

Thanks,
Chris

There are many recent threads in which this same question has been discussed, with slight variations. If I were to condense all of the opinions into a composite consensus, it would be; if you can get a good deal on a G5 do it. Otherwise, the MP is the better option for protecting your investment. Most people agree the dual G5's get the job done in fine fashion (some exceptions of course).

 

[FFTT]

Many people who are heavily invested in PPC software and PCI or PCI-X
expansion cards are still grabbing some great deals on G5 towers.

Even so, there are good G5's and some not so good.

Your best bet is a 2.0 GHz Dual Processor (8DIMM ) or 2.3 GHz DP PCI-X
or Dual Core 2.3 GHz PCI-e all with at least 2 GB RAM.

If you're looking at a PPC Quad, that's where upgrading to the MacPro
is probably a better idea future wise.

If you can pick up a well equipped G5 tower for $1500 or less, go for it.

It has been well established to avoid the 2.5 GHz liquid cooled models or any of the older single processor models.

It's best to evaluate each machine on it's own merit before making any purchase.

 

[Tattoo]

Many people who are heavily invested in PPC software and PCI or PCI-X
expansion cards are still grabbing some great deals on G5 towers.

Even so, there are good G5's and some not so good.

Your best bet is a 2.0 GHz Dual Processor (8DIMM ) or 2.3 GHz DP PCI-X
or Dual Core 2.3 GHz PCI-e all with at least 2 GB RAM.

If you're looking at a PPC Quad, that's where upgrading to the MacPro
is probably a better idea future wise.

If you can pick up a well equipped G5 tower for $1500 or less, go for it.

It has been well established to avoid the 2.5 GHz liquid cooled models or any of the older single processor models.

It's best to evaluate each machine on it's own merit before making any purchase.

I am very much interested in your thoughts as to why you choose those 3 models. For example, Why the Dual Core 2.3 and not any other model?
Thanks for your time.
John

 

[FFTT]

After reading through these forums and others over the last few years, the late
2004 Rev "B" 8DIMM 2.0 GHz Dual Processor G5 PCI-X was the best proven workhorse with the least number of complaints. The 2.3 GHz Dual Processor PCI-X model and the 2.3 Ghz Dual Core PCI-e models were also the most trouble free and using the 2.3 GHz server chipset.
Generally the 2.3 GHz models have been accepted as the " Sweet Spot "
Not too slow and not too hot temperature wise.

For the most part I've heard very few complaints about the G5 Quad PCI-e,
but it's hard to find a good deal on them making the Mac Pro a better
choice unless you are heavily invested in PPC applications.

The 2.5 and 2.7 GHz liquid cooled models seemed to have the most "issues"
related mostly to heat and breakdown of the liquid cooling system.

The Dual Processor 1.8 and later 2005 2.0 GHz (4 DIMM ) Pro-sumer
models had mixed reviews and were lmited to 33 MHz PCI expansion.

The single processor G5 models suffered from a serious breakdown of capacitors
in the motherboards using the same capacitors as the Rev "A" iMac G5.

Some users have had no problems at all with the models mentioned, while
others were plagued with hassles due to third party components.