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PowerMac G5 Upgrades Announced (Officially)

PM to iMac comparison

Good for the price cuts.

Now a similarily configured 20" 1.8g iMac is only $474 cheaper than a PM.

I definitely would have looked to upgrading to the PM when I bought my 20" iMac if there was a less than $500 difference.

It looks as if Apple is really getting the inline pricing right in the product line. About a $500 jump gets you to the next model, that is very tempting when getting a new computer
 
Any improvements better than no improvement in my book. Yeah I wish we lived in a world with 4 GHz Dual Core Dual Processor G5 PowerMacs and 2.5 GHz PowerBook G5s too but sometimes things don't come out the way we wish. I'd like to see someone who finds a Dual 2.7 GHz PowerMac too slow for their needs. OK yes its not the fastest chip on Earth, and I wouldn't be surprised if someone releases some benchmarks soon showing a 3.7 GHz P4 EE, a dual 3.6 GHz Xeon, an Athlon 64 FX-55 and dual Opterons all successfully defeating Apple.

At the end of the day the issue is that Apple continues to gain speed, that their machines are fast enough to remain competitive (a benchmark of 3 seconds less on several minutes of video editing I don't give a damn about, who's going to notice 3 measly seconds in real life?) and that they continue to offer the software that matters.

Plus Tiger is out soon, and with each OS X release Macs had sped up. Though I haven't seen anything definitive on this issue, I suspect the same will be true of Tiger, not to mention the time saved through extra efficiency thanks to features like Spotlight, and Automator.
 
phasornc said:
I just wanted to get in my own yawn over this upated. Once again it's 2 year technology for $3000? I'm sure Apples sales of PowerMacs over the next few months will continue to slide. They won't see any action untill we have dual dual-cores (or cheap single dual-cores) and PCIExpress. Dell has been shipping PCI express systems for like a year now. Dual core Pentium 3.8 ghz chips came out earlier this month. With Apples current rate of update I guess we can expect dual cores this time next year. The gigahertz gap has returned, and before any of you fanboys say it doesn't matter, compare performance of the latest VST instruments on Logic 5.5 on current Pentium to the same AU versions of the same plugins on a Mac under Logic 7.
Click to expand...

Dude WTF are you talking about? Dual cores at 3.8 gig? If you're going to troll do it right.
 
Apple might add an Ultra high-end PowerMac at WWDC for $3999. The specs for the processor might be dual-core dual G5 chips running at 2.0 or 2.5 GHz.
 
Abercrombieboy said:
Although I could not agree more that the 1.8 single should have been updated with more RAM, a better video card, and a 2.0Ghz processor, The 5200 Ultra while not a great card is Tiger Compatible. The problem Apple has with Tiger is their models with 9200's in them, like the eMac and Mac Mini. I can't believe they would not spend about $5 more max and put at least a 5200 Ultra in the Mac Mini for Tiger and Core Image.
Click to expand...

Add the iBook to the 9200 list.
 
Abercrombieboy said:
BUT, the new 2.3Ghz model is at the same price point as the OLD 2.0 Model. How is the 2.3Ghz model not an improvement? Remember the "new" 2.0 Ghz is taking up the role of the economy Dual system now.
Click to expand...

I understand what you are saying.

however, it is still a crippled system when compared to the old model. And the poster has a good point, Apple now and in the past has made a habit to cripple machines, to make the higher end models more appealing.
 
go for the 8 GiB

Kerry Sanders said:
Do you fellow MacRumors members believe it is worth the extra $500 for the dual 2.3 GHz system with the added hard drive space and the three PCI-X slots (as compared to PCI)? I have never owned a Mac, but I am planning to buy one now. I had been waiting to see if Apple made any announcements.

Thanks for any advice you can offer my way.
Click to expand...

My advice would be to get the 2.3 for the added memory capacity.

It's much more likely that over its lifetime the system will run out of memory capacity - and you can't really benefit from 64-bit virtual memory with 4 GiB or less of RAM.

I replaced my first laptop when its (maxed out) memory capacity of 48 MiB was too small. The second laptop was retired when its (maxed out) 576 MiB was too small. My current laptop is only 2 GiB, and at times that's a bit tight. I'll get more when I replace it.

Same thing with my desktops - they were upgraded (new mobo) or replaced not because the CPU had become too slow, but because the max memory capacity of the mobo was no longer enough for my applications. (I recently exchanged my 2 GiB Xeon at work for one with 8 GiB.)

IMO you're more likely to regret the crippled memory of the cheaper system more than disk or PCI slots. (Disks are cheap to upgrade, and PCI has plenty of bandwidth for most cards a home user is likely to add.)
 
My Order

On the third day he upgraded....and there was much rejoicing:

Power Mac G5 Dual 2GHz
NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL w/256MB GDDR3 SDRAM
Apple Keyboard & Apple Mouse - U.S. English
Bluetooth Module + AirPort Extreme Card
Dual 2GHz PowerPC G5
2x400GB Serial ATA - 7200rpm
16x SuperDrive double-layer (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
4GB DDR400 SDRAM (PC3200) - 4x1GB
AppleCare Protection Plan for Power Mac (w/ or w/o Display)
Apple Cinema HD Display (23" flat panel)
 
Blue Moon said:
On the third day he upgraded....and there was much rejoicing:

Power Mac G5 Dual 2GHz
NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL w/256MB GDDR3 SDRAM
Apple Keyboard & Apple Mouse - U.S. English
Bluetooth Module + AirPort Extreme Card
Dual 2GHz PowerPC G5
2x400GB Serial ATA - 7200rpm
16x SuperDrive double-layer (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
4GB DDR400 SDRAM (PC3200) - 4x1GB
AppleCare Protection Plan for Power Mac (w/ or w/o Display)
Apple Cinema HD Display (23" flat panel)
Click to expand...

Congrats!!

Enjoy your new friend, I love my new computer, and I have no regrets!! :)
 
840quadra said:
I understand what you are saying.

however, it is still a crippled system when compared to the old model. And the poster has a good point, Apple now and in the past has made a habit to cripple machines, to make the higher end models more appealing.
Click to expand...

Very true, but that is just old Marketing 101 coming into play here. Apple is not the only company that does that. Almost all do, with all kinds of products. Is it a little bit of the old "Bait and Switch" idea at work? You bet. But that is how the world of marketing works.
 
"New" Dual 2.0 Inferior To "Old" Dual 2.0

So now dual 2.3 GHz (+600 MHz total with 150 MHz faster bus) can be had without the plumbing and still 8 RAM slots. Anyone know if they really support 2 and 4 GB sticks? The 2 GHz model now only has 4 RAM slots and slow PCI. What a downgrade! So our older dual 2 GHz models are going to retain their value for sure. :D :eek:
 
YOUR BEST DEAL

Your best deal is go go immediately to the Sale section of store.apple.com and pick up either a new or refurbished 2.5 GHz system. They are 96% as fast as the new 2.7, and cost only $2,299 for a refurbished unit or $2,699 for a new unit.

What the heck was Apple thinking with this update? LAME.
 
Kerry Sanders said:
Do you fellow MacRumors members believe it is worth the extra $500 for the dual 2.3 GHz system with the added hard drive space and the three PCI-X slots (as compared to PCI)? I have never owned a Mac, but I am planning to buy one now. I had been waiting to see if Apple made any announcements.

Thanks for any advice you can offer my way.
Click to expand...

YES.
 
toontra said:
Pioneer 108 or 109 will see you OK for for your needs!
Click to expand...

Does anyone know what actual models they are shipping with? Could it be the pioneer's?

Also did anyone notice that the ATI 9600 has two DVI ports now instead of an ADC and a DVI. When did that change?
 
Good news for people who currently own G5's. This means after owning my dual 2ghz for almost a year, I only lost ~$400. The 20" display is a different story, about $600! Not a big deal though, makes it even easier to go and buy a second one!

Fishes,
narco.
 
itsa said:
• Dual 2.7GHz PowerPC G4
• 2GB DDR400 SDRAM (PC3200)
• 400GB Serial ATA - 7200rpm
• ATI Radeon 9650 w/256MB DDR SDRAM
• 16x SuperDrive double-layer (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
• Apple Keyboard & Apple Mouse - U.S. English
• Mac OS X - U.S. English <--- In the BOX!

• Apple Cinema Display (20" flat panel) 699.99

ON IT'S WAY!!!! 8 to 10 days
Oh I'm soooo happy I waited!
Click to expand...


Yeah, me too!!! (Though I see you ordered a Dual 2.7GHz PowerPC G4 :p)

Power Mac G5 Dual 2.3GHz
400GB Serial ATA - 7200rpm
16x SuperDrive double-layer (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
2GB DDR400 SDRAM (PC3200)
ATI Radeon 9650 w/256MB DDR SDRAM
Apple Keyboard & Apple Mouse - U.S. English
Bluetooth Module + AirPort Extreme Card
AppleCare Protection Plan for Power Mac (w/ or w/o Display)
Apple Cinema HD Display (23" flat panel)
 
I think the non-updated single 1.8 GHz is actually implying the dualcores are on it's way. Why?
It's obvious they still have stock single 1.8 they want to get rid of for as much money as possible. Why upgrade something that will dissappear from the line in a few months? New line-up will probably add two dual dual cores 2.0 and 2.3 and drop prices for the remaining three powermacs.
 
YES!!

Hopefully, I will order a:

Dual 2.0
1GB
160GB
9600
20" ACD

Total: A$ 4,602.99

Within the next week :D (really hopeful to be able to order tomorrow, I just have to sort some stuff out first). Woo I am so excited! My first Mac!
I have all the money... excluding... $6 :(. I got so owned when I found that out :(.
 
Is +600 MHz Really Worth Waking Up For?

JtheLemur said:
Yeesh, talk about a crap upgrade. I'm going back to bed. Wake me up when we hit 3GHz.
Click to expand...
OK. But is +600 MHz Really Worth Waking Up For? I think I'll hit the sack until the dual dual processors hit the streets. But you won't have to wake me up for that cause the earth will be rumbling all over the world. :p
 
Buy A Dual 2 Refurbished "Old" Model

Devie said:
YES!!

Hopefully, I will order a:

Dual 2.0
1GB
160GB
9600
20" ACD

Total: A$ 4,602.99

Within the next week :D (really hopeful to be able to order tomorrow, I just have to sort some stuff out first). Woo I am so excited! My first Mac!
I have all the money... excluding... $6 :(.
Click to expand...
Be smart and buy an old refurbished dual 2 to get 8 ram slots and PCI-X for the same money as the "new" one with only 4 and slow PCI.
 
cjeukens said:
The only negative: Apple - learn how to deal with the internal memory thing.
Click to expand...

I agree it would be nice to see Apple put more RAM into the systems. 512MB on a Powerbook vs. 512MB on a PowermacG5 seems to make little sense. Why not at least put 1GB into the 2 top end Powermacs.

My only thought on this is, more memory bumps the price. I sometimes wish Apple would ship the good old 0/0 config they used to offer back on the MacIIsi days. Then I can pick up a couple 250GB drives and 4 gigs of RAM from a third party vendor for much less.
 
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