PowerMac G5...

[bux]

Hi,

I'm a bit confused about this, I'm thinking about buying a Rev B PowerMac and I have read on a lot of pages that PCI Express is going to replace AGP soon.
So, my question is: Will the PowerMac G5 be that upgradable... I mean if nvidia and ati starts to make all their graphics cards for the PCI Express then the new PowerMac will be "out of date" quite soon.
Am I thinking correct or is PCI Express cards backwards compatible with AGP 8x?

 

[robbieduncan]

PCI Express cards ARE NOT backwards compatible with AGP. They use a different connector as well as 16 serial channels of communication as opposed to the parallel connection used by PCI/AGP cards. At least the next generation of cards will be available with AGP as well as PCIe.

 

[bux]

Okay, but now when I think about it.
The latest GeForce card... it will take a few years before it's starting to get old, so I guess it's not a real problem anyway

 

[jsw]

Note that, as of now, PCI-Express isn't any faster than AGP video cards. That might very well change, but I don't expect a near-term shift to PCI-Express graphics cards - especially on Macs. This might very well be different for PCs.

 

[Sun Baked]

Don't worry, as soon as you buy a new Rev. B PowerMac G5 you can expect Apple to release the 2nd generation PowerMac G5 (or the Power5-UL) about a month after you buy your new machine -- or 11 days after you unbox your new machine.

It's probably have DDR2, PCI-Express video, and either PCI-X or PCI-Express expansion slots.

When?

Sometime between now and MWSF, or at MWSF.

Apple has some other machines to introduce and get past the initial shipping glitches first though.

 

[bux]

hehe, yeah... new machines are always coming.
But I'm thinking about buying a new computer within a month, because I really want to throw this PC away (yes, I'm writing this message on a PC... well atleast not a windows PC).

hmmm... well, if the new iMac will be good (i.e. not like the current rumor) I might even grab one of those instead of a PowerMac

 

[7on]

Also most people don't even upgrade their video cards. Even on my old PC I'm still using the original Geforce 3 on it. Because even if I upgraded it, the Pentium III 800Mhz will possibly be more of a bottleneck.

The only real update of a video card I have done was a Voodoo3 to a Radeon 9000, just because XP behaves weirdly with a Voodoo.

 

[Chaszmyr]

Note that, as of now, PCI-Express isn't any faster than AGP video cards. That might very well change, but I don't expect a near-term shift to PCI-Express graphics cards - especially on Macs. This might very well be different for PCs.

PCI-Express does have one distinct advantage for nVidia cards though: nvidia SLI technology.

If you're not urgent to get a top of the line gaming computer, this probably doesn't matter to you anyway. Also, if you're an ATI fan like me, they plan on introducing dual core cards rather than making customers have to buy two cards.

 

[jimsowden]

Yeah, PCI Express x16 is now just used for workstation cards, and isn't used to its full potential. Its like serial ata, not used fully, but implimented now for future use. I have a feeling the G5, having so many next gen technolodies, will include a PCI express slot, even if it isn't usable.

 

[Grimace]

to change direction a little:

What sorts of G5 improvements do you expect in January/February??

All I can think of are processor jumps (2.5, 2.7, 3.0) and a faster superdrive. I doubt Apple is going to put in a gig of RAM anytime soon. The 9600 is a good base video card so no need to bump that up. Maybe bluetooth built in?

Thoughts?