Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

PPC musical chairs.

jbarley

jbarley

macrumors 601
Original poster
Jul 1, 2006
4,023
1,897
Vancouver Island
My computers have become my main hobby, source of pleasure and a way to pass time.
Early on in my retirement I was very active and had several other forms of enjoyment but here 20 years later the age related ailments have caught up so most of my time is spent at home playing computer.
To the point, I've just set aside the MDD my last aquistion, and fired up the G5 quad once more, and boy what a difference. I just cannot believe how a system with 10 fans in it can run so quietly, especially compared to the MDD and its noisy power supply fans.
So for now at least, the G5 will be the computer of the day until I get really bored again and then maybe I'll have to fire up my Cube and finish installing the SSD I picked up for it.
 
If you run the processors on the "reduced" setting there's even less noise - I only switch to "highest" when I'm converting video...or if the room needs warming up a bit :) This is on my Dual, which is actually noisier than my Quad ever was!
 
Computers with more fans I think would actually be quieter, or at least more pleasant to hear, than computers with less fans, because all the different noises is blended together whereas with few fans the noises stand out.
 
poiihy said:
Computers with more fans I think would actually be quieter, or at least more pleasant to hear, than computers with less fans, because all the different noises is blended together whereas with few fans the noises stand out.
Click to expand...
Obviously, you've never been around a G5 when it was started with the OPTN key held down.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RedCroissant and Gamer9430
I was surprised how quiet my G5 dual is compared to MDD, especially since it was listed as having the fans run at full speed after 10 minutes.
 
jbarley, since you brought up the subject what all else have you been forced to give up on? and what all exactly do you do with your computers to help you pass the time?
 
If you are enjoying these machines then keep toying with them. I wouldn't mind being in retirement working on PowerPC Macs. Unfortunately, I am not sure a PowerPC Mac will still be running by the time I get to retirement, considering I am not even out of high school yet.
 
gooser said:
jbarley, since you brought up the subject what all else have you been forced to give up on? and what all exactly do you do with your computers to help you pass the time?
Click to expand...
My most treasured pastime, Woodturning.
Fishing, because I've become too unsteady on my feet for the rough terrain here on the west coast. Plus the arthritis in my hands totally rules out tying any form of knot in 4lb mono line.

As for the computers, I do as most PPC users do, try to make them the best they can be.
Some I give to friends and relatives, others I donate to worthy causes.
But for the most part I just tinker with the hardware, seeing what works best in different combinations.
 
Last edited:
jbarley said:
My most treasured pastime, Woodturning.
Fishing, because I've become too unsteady on my feet for the rough terrain here on the west coast. Plus the arthritis in my hands totally rules out tying any form of knot in 4lb mono line.
Click to expand...

Outstanding turning! Absolutely beautiful.
 
MacCubed said:
That is so true!! My drive bay fan goes crazy when I use it (4000 RPM) and it sounds like a jet
Click to expand...
I have a PC workstation whose BMC (like the SMC on a Mac) went flaky. It's a good 80 db when starting up.

And a few years ago, I worked on systems that, when you were updating the BMC, it ran the fans at full speed throughout the process - over 100 db. And it took about 10 minutes to update.

<presses 'Enter'> "Okay, time for my coffee break, sorry coworkers!"
 
  • Like
Reactions: eyoungren
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back