Time for an upgrade from the old 1.6 Ghz G5?

[rdp5008]

I have been using a G5 1.6 Ghz single processor machine for the last two years during graduate school. (I got it broken off craigslist for cheap and fixed it for cheap). I have about $400 in the machine now after a memory upgrade to 2 GB (4 512 sticks).

I have been using it primarily to write my thesis, and I spend a lot of time using programs like DeltaGraph, Canvas, Aperture 2.0, Office Suite, TeXshop and a few others to prepare my thesis and create figures etc. The G5 seems to lag a lot using big programs like DeltaGraph, Canvas, and Aperture 2.0 when I work with large files or try to edit multiple images, but overall it has been fine. It does seem to get bogged down using Safari sometimes too. I have 10.4.11 installed.

Now I will be doing less intense/frequent work, but I just got a new DSLR and I will be using Aperture 2.0 much more often. My question: if I upgrade the video card and memory can I get decent performance out of Aperture? I know I am at the lowest specs for the program. I have 4 512 sticks of RAM and the original GeForce FX 5200 with 64 MB vram. If I spend another $400 I can upgrade the video card and up the ram to 3 or 4 GB.

My other option is to buy a refurb Mac Pro ($1,999) and sell the G5, but that is much more than a $400 investment. Should I spend another $400 on the G5 and stick with it until the next major Mac Pro upgrade next year?

Any other ideas? Sorry for the long post! Thanks guys.

 

[kbonnel]

IMO, I think it is time to let the G5 move onto smaller duties for either somebody else in the household, or to other family members You could sell it on ebay/craigslist, but you might not be happy with the selling price, or with the whole selling process (people can be brutal, I know, I had recently sold my Mac Pro and MacBook) While you could spend another $400 for upgrades, I don't believe you will really be happy with the performance of the machine any longer, esp. if you plan on doing more photo work. Also, that $400 is going into a very old machine, and I think the value you are really going to get out of it won't be worth it. Me personally, I would be looking for a used Mac Pro (maybe a 2.0ghz model) or get the refurb. Mac Pro from Apple. From the sounds of it, you use your systems for quite a long period of time, so you will get your monies worth out of it! Not to mention, you will be shocked at the difference in performance between the two

Kimo

I have been using a G5 1.6 Ghz single processor machine for the last two years during graduate school. (I got it broken off craigslist for cheap and fixed it for cheap). I have about $400 in the machine now after a memory upgrade to 2 GB (4 512 sticks).

I have been using it primarily to write my thesis, and I spend a lot of time using programs like DeltaGraph, Canvas, Aperture 2.0, Office Suite, TeXshop and a few others to prepare my thesis and create figures etc. The G5 seems to lag a lot using big programs like DeltaGraph, Canvas, and Aperture 2.0 when I work with large files or try to edit multiple images, but overall it has been fine. It does seem to get bogged down using Safari sometimes too. I have 10.4.11 installed.

Now I will be doing less intense/frequent work, but I just got a new DSLR and I will be using Aperture 2.0 much more often. My question: if I upgrade the video card and memory can I get decent performance out of Aperture? I know I am at the lowest specs for the program. I have 4 512 sticks of RAM and the original GeForce FX 5200 with 64 MB vram. If I spend another $400 I can upgrade the video card and up the ram to 3 or 4 GB.

My other option is to buy a refurb Mac Pro ($1,999) and sell the G5, but that is much more than a $400 investment. Should I spend another $400 on the G5 and stick with it until the next major Mac Pro upgrade next year?

Any other ideas? Sorry for the long post! Thanks guys.

 

[rdp5008]

Thanks for the input.

The only program that would really require me to upgrade from my computer now is Aperture 2.0. I can use Aperture with my current specs, it just lags a bit when making adjustments and loading files. Does anyone have experience with Aperture with a similar machine as mine? If I max out the RAM and put in a new video card will it make Aperture more responsive?

I have a hard time spending $2k on a new Mac Pro for my current use, but I would be okay spending another $300 or $400 to get my G5 to last me a few more years.

 

[Firefly2002]

First thing's first; if you get a new Machine, you absolutely *do not* need a Mac Pro. The low-end iMac would suit you perfectly.

As for more RAM, I don't know if you need more... but I doubt it. My guess is you've got plenty for what you do. Check Activity Monitor if you're in doubt.

I believe a faster video card would help some, yes, though perhaps not tremendously.

You might consider a new hard drive; this will make your whole computer feel snappier in general, especially loading and launching things, and should speed up loading images in Aperture some too, I imagine, especially if you get one of the faster 1 TB drives.

If you have access to it, though, I'd recommend Lightroom, which IMO is superior to Aperture; I think it also probably performs better, though I can't say for sure.

It's too bad you didn't manage to get a dual 1.8, as that would probably be absolutely perfect for you (still reasonably fast, and wouldn't likely be lagging where you are now).

However, a 1.6 GHz G5 should really be suiting your needs all right.

If you've got your heart set on a tower, however, and not an iMac, but don't want to pay $2.5k+ and perhaps even want to keep it a Power Mac, not an Intel Mac, you could buy a Dual 2 GHz G5 w/2 GB RAM for $850 here http://www.macofalltrades.com/Apple_G5_2_0GHz_Dual_Processor_2_0_160GB_p/g520dp3.htm