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which G5??

W

weezer_mouth

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 25, 2004
3
0
Hi,
Spur of the moment, yesterday,
I sold my G4, she wanted it today.

So now I'm computerless which isn't
going to cut it for long. I'm reading all these posts about waiting and what's coming out and rumors and I'm freaking out!

I'm looking at a getting a

Power Mac G5 1600 Minitower
PowerPC G5 1.6GHz Processor, 256MB RAM, 80GB Hard Drive, 4X DVD-R / 16X10X32 CD-RW SuperDrive

I'll be using the computer for graphic design/web design (adobe,macromedia).
And also I've just started to get involved in music recording and composing.

My husband is also getting into Video
and we'll eventually buy FinalCut.

Questions.
Is it worth the extra money to go to the
1.8Ghz Processor?
They're installing more Ram when I buy the computer, so how much should I get?

Since I'm already spending so much money, should I just go all out? Or do you think I really NEED the power that
would come with a bigger or Dual Processor? Would I be just as happy with the 1.6 single?

Thanks so much for any suggestions.

-Amanda
 
1600 not worth it imho

i would buy a 1800 or 2000
it doesnt matter which one u buy (which one of both) because the 2000 one costs that amount more that it gives you performance.

so its just about your money in your pocket.
 
I just bought nearly an identical system to what you listed. After waiting for updated PowerBooks and then updated PowerMacs, I gave in and made the purchase cuz I really needed to be using now. No matter what comes out, I'm sure I'll have no regrets as this set up works so well. My experience so far is like this:

I've got over a 1000 pics in iPhoto and songs in iTunes and work with 100 page documents in Classic mode and OS X. I use all of those simultaneously plus other stuff and I've seen the spinning rainbow ball only twice so far!

I thought I'd need 1Gig of memory, but the computer is so fast, the 512 I got seems to be plenty (for me). I'm quite surprised (I had 640MB in my iBook). You can always add memory yourself later, at half the cost Apple would charge you.

In conclusion, if you have the money, sure spend it. However, if you want to try to be a little conservative financially, you might do just fine with the 1.6.

Enjoy and to heck with the waiting!!!!!:p
 
forgot to mention

My one and only disappointment has been the hard drive!! It's advertised as 80Gigs, but actually at least 8 of that is non-existent from the start. I don't know how comp. manufactures can legally advertise like that. I would've doubled the hard drive capacity to give myself a comfort factor, which now, however mildly, I lack (though I could always add another drive later:p)
 
While the 1600 & the 1800 would seem like similar machine -- they are not.

The SP 1800 has 8 DIMM slots (vs 4DIMMs in the 1.6GHz) and PCI-X (vs 3.3 V PCI in the 1.6GHz)

While you might not see a use for PCI-X, you'll probably make use of the extra 2 pair memory slots in the SP 1.8 machine.

1 memory upgrade on the SP 1.6 and you'll be tossing 2 DIMM every time you boost the memory after that.

Having 4 pairs of DIMMs in the machine IS worth $200, those are DIMMs your not going to be tossing in a drawer next time you upgrade.
 
Sun Baked--

That is a very good point--I had no idea. I'm not in the market for a PM, but knowing those differences exist more than justify the cost difference.

Best,

Bob

Waiting on the next PB update--whatever it is....
 
Re: forgot to mention

Originally posted by floatingspirit
My one and only disappointment has been the hard drive!! It's advertised as 80Gigs, but actually at least 8 of that is non-existent from the start. I don't know how comp. manufactures can legally advertise like that. I would've doubled the hard drive capacity to give myself a comfort factor, which now, however mildly, I lack (though I could always add another drive later:p)
Click to expand...

Computer manufacturers have been doing this for a long time. A gigabyte is 1024 megabytes. The computer reads the harddrive this way. Hard drive manufactuers seel their products as 1 gigabyte equall 1000 megabytes. As it adds up this can cause a rather large difference. Also Mac OSX, itself, is about 3-5 gigabytes.
 
I think its data lost in formating, HD really is 80 GB but those 8 gigs hold system databases or something.
 
For Web design and other typical office-computing tasks, a single 1.6 CPU would be fine. For music composition and recording, in my limited experience the faster a system you have, the better, and the same goes for video editing. So for me, I'd get either the single 1.8GHz or better yet the dual 1.8GHz machine.

Too bad about the timing, with all the rumors about "March 27" (or March 31, the next Tuesday).

Cheers,


Michael
 
G5? Go Dual - but which?

Simple - go DUAL chip.
To be blunt, after buying my first Dual G4 1GHz, I'd never settle for a single CPU configuration Mac, especially when I saw a quantum leap in Dual performance starting with Jaguar, which had not previously existed in 10.1 and before. OSX Panther puts duals to very efficient use, I can really see a significant difference.

G5 1.8 or 2.0? you pick, how much speed do you want or need? The price difference appears fair considering the bump in clock speed and bus, etc.

RAM? Optimum appears to be a minimum of 1.5 GB, but always - "the more the merrier". How big are your largest files? How many applications are you likely to have open at the same time?
Regardless, don't waste slots. Suggest getting 2x 1GB chips (total 2GB). This isn't even MAX per chip, since the 2GB chips are out now, but expensive. 2x 512MB or less seems almost like a waste of slots. Since you have so many memory slots in a G5 dual (high-enders still feel there should be more than 8) maxing all of them out would be very expensive. In the past, I have Maxed out all my Macs, now it's a new ball game - doing so would cost $8,000. Sort of the Tail wagging the Dog - price wise.
http://www.crucial.com/store/listmodule.asp?module=DDR+PC3200&Attrib=Package&cat=RAM

DDR PC3200 • CL=3 • Registered • ECC • 5ns • 2.6V • 256Meg x 72_
2GB $999.99 (USD)
1GB $399.99 (USD)
512MB $89.99

Or, 2 x 2GB = 4GB costs $2,000
8x 512MB = 4GB costs under $800 but you have filled all your slots, which really may not be a problem for you. Besides, you can always sell your 512 chips on eBay, 2 at a time, which could be fun when 2GB chips start to fall dramatically in price.

You can install them yourself, just carefully follow instructions. Probably buying After Market (once you get your Mac) is more cost effective.
Enjoy :D

http://www.apple.com/g5processor/
 

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Two weeks ago, I gave up and gont the 1.8 G5 from macconnection.com 1.5gig or Ram added - and after rebates the machine cots me $1699. I use it for video editing and have yet to have a problem. This thing flies and I couldn't be happier. Get the 1.8 over the 1.6- hard drive space is 80 gigs more and the PCIX and extra RAM slots make it well worh it.
 
Hey, thanks so much for all your suggestions. Yesterday I bought the
1.8 processor, and already love it after one nights use!

I wish I could afford the dual/ or to even wait for the 'next big thing' but I think i'll be very happy with this computer. ;-)

Thanks again, you're all very helpful!

-Amanda
 
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