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Who's still using a PowerMac G5

Are you still using a G5 or earlier? Which one

  • Single chip dual core 2.0GHz

    Votes: 7 8.8%

  • Single chip dual core 2.3GHz

    Votes: 8 10.0%

  • Dual chip dual core 2.5GHz

    Votes: 8 10.0%

  • Dual core 2.5GHz

    Votes: 7 8.8%

  • Dual Core 2.0GHz

    Votes: 20 25.0%

  • I would love a G5, still using G4

    Votes: 30 37.5%
  • Total voters
    80
Digital Skunk

Digital Skunk

macrumors G3
Original poster
Dec 23, 2006
8,107
959
In my imagination
I am just curious as to who may be working the life out of a Power Mac G5 on a professional basis still?

I am itching for a Mac Pro and have been saving up the cash for one for months. It may take me until next generation to get one, so we'll see.

But how many members are still crunching numbers on a G5 (or G4 for that matter) professionally or from time to time, which model are you using, when if at all will you upgrade and what to, and throw out some upgrades if you have the time.

For me:

- Late October 05 dual 2.0GHz
- 5.5 GB of RAM
- ACD 23" and 20"
- 750 GB Seagate & 1TB Seagate
- Stock GFX card
- LaCie 2Big Triple as Time Machine.

Been churning HD projects for almost 4 years and it's getting SLOW....

p.s. Missing some entries.... PICK THE ONE THAT COMES CLOSE!
 
maclover001 said:
I just bought this to use as a server: http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/sys/1122656149.html

I get it tomorrow :D:D:D:D:D:D
Click to expand...

Wow, people know how to sell used Macs in Vancouver. Most of the Craigslist ads in Maryland have over prices Macs that people are trying to get top dollar for.

The most recent atrocity I've seen is some woman trying to sell a first gen Macbook Air for $1400 and some guy that considers a quad core 2.66GHz Mac Pro "current" and wanted $2100 for it.
 
i still use my PMG5 Dual 2.5 for home and some (mostly) gaming use... even though its old
 
I still have a B&W G3 running Jag 10.2 Server (mail, DNS, light web server and router). It's been going 24/7 for well over 5 years. Mail gets cranky, and has limited spam filtering so...

...Its replacement will be a PM G4 933, running Leopard 10.5 Server. (It's sitting here, ready to go - I just need to get around to migrating.)

They run headless, so there's no graphics performance issues - the main complaint on older machines. There's still a lot of life left in many of the older models. :)
 
I used my Dual 500GHz G4 tower up until about a month ago as my main machine until it was replaced by one of the new minis; runs Leopard like a dream. I still use my 12" PowerBook G4 as my main laptop though :)
 
Im still on a Dual 1.8 G5. Can't complain its been an absolute dream to use and never really had a problem except when the graphics card died but I took the opportunity to upgrade the card to give it a bit more life.

If I had the money now I would definitely upgrade to a macpro as more and more apps are becoming Intel only (and Snow Leopard too).

I have a MacBook Rev A thats seen better days but still manages to battle on even with constant hammer from being swapped between 4 people everyday.
 
I'm still using the G5 Quad for freelance graphic design and illustration. I run CS3 with no problems and also use the machine for ripping movies for my mac mini HTPC because the four cores are still fast to me.

I have been working on an octo mac pro at work though and have to say the speed increases are starting to make my mouth water a bit for a home upgrade . . .
 
gr8tfly said:
There's still a lot of life left in many of the older models. :)
Click to expand...

This is very true. I am debating on whether to keep the G5 once I do eventually upgrade or sell it for pennies to someone that could really get some use out of it.

Having a Mac tower that holds two HDDs would be a benefit for a server and storage utility any day, so I may keep it until I find a need for it.

MultiFinder17 said:
I still use my 12" PowerBook G4 as my main laptop though :)
Click to expand...

I did too, until my HDD crapped out on it AGAIN! I replaced it the first time about 6 months ago. I had to lobotomize my G-Tech G drive mini to get the 120GB ATA drive, so now I have a need for TWO drives.

MacBoobsPro said:
Im still on a Dual 1.8 G5. Can't complain its been an absolute dream to use and never really had a problem except when the graphics card died but I took the opportunity to upgrade the card to give it a bit more life.
Click to expand...

Looked around for the ATI card that would have been a serious upgrade for my machine and can't find it for cheap. The least I've seen it go for is $350 and that's too much for a machine this old.

The only issues I have right now are Color and Motion 3. My 17" MBP smokes my G5 in regards to those, so I just turn wifi off on the lappy and run those apps there, while cutting on the tower. Though I would love to just work completely on the tower.

peskaa said:
You missed the dual CPU (but not dual core) 2.5Ghz.
Click to expand...

I have it, just had a typo. The third choice should read dual CHIP 2.5GHz

macworkerbee said:
I'I have been working on an octo mac pro at work though and have to say the speed increases are starting to make my mouth water a bit for a home upgrade . . .
Click to expand...

Same here, the quad 3.0GHz model and I have been thinking about just getting one of those for around $1500 or so. With the price of the Nehalem Quad at $2499 or $2399 with student discount, I wouldn't pay more than $1800 for a first or second gen Mac Pro.

p.s. Lot more G4 users that I expected.
 
You missed quite a few there. At least the dual 1.8, single 1.8 and single 1.6.

And you have dual core twice. The pre-2005 ones are dual CPU, not dual core.
 
Abidubi said:
You missed quite a few there. At least the dual 1.8, single 1.8 and single 1.6.

And you have dual core twice. The pre-2005 ones are dual CPU, not dual core.
Click to expand...

True, I didn't think I'd need more than 6...... I have no foresight. I would change it but I don't think you can edit the post at all.
 
UltraNEO* said:
Forget G5, i still have a G4 Cube here...:)


collecting dust, mind....
Click to expand...

I've got one too, I just have no idea what to do with the damn thing! :D I've got an ubuntu server/vmhost so I don't need it to serve up media... though maybe I could host just music on it?! The poor thing is still running Jaguar.

What plans do you have for your cube?
 
Currently using a Dual 800 Quicksilver (8 years old) as my file server/dvd rip & burn/photoshop machine, put a 3rd party wireless card and USB2 card, it's good to go :D
 
three more months ....

I am still using my maxed out G4 MDD 1,42 with the superfast Raptor SATA startup disk and my old Apple 23' Cinema display.

Three month form now I plan on switching to a G5 2,3 Dual Core since this is the fastest model using reliable air cooling and not the leaking liquid crap.
Maxing out the Ram to 16 gig and looking for the Nvidia Quadro FX4500 will be my next fun quest for this year's summer season.
Back in the day I would have paid more then 10K - now I'll get it the way I want it for around 1200 - not a bad deal for that mega-rig!!!
Since I don't really care for Intel, I' am damn sure it will be a smoking fast machine running today's Leopard!!! :D :D :D
 
AlexMaximus said:
I am still using my maxed out G4 MDD 1,42 with the superfast Raptor SATA startup disk and my old Apple 23' Cinema display.

Three month form now I plan on switching to a G5 2,3 Dual Core since this is the fastest model using reliable air cooling and not the leaking liquid crap.
Maxing out the Ram to 16 gig and looking for the Nvidia Quadro FX4500 will be my next fun quest for this year's summer season.
Back in the day I would have paid more then 10K - now I'll get it the way I want it for around 1200 - not a bad deal for that mega-rig!!!
Since I don't really care for Intel, I' am damn sure it will be a smoking fast machine running today's Leopard!!! :D :D :D
Click to expand...

I was considering going for the Quad as an upgrade for the meantime, but yes, the leaking liquid was an issue for me.
 
Rocket Raid solutions ....

A faster graphic card AND a 10K Raptor start up disk would for sure help you a lot to make your G5 faster once again!

There have been some really nice upgrade options for the G5, especially for the PCIe versions. Surprisingly ATI did make the Radeon X1900 Mac G5 Edition in 2006 for the PCIe Powermacs.

Also there are some nice Raid options available that would be nice to play around with. Have a look at those:

http://www.maxupgrades.com/istore/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=306

Rocket Raid solutions for the G5 mmhhmm yummy ....

http://eshop.macsales.com/MyOWC/Upg...ve+Controller&TI=1429&shoupgrds=Show+Upgrades

:D :D :D
 
Last year I upgraded to a used G5 dual 2.0, w/xt800 card, two internal drives, 6GB of ram, and OS Tiger.

I've since replaced one of the original drives with a WD 640 and am using that as my system/application drive. Interesting how I noticed the system speed up because of that change. The next move is to replace the second drive that I use as my scratch/file drive. Maybe a raid external system to squeeze every last ounce of speed possible for the system.

The beauty of a G5 tower is ease of replacing components, cleaning, and options of cards/2nd hard drives. The iMacs scare me because of these issues - and to go the next step up, a Mac Pro is a serious financial consideration. The best of the G5 generation are now affordable.

In repsonse to the original question regarding who is using a G5 professionally? I'm an artist using CS2/Painter for my own promo materials and consider myself to be a casual user based on the size of the files I use. However, I see that the G5 can deliver the performance and speed I need. I'm currently in the process of evaluating the Photoshop CS4 trial and am happy to see the performance feels a little faster, although Bridge seems slower.

Based on what I've exeperinced so far, I will be upgrading to CS4 since it seems on par with the performance I am having with CS2. That alone would qualify my G5 for many more years of service. I know the more graphic intensive professionals will want more power and speed - with the options of moving forward with future software upgrades. I know I'll be stuck where I am at this point, but my system will do all that I require - for the next five years at least. The only things that would change all this is new printing technology needing masssive increases in resolution, a radical change to internet technology, or that size of my files increasing to the point where the system cannot handle it.

My thought is that the G5 tower is still a relavant machine to those whose needs are not so intense. There are some good deals to be had as the last holdouts sell for the new Mac Pros. When Snow Leopard arrives prices could tumble further - although in this economy I'm noticing less and less G5 towers available compared to last year. If you have the older software, I think a G5 is still a contender. You just have to be willing to accept that the software in the future will move on without us.

Mike
 
I use my dual processor 1.8 G5 every day. It's my main computer (I dont have any intel ones), and it's still very fast for me! I would never get rid of it :D I use it for illustrator, photoshop, FCP, iPhone SDK, and just about everything else :D
 
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