OK..so which is the most reliable PowerMac to buy?

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Level 1

15 points

OK..so which is the most reliable PowerMac to buy?

Hi all,

I'm kinda stuck here in mac no-man's land. I had a mac mini, loved it but too slow for video editing so I sold it. I like the new imac G5 but already have a nice 18 LCD...so, I was thinking maybe I'll get a powermac g5 either refurb or last generation. But then I come here and read about all the freezing issues with some of the g5's.

Is there any one particular g5 model that is a bit more "reliable" than the others. Right now I'm eyeing last generations 2.0 dual powermac.

Thanks for your advice.

Regards,

eric

Posted on Oct 22, 2005 2:12 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 22, 2005 3:17 PM in response to Eric Lopez1

I haven't had any problems with a dual 2.5 or a dual 2.7 GHz Power Mac. They're both great for video editing.

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Answer 2

MuNgEr

Level 2

285 points

Oct 22, 2005 3:53 PM in response to Eric Lopez1

Just make sure the dual 2.0 is "Revision B" on the mobo and I would say grab that one. Mine has ran 24/7 since the date they shipped the new revision:-)

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Answer 3

Oct 22, 2005 4:07 PM in response to Eric Lopez1

Eric,

I presume you know what NOT to buy: The late 2004 PowerMac 1.8GHz single processor.

My advice is: eBay and only buy one that some AppleCare time remaining.

,dave

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Answer 4

Oct 22, 2005 5:20 PM in response to Community User

Don't be deterred based on what you read here. This is like an Apple hospital. If you went to your local emergency room and never went anywhere else you would never leave your house. The vast majority of Apple owners are pleased with their computers. I have a dual 2 G5 and do some video/sound editing and couldn't be happier!

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Answer 5

ds store

Level 7

30,855 points

Oct 22, 2005 5:21 PM in response to Eric Lopez1

Eric,

The best PowerMac to buy for a longterm and lowest cost per year is the new PowerMac Quad. You get two dual cores which will become the standard issue PowerMac as everything else will be regular dual core's, all laptops, low and midrange compters. (Intels or IBMs)

Plus you get PCIe, which means you can use more than one video card.

Video editing is very CPU intensive, right up the Quads alley.

If you can't spring $3500 plus tax for a Quad and AppleCare, then look at any dual processor PowerMac G5 used. Definatly make sure you get 8 RAM slots, more RAM makes DVD burning faster. Photoshop CS2 and Tiger blazes as welll as Tiger overrides Pshops RAM limit.

The last gen Dual 2's only have 4 RAM slots as they were bumped down in favor of the dual proc. 2.3 and 2.5's.

The first gen Dual 2's have 8 RAM slots.

Of course check if you get a dual layer DVD Superdrive, not on first gen but may be on second gen.

So perhaps a dual proc 2.3 or 2.5 or 2.7 with dual layer DVD burning and 8 RAM slots would be good.

Dang, I hate progress sometimes.

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Answer 6

Eric Lopez1 Author

Level 1

15 points

Oct 23, 2005 1:08 AM in response to Eric Lopez1

Thanks all,

Lots of good advice here. I think I may be able to get a close out dual 2.0 (4gb max, I assume this is the rev B?) for 1500 with educational pricing. This is discounted from the 1999 original pricing and a new g5, not refurbished. I'll have to make some calls on Monday.

BTW, good call on the hospital analogy. I tend to get hung up on all the negativity but at the end of the day, one must realize that the positive experiences don't get posted as much as the bad ones. BUT....man that 2004 1.8 g5 sure seems like a bad seed.

Thanks again,

Eric

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Answer 7

Xao

Level 2

158 points

Oct 23, 2005 6:58 AM in response to Eric Lopez1

Erik,
Wise move on your purchase, use any extra money and getting the full 4GB.

I have the last generation 2.0 DP and this is my first Mac. I too was worried about what I was reading, mainly all the "Beeping" noises, etc...

I have not had one issue I routinely do FCE, iMovie, > 11,000 iPhoto, etc...

I did fully pop the machine to 4GB and everyone here says get the 8 slot memory stick if you do that. Well I edit (usually 1 hour) videos to burn to DVD and I have yet to really have the machine use more than 2GB of RAM at any one time. I'm talking about "Active".

For example, right now in the background I'm doing a iMovie of home video, it's an hour long. I have the following memory stats (while rending in the background....

Wired: 252.91MB
Active: 1.46GB
Inactive: 2.25GB
Used: 3.96GB
Free: 41.38MB

Seriously, unless you are a professional, 4GB is plenty now-a-days and the editing is very responsive and works great on a DP 2.0.

Also, this is my first Mac ever (since June'ish) and I can't believe it took me so long! I'm a 100% convert now. I just have to figure out how to get my wife let me convert the other 10 or so PeeCee's we have in the house to Mac. 😉

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