Can the iMac G5 handle semi-pro photo and video editing?

Hi.
I'm planning to upgrade my unbelievably faithful iMac G3 400MhZ with 640MB RAM and a 10GB hard drive. I've used this baby for the last, what? 4 years? I've run a freelance web design business on it (BBEdit, PhotoShop, Acrobat, QuickTime, iMovie, etc.), edited photos with PhotoShop 7; made simple movies with iMovie (iLife '04) that require titles, fades in and out, and some overlaid audio; done some processor-intensive QuickTime authoring; done alot of processor-intensive audio ripping and exporting, and all kinds of hammering on the little gumdrop machine.

I have a Digital Rebel XT and shoot hi-res now, a Canon miniDV camera (and plan to get two more), and plan on running iLife '05 or better, Adobe Creative Suite 3, probably Final Cut Express, and some audio software. Most of my photos stay on the computer or a FireWire drive because I'm learning photography. SOme of them will be used in print, and many of them will be used online, so there will be a lot of post-processing. Same with the movies: I'll post a lot online, so I'll be doing a lot of rendering.

By no means am I a "pro", but I want to do this kind of stuff. I'm a new photography "student" and I want a machine that surpasses my needs now, that I will grow into, and fit comfortably for a while. Will the new iMac G5 20" be able to handle that? How about running Aperture on that machine: anyone have success with that?

Please help me decide, and offer as much real world counsel as possible. I don't care about the consumer aspect of the iMac, I want to use it for my main machine.

Also, I don't have the budget or room for a desktop G5 and a 30" monitor, but I would consider saving more for the desktop and a decent monitor if theere really is an outstanding reason to go that route. I don't know for sure, but I don't t hink I'll be using al lof what the desktop G5 offers, and don't want to pay for something that I will not use.

Thanks a lot,
Scott

iMac DV, Mac OS X (10.2.x)

Posted on Dec 28, 2005 7:18 AM

20 replies

Jan 3, 2006 12:12 PM in response to edpsy

I think you are right in that 1.5GB is enough for now. When prices drop and if you need more, you can always sell that chip and buy the 2GB one.

I have about RAM from OWC and would not hesitate to do so again. I currently use Patriot, but have used PNY and Samsung in the past with no problems.

OWC has the 2GB chip for $265. That is much better than Apple or Crucial and comes with the same warrantees that the higher priced guys do.

Jan 3, 2006 12:28 PM in response to edpsy

I recently had problems with 3rd party RAM (well known vendor) and replacing it with Apple RAM seems to have solved the problem so I am a little leery of third party memory for now.

Yes, in many ways this is a very sensible approach, since the price for the <2G chips is not that much higher than regular non-discount retail anymore. You never need to worry about being told to yank the RAM when you call apple for troubleshooting, and each succeeding version of OS X is fussier about RAM than the preceeding one. If the price is not a big stumbling block, there's something to be said for doing it this way.

edpsy

Level 1

0 points

Jan 3, 2006 3:44 PM in response to Barbara Brundage

Thanks for your suggestions.

Scott Hampton Author

Level 2

273 points

Jan 3, 2006 7:11 PM in response to Scott Hampton

Hi everybody. I'm Scott, the OP (original Poster).

Been absent for a bit with the holiday season and all.

Well, I want the 20" iSight, that's for sure. Regarding RAM, I see some of you have concerns about third party stuff. I bought a gig of some "el cheapo" RAM for about 100 bucks (a few years ago). Never had a problem. I don't suggest that you do that, though...

Anyway, the responses have been enlightening to us all, I'm sure.

I guess we must have forgotten about MWSF, coming up next week. I wonder what new hardware there will be...

Oh yeah, I found this article, which adds a significant twist to the discussion. i think it may be too much for what we're involved in, but helpful (albeit a bit technical): http://www.hdforindies.com/2005/10/new-20-imac-g5-vs-dual-23-ghz-g5-for

It's from a DV authoring/advocating for independant filmmakers.

I have to upload abunch of portraits that I just finished shooting. Happy new year, all, and good computing!

Scott

Scott Hampton Author

Level 2

273 points

Jan 25, 2006 8:39 AM in response to Scott Hampton

What I learned from all of this: Yes, indeed, the iMac G5 iSight can handle semi-pro photo and video editing.

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Can the iMac G5 handle semi-pro photo and video editing?