Better LCS for a G5 Quad dual or single pump?

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Better LCS for a G5 Quad dual or single pump?

Hi Everyone,

I have read multiple threads on various sites with no real conclusion. I am looking at getting a G5 Quad, and I have the choice of a late July 2006 model with a single pump or one with a dual pump. I'm not sure of the exact manufacture date, but they are both in July of that year. For long term use with the least chance of failure which unit should I choice. Other than the pump choice both units are in similar shape and configured exactly alike. And yes I do need a PPC unit so a MacPro just won't do. Sorry to bring up a point that has come up before, but I haven't seen any real resolution.

Thanks,

-Heather

PowerMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8), G5 Quad 2006 late July

Posted on Feb 15, 2012 8:56 PM

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Answer 1

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Ramón G Castañeda

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Feb 15, 2012 10:32 PM in response to wiivault

There have been several terrific threads about this recently. It pays to do a forum search and read them.

The consensus is that the LCS is much better in the late G5 Quads than in the single or dual core G5s. Neither the single pump nor the dual-pump system in the G5 Quads is a better predictor of failure per se.

Yes, there's a risk of eventual failure as the machines get older, but not based on the single vs. dual pump issue.

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Answer 2

Feb 15, 2012 10:35 PM in response to wiivault

Incidentally, it's interesting that both styles of Liquid Cooling Systems should have been used in the manufacture during the last few weeks of production of the G5 Quads—if the information presented to you is accurate.

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Answer 3

wiivault Author

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Feb 16, 2012 2:24 PM in response to Ramón G Castañeda

Hi Ramon,

Thanks for the response. I did actually read the handfull of threads including the one by yourself, but didn't see a final conclusion. It sounds like based on what you say that the consensus is either one is fine in these late model Quad G5s. I decided to go with the dual-pump unit (as IDed in Hardware Monitor) because it had a slightly better shape case.

For the curious this model was made in the 30th week of 2006 ( the second to last week of July) according to appleserialnumberinfo. So I guess you are right that they still used the dual pumps up to the end of production of the Quads.

Thanks again for the Ramon for the speedy response, and putting my mind at ease.

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Answer 4

Feb 16, 2012 5:43 PM in response to wiivault

Congratulations, Heather! I'm confident you're going to love your new machine.

As you read in those threads, there was an erroneous conception that the dual pumps might represent a higher risk, but extensive, later research showed that to be totally false.

What was happening was that some folks were comparing early DP G5s with dual pumps to G5s with single pumps, hence the confusion. There were two early models of DP G5s (one of them being the 2.7 GHz, which has the worst record) but the late-model G5 Quads have a pretty good record, not different than that of the non-liquid-cooled Power Macs.

I continue to be absolutely delighted with my G5 Quad. I'd encourage you to max it out with RAM and equip it with a powerful video card. I did so with mine and,—together with little things to help performance along (like proper font management, a totally clean, uncluttered desktop, disabling Spootblight and Dashboard, etc)—the G5 Quad runs competitively or faster than some Mac Pros I've compared it with.

Strangely, the case seems to be more prone to be damaged than its looks would lead one to believe. I had to replace the case on mine after UPS did this to the original case:

😝

😝😝

Fortunately, the case absorbed all the damage and the guts of the machine came trough unscathed.

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