Power Mac G5 2.5 Ghz DDR Repair and Upgrade

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Power Mac G5 2.5 Ghz DDR Repair and Upgrade

I have a Power Mac G5 2.5 Ghz DP/512MB400/160GB/SD/R9699XT/56k/PCI-X. This is an old video editing machine. I have 2 Apple Cinema Displays. Here are my concerns and issues. I have to replace the factory video card, it's shot. I am not looking to get rid of the cinema displays as they still work. I need to find a card that will allow me to use the ACD connections as well as use the dual monitor set up and what I would need to do the dual monitor set up. Now my other question to the community is what is the best thing I can do to up grade this machine to make it run at its best? The good thing is the problem with the liquid cooling system is not an issue with this machine.

As for all the other particulars on the machine, operating system not sure since I can't view anything on the monitors.

Thanks,

Jim

PowerMac, Power Mac G5 2.5 Ghz 56k/PCI-X

Posted on Sep 22, 2013 11:26 AM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

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Sep 22, 2013 2:01 PM in response to jamescrjr

Hello Jim, is this it?

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/powermac_g5/specs/powermac_g5_2.5_dp.html

Is it maxed to 8 GB of RAM?

Faster Hard Drives or even SSDs wil speed it up.

See japamacs page here on the best AGP cards for G4s & G5s...

http://www.jcsenterprises.com/Japamacs_Page/Blog/4B4B7BA2-7ABB-47F1-87AC-B03D379 42BEE.html

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Answer 2

jamescrjr Author

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Sep 22, 2013 5:53 PM in response to BDAqua

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/powermac_g5/specs/powermac_g5_2.5_dp.html

Yes, this is the system.

I believe that is only has the 512MB that it came with. As I can not view what is on the system since the factory video card is shot, I couldn't tell you if it has more, or the operating system. I did look at some of the cards, however I did read to make sure that it works with PCI-X and not PCI-Express. I was had a reply from someone that told me that made no difference since it was going in the original video card slot, is this true?

I am also looking at a hard drive addition to 1TB that is offered through Crucial, is this a wise investment?

Thank you.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

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Sep 22, 2013 6:10 PM in response to jamescrjr

I was had a reply from someone that told me that made no difference since it was going in the original video card slot, is this true?

Strange, PCIe won't work in an AGP or PCI-X slot... no idea why you got that reply?

Crucial has Hard Drives???

RAM upgrades, Pairs required in opposing slots...

http://eshop.macsales.com/MyOWC/Upgrades.cfm?sort=pop&model=208&type=Memory

As far as Hard Drives, make certain it's SATA 1.5 Gb/s compatible, some WD drives will need a jumper on pins 5 &6 to slow them down...

http://eshop.macsales.com/MyOWC/Upgrades.cfm?sort=pop&model=208&type=Internal+Dr ive

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Answer 4

jamescrjr Author

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Sep 23, 2013 9:28 AM in response to BDAqua

Crucial does carry hard drives. I believe this meets those requirements you listed above.

http://www.crucial.com/store/modelpart.aspx?model=Power%20Mac%20G5%20(Dual%202.5 GHz%20DDR)&imodule=WD10EZEX

That is good information to know about the PCI slots.

If I got to another graphics card I will need to get other monitors that will support the VGA and DVI plugs? I noticed in order to use my ACD monitors I have to purchase the adaptor that apple makes which runs a few hundred dollars. Is this correct?

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Answer 5

BDAqua

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Sep 23, 2013 10:57 AM in response to jamescrjr

Well, that is a SATA III, 6 Gb/s drive, it MAY work with a Jumper on pins 5&6.

If you get a card that doesn't have ADC port, then you will need the expensive DVI-> ADC adapters, or different Monitor(s).

Apple no longer makes or sells the adapters, but...

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/apple-dvi-to-adc-adapter

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Answer 6

jamescrjr Author

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Sep 23, 2013 12:18 PM in response to BDAqua

Excellent!

It looks like I have to replace my old Apple Cinema Displays. I was wondering if you had any opinions on this graphics cards?

ATI Radeon 9800 Pro Mac Edition Video Card

http://www.ati.com/products/radeon9800/radeon9800prome/specs.html

Thanks.

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Answer 7

BDAqua

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Sep 23, 2013 3:15 PM in response to jamescrjr

I'm not positive if a 4x AGP card works in your 8x AGP slot or not.

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Answer 8

jamescrjr Author

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Sep 24, 2013 8:48 AM in response to BDAqua

It said on the the site you referred me to earlier that you can modify an 8x AGP card to fit 4x AGP card by modifying pin #3 and #11. However I don't want to do this. So I am trying to track down the right card that is a perfect fit.

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Answer 9

MichelPM

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Sep 24, 2013 10:56 AM in response to jamescrjr

All you have to do is to tape over pins 3 and 11 with thin tape.

You do not have to do any physical damage to the card.

I have a 4X AGP card that can be used on both a G4 or G5. For use ih my G4, I used tape to completely wrap around the sides and bottom of the gold pins. You have make sure the width of tape you cut is of even width and make sure it only covers each pin it its entirety without missing covering part of the pin or overlapping any adjacent pins.

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