Worth upgrading to new Powermacs?

Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware edited January 2014
Ok I know you guys hate these kind of questions but I was waiting for the next revision of the Powermacs to finally make the jump up to a dual G5 from my dual 1.42 G4. I was hoping they would get it up to a dual 3 Ghz and am not that impressed by the .2 Ghz upgrade. I want to upgrade but I am afraid of getting the dual 2.7 and then having them announce something much better this summer. I bought my dual 1.42 a few years ago in March and then they came out with the G5 that same summer and that didn't feel too good so i want to avoid that. Part of me says that the jump to a dual 2.7 from what i have is so big that it doesnt matter what Apple comes out with next cuz I should be good for a while. The other part says that I have waited this long, maybe I should wait til the next big revision.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 42
    rhumgodrhumgod Posts: 1,289member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Hisham Samawi

    Ok I know you guys hate these kind of questions but I was waiting for the next revision of the Powermacs to finally make the jump up to a dual G5 from my dual 1.42 G4. I was hoping they would get it up to a dual 3 Ghz and am not that impressed by the .2 Ghz upgrade. I want to upgrade but I am afraid of getting the dual 2.7 and then having them announce something much better this summer. I bought my dual 1.42 a few years ago in March and then they came out with the G5 that same summer and that didn't feel too good so i want to avoid that. Part of me says that the jump to a dual 2.7 from what i have is so big that it doesnt matter what Apple comes out with next cuz I should be good for a while. The other part says that I have waited this long, maybe I should wait til the next big revision.



    As always, if you NEED it, get it - you won't be disappointed in performance. If you just merely WANT it, then wait. 970mp-based Power Macs will be more impressive and may offer (finally!) PCI-Express graphics.
  • Reply 2 of 42
    ipodandimacipodandimac Posts: 3,273member
  • Reply 3 of 42
    hmurchisonhmurchison Posts: 12,419member
    Hisham



    You still have a good PM in a Duallie 1.42. I wouldn't upgrade personally to the new Macs unless the DP 1.42 wasn't addressing my pain points well enough.



    Let's say you have to wait another 6-8 months. If you can still get your work done then that's a bearable wait. You gotta think that this is the last hurrah for the current motherboard technology.



    Normally I'm not a guy that recommends waiting but it's not like you have a G3 and are just crawling along.
  • Reply 4 of 42
    onlookeronlooker Posts: 5,252member
    And Apple wonders why PowerMac sales have dropped off the face of the earth.



    Keep waiting.
  • Reply 5 of 42
    If I had the dough, I'd pick up a dual 2.0 GHz Powermac. It's got the ebus running at 1/2 CPU speed, and can hold up to 4 GB RAM (plenty for me), and the dual layer Superdrive. BTO the 9650 and bluetooth, and then just buy a GB of RAM and a second HD later. Such a machine has everything the high end Powermac does, except for 0.7 GHz. I don't do 3d rendering or video editing, so this doesn't matter to me. I BTO'd this configuration and it's under $2200. Compared to the dual 2.7, this leaves money for a bitchin' 20" Cinema Display (or maybe bigger for HD video). Actually I'd buy a non-Apple display to save money for RAM and another HD, but you get the idea.



    If you're on a dual 1.4 GHz G4 and you don't need to upgrade, then a dual 2.0 G5 will floor you. But since you own a dual 1.42 GHz G4, you obviously like to have the very bestest Powermac! If so, then wait. This recent update was just a stop-gap measure to last <6 months for when the dual core Powermacs arrive. Save up your money for the dual cores if you want the best.
  • Reply 6 of 42
    tak1108tak1108 Posts: 222member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Junkyard Dawg

    This recent update was just a stop-gap measure to last <6 months for when the dual core Powermacs arrive. Save up your money for the dual cores if you want the best.



    Keep in mind that a 6 month stop gap really means, 1 year before new powermac are released.



    If you need the power or PCI-X get it. If you can live with what you have...
  • Reply 7 of 42
    rhumgodrhumgod Posts: 1,289member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Junkyard Dawg

    If you're on a dual 1.4 GHz G4 and you don't need to upgrade, then a dual 2.0 G5 will floor you. But since you own a dual 1.42 GHz G4, you obviously like to have the very bestest Powermac! If so, then wait. This recent update was just a stop-gap measure to last <6 months for when the dual core Powermacs arrive. Save up your money for the dual cores if you want the best.



    Photoshop just loves the dual G5, if that is what you are using it for. 3D, eh...



    JYD, ya think we'll see a demo G5MP at WWDC? I know it is only 39 days away (more if you count whatever delayed this release - remember TS swore by an April 1st release date) but they usually save the pro stuff for WWDC. PowerBooks could use a MP too, but I think we all know the G5 isn't in the cards, unless there is some kind of heat-reducing majik fairy dust sprinkled on them.
  • Reply 8 of 42
    Thanks for the reply guys... I'm basically using a mac for music production so I basically just need processing speed. I'm not doing any video so I'm not too concerned with video cards and I dont think anything I have or will have any time soon will need a pci express card. My processing on my dual 1.42 is getting near maxed out. I can work just fine by increasing my latency to the max but it would be nice to get a beast that could handle lower latencies. So my situation is one where I could manage sticking with what I have but making the jump would definitely help me work better. I'm not really sure I understand what dual core and all that means and if I would benefit from it. I'm not as familiar with all the technical aspects of all this.



    One more thing, will Tiger make my dual 1.42 work faster or do you need a G5 to really appreciate it?
  • Reply 9 of 42
    rhumgodrhumgod Posts: 1,289member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Hisham Samawi

    One more thing, will Tiger make my dual 1.42 work faster or do you need a G5 to really appreciate it?



    Dear God I am still using a Dual 533 for most stuff at home. Have used G5s in a work environment and they were quite fast. Don't do music production, however, so I am clueless on that software.



    If anyone cares, Apple has (well, not advertised it yet, but...) posted the PDF specs on the new Power Macs here.
  • Reply 10 of 42
    Here is a question - are the liquid cooled Macs really a bad idea in terms of their life span, or was that just a myth?
  • Reply 11 of 42
    It depends on the audio app you are using, if you use Logic or Digital Performer on a daily basis and are making money from it then buy a 2.3 G5, load it with ram and enjoy the huge change. If you use Pro-tools, Cubase or Nuendo then I cant say how much better a G5 will be sorry (BUT Pro-Tools LE will definitely be better on a G5)

    The other option is to consider a dedicated PCI card for processing, I know TC make one. That would give you a big plugins boost at much less cost than a new Mac.

    If you don't make a living from it but can still afford it, I say, go for it now. Let face it, Dual-core PCI-E superMacs are going to be a while..... If you can't afford/justify it now, than wait for the next update and dont look back/change your mind. I am waiting, my 1.2Ghz G4 DA will have to see me through.
  • Reply 12 of 42
    Quote:

    Originally posted by the cool gut

    Here is a question - are the liquid cooled Macs really a bad idea in terms of their life span, or was that just a myth?



    Supposedly, the manufacturer of the cooling systems, Delphie IIRC, rates the systems with a two year lifespan. Pretty lame, IMO, since most Mac users I know have at least one system that's >5 years old and still going strong.



    Even worse, if the cooling system springs a leak, it could potentially damage quite a bit inside the Powermac, and even stuff outside, like carpeting. Applecare is definitely indicated for a liquid cooled Powermac.



    Unless I needed the performance, I'd stay away from liquid cooled systems, but I tend to hold on to computers for a while.
  • Reply 13 of 42
    Hmmm - yeah I think I'll stay away from them. But I saw someone post pictures of a recent dual 2.5 they bought, and the cooling system is apparantly now made by Panasonic. The unit looked much sleaker and didn't have so many parts.
  • Reply 14 of 42
    benroethigbenroethig Posts: 2,782member
    Unless you absolutley need a new machine, I'd avoid these updates. Dual core and new technology is just around the corner. Hopefully this only a half year update. If not, I think we need a word with both Apple and IBM.
  • Reply 15 of 42
    gugygugy Posts: 794member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Hisham Samawi

    Ok I know you guys hate these kind of questions but I was waiting for the next revision of the Powermacs to finally make the jump up to a dual G5 from my dual 1.42 G4. I was hoping they would get it up to a dual 3 Ghz and am not that impressed by the .2 Ghz upgrade. I want to upgrade but I am afraid of getting the dual 2.7 and then having them announce something much better this summer. I bought my dual 1.42 a few years ago in March and then they came out with the G5 that same summer and that didn't feel too good so i want to avoid that. Part of me says that the jump to a dual 2.7 from what i have is so big that it doesnt matter what Apple comes out with next cuz I should be good for a while. The other part says that I have waited this long, maybe I should wait til the next big revision.



    I am in the same boat. I need a new computer but the latest update is sad. I don't feel like paying good money for a somewhat old technology.

    I guess I'll wait until WWDC and see if they will announce a PowerBook G5 there. Then I think I'll consider my options.

    Too bad Apple, I was ready to give you all my money for a killer computer. But you failed to introduce something cool.
  • Reply 16 of 42
    dcqdcq Posts: 349member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by gugy

    I am in the same boat. I need a new computer but the latest update is sad. I don't feel like paying good money for a somewhat old technology.

    I guess I'll wait until WWDC and see if they will announce a PowerBook G5 there. Then I think I'll consider my options.

    Too bad Apple, I was ready to give you all my money for a killer computer. But you failed to introduce something cool.




    PBG5s and Dual-core PMs will be available by September.
  • Reply 17 of 42
    hmurchisonhmurchison Posts: 12,419member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by DCQ

    PBG5s and Dual-core PMs will be available by September.



    Man I hope so.



    Mmmmmm let's dream



    Dual 970MP 3GHz

    10.4.2

    1GB of RAM

    16x DL DVD Burner

    400GB hd on 3Gbps SATA connection

    Dual Gigabit(TOE) ports

    PCI-Express 16x,1x, PCI-X 133(x2) HT 2.0 PCI-Express Bridge

    ATI-X8xx 256MB 256-bit graphics

    2x FW400/FW800

    One external eSATA port

    HDMI with audio and DVI breakout adaptor

    4 Internal Bays(yeah!)



    $3499
  • Reply 18 of 42
    rickagrickag Posts: 1,626member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by DCQ

    PBG5s and Dual-core PMs will be available by September.



    Inside information or swag?
  • Reply 19 of 42
    cubistcubist Posts: 954member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by hmurchison

    Man I hope so.



    Mmmmmm let's dream



    Dual 970MP 3GHz

    ...

    $3499




    :-o Wow, most expensive Mac in years... but I agree, mostly. What's HDMI, an expensive proprietary connector like ADC or that stinker on the first PMs? I hope not.



    Anyway I've realized the way to get the best deals: Wait for a new model to come out, then buy the previous midrange model at the refurb store. Always avoid the low-end, because it's crippled, and the high-end, because it's too expensive. Right now people are getting dual-2.0's for $1600. So, I've decided I'm going to wait for the next model and then get a refurb dual 2.3.
  • Reply 20 of 42
    hmurchisonhmurchison Posts: 12,419member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by cubist

    :-o Wow, most expensive Mac in years... but I agree, mostly. What's HDMI, an expensive proprietary connector like ADC or that stinker on the first PMs? I hope not.



    Anyway I've realized the way to get the best deals: Wait for a new model to come out, then buy the previous midrange model at the refurb store. Always avoid the low-end, because it's crippled, and the high-end, because it's too expensive. Right now people are getting dual-2.0's for $1600. So, I've decided I'm going to wait for the next model and then get a refurb dual 2.3.




    Hell give me a SuperPowermac so that I know what's going to trickle down. Here's my reasoning for some of the stuff.



    Dual 970MP 3Ghz -



    Hell you got an OS that can handle it. Bring it on!! Now that QT7 is shipping reality is hitting about the processing requirements for encoding AVC. Need...more ...power.



    Dual TOE Gigabit ports-

    Overtoasty had a thread on TOE Nics. I have never heard about them before but evidently they are the next thing in performance. TOE NICs pull the processing requirements for I/O crunching from the CPU and handles it locally. I didn't think this was a big thing until I called a network vendor of ours and she said in some networks I/O transactions can consumer over a quarter of your CPU cycles!! I'd like to reclaim some of that CPU back.



    HDMI -



    HDMI is a new interface that is on any DVD player over $150 today. Why is it set to replace DVI?



    1. It handles uncompressed multichannel audio on the same cable that handles video.



    2. Longer cable lengths can be achieved without repeaters.



    3. Smaller connector. It's barely larger than a FW connection.



    HDMI is going to be on all current HDTV gear. It's due to start making inroads into PC markets. Have a DVI monitor? No problem as HDMI supports the same DVI signal meaning you simply get a HDMI-DVI cable and voila it works but you still have the advantage of longer cable lengths.



    eSATA-



    This technology is much cooler than I thought. SATA speed has doubled to 300MBps. No more 1 controller for 1 drive limitation! You can hook up a Port Multiplier to a controller and run multiple drives or the reverse run two controller to one drive. NCQ organizes the data on a hd more efficiently(Like SCSI) so multasking performance improves. That's why Apple only needs to have one eSATA port. You might see Lacie ship a Big Disk Extreme with a built in Port Multipier hooked to 4 internal drives. Yet externally the device is connected with ONE cable and the drives spin up in a sequential order to prevent strain to the power supply.



    Apple will likely have some sort of surprise in the next hardware. It seems that Hypertransport 2.0 stuff is readily available.
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