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donny31 · Apr 30, 2003, 10:09 PM

Im ready to add a Powermac to my house and was curious if you all saw a huge speed difference between the PM 1ghz and the PM 1.2 dual. Or could I just max the ram out with a 1 ghz? I do a little home movie editing and work with photos every now and then. what do you think?

MindFad · Apr 30, 2003, 10:37 PM

Definitely dual if you have the money. No question. It will last longer, and you will see a difference. Nothing like rendering movies, burning CDs, listening to iTunes, sending mail, and browsing the web without a hitch.

Or you could hold out for a 970.

Whenever the hell that is. Others can offer you better details than I can.

normyzo · Apr 30, 2003, 11:19 PM

The best part about a dual is the fact that you _always_ have a responsive system. For example, one process using 100% of the CPU usually does not (unless its heavily multi-threaded like Photoshop) use 100% of the other CPU. So you always have some CPU power to spare, allowing you to surf the web and do email and whatnot _at the same time_ as something else intensive is going on. That's been the biggest benefit for me, and I'm only on a Dual 450. Its almost like having another computer for free.

SSharon · May 1, 2003, 01:19 AM

I agree, dual is the way to go, I love my MDD DP 1ghz and even for a college student it was well worth the money I spent on it.

Kenneth · May 1, 2003, 01:39 AM

I agree.. I'm very happy with my DP 1.25 FW800. I can run SETI@home GUI in the dock and ripping CD, browsing, DVD playback, u name it without any slowdown.

This is my first dual processors machine anyway.

bradoesch · May 2, 2003, 12:22 PM

For what you do with your computer, I wouldn't recommend shelling out extra crash for a dual processor system. I assume "home movie editing" means iMovie and not FCP, so the second processor isn't much help there (or is iMovie DP aware?) If you really want to multitask, then a dual would be better, but what you're wanting to do, it seems like a waste of money. BUT, if in the future you think may want a dual machine, buy one now.

chrisutley · May 3, 2003, 02:22 AM

I wonder what Apple will do when the 970 is ready to go. I think the dualies are Apple's way of compensating for the difference between PC processors and Macs. As a result, my guess is the entry level and mid-range PowerMacs will be single processor machines and the top of the line MIGHT be dual.

As soon as the low end PM hit 1GHz, oops ... there went a processor. In my opinion, a sign of things to come. I hope not because dual processor computing is where it's at! I'm will to pay for it too, but Apple has to make it an option.

dfiler · May 3, 2003, 08:50 AM

Definitely get a dual processor box. I'd even recommend a previous generation dual over a currently manufactured single processor Mac.

With OS X, the second processor is seldom left idle. In OS9, the second processor was unused much of the time but this is no longer the case. Some programs will max out a single processor with tasks like video filtering. In this situation, the dual machine won't be roughly twice as quick, but the computer will still be perfectly usable for other tasks with no drop in responsiveness.

I'm streaming the BBC and burning a disc in the background. As soon as it finishes, I'm out the door and off to the car parts store. Yet, while waiting, I can still use my computer without even realizing its busy in the background. Its a dual 450. While its about the speed of a single 733, its way faster than a single 450. Its a damn good thing I didn't buy the single processor version!