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videian28 · 01:09 PM

smalldog has the 1.42 with 512ram/4x superdrive/radeon 9000 for 2125..

mainly just going to be doing home movies on this machine

Busemann · Jul 16, 2003, 12:06 PM

Originally posted by videian28:
smalldog has the 1.42 with 512ram/4x superdrive/radeon 9000 for 2125..

mainly just going to be doing home movies on this machine

Go with the G5, if not just for the fact that its 3 times quieter

AssassyN · Jul 16, 2003, 12:06 PM

In all honesty, *IF* you can afford a G5, get a G5. The benefits are huge.

First off, MASSIVE bus-speed increase. You'll be going from a sub-200Mhz bus to a 800, 900, or 1Ghz front-side-bus depending on the G5 model. This speeds things up dramatically. Too, you have faster RAM and more RAM slots. And maybe the most important factor, the resell value will remain much higher than the value of a now outdated G4 machine.

If you can't afford the G5, that G4 will do everything you need; however I'd even opt for the 1.6Ghz over the G4 if I had the cash.

videian28 · Jul 16, 2003, 12:12 PM

any idea if you will be able to upgrade the processors in the nre g5's

is one slot left open to add another g5?

AssassyN · Jul 16, 2003, 12:20 PM

Hmm, not quite sure on that one, but I do know one thing for sure.

The 1.6Ghz G5 has a *different* motherboard than that of the 1.8Ghz G5 & Dual 2.0Ghz G5, so if you're counting on future processor upgrades, you'd need to splurge & get either the 1.8Ghz or Dual 2.0Ghz machine so you know you'd have the most probably upgradable motherboard.

videian28 · Jul 16, 2003, 12:23 PM

just called apple, neither of them do it

what a selling point that would be, I woulda gone for the 1.6 if that was an option.

the guy asked me what my price was going to be for the dual 1.42 and he said, yep, that is a REAL good price lol

I wonder what the real world speed differences would be.

AssassyN · Jul 16, 2003, 12:31 PM

Originally posted by videian28:

I wonder what the real world speed differences would be.

Large, very large I'm sure. The combination of the insane front-side-bus speed incrase, the RAM speed incrase (and holding capacity), the actual G5 architecture, the G5 Mhz increase, the 8x AGP slot, and the fact that "Panther" will toss around 64-bit datapaths like nobody business on a G5 makes the G5 a no-brainer over the G4; if you can afford it.

macnnhelpme · Jul 16, 2003, 12:34 PM

mainly just going to be doing home movies on this machine

Just a word to the wise, you absolutely don't need a dual 1.42 for this. I routinely compose and burn my son's soccer games using FCE on my dual 1ghz box (several hours worth at a time) with no problems, and before that I had a 17"iMac with iMovie and again no problems.

In fact, we still have a G3 350 with FCP2 here at work we use to record corporate message and meetings!

AssassyN · Jul 16, 2003, 12:38 PM

Originally posted by macnnhelpme:
Just a word to the wise, you absolutely don't need a dual 1.42 for this. I routinely compose and burn my son's soccer games using FCE on my dual 1ghz box (several hours worth at a time) with no problems, and before that I had a 17"iMac with iMovie and again no problems.

In fact, we still have a G3 350 with FCP2 here at work we use to record corporate message and meetings!

Totally agreed; however if resell value is of importance or if you may find yourself doing some gaming/video editing in the future, extra horsepower always comes in handy. Rule of thumb: buy the best you can afford.

Busemann · Jul 16, 2003, 12:42 PM

Also remember that as of today, you get final cut express for only $99 if you buy a G5.

videian28 · Jul 16, 2003, 12:52 PM

I have been fine with iMovie

I just like to document my kids (evidence against them later!!)

the DP G4 was the last (and best) of a looong line

I think that for some things the 1.6 G5 will be better, and on some things the DP G4 will be

no one really knows

docholiday · Jul 16, 2003, 01:06 PM

Go with the 1.8Ghz G5. It will ALWAYS be better than the 1.42 Dual G4.

Most of these points have been brought up, but here is why you should go for the G5:
faster processor, waaay better Altivec implementation (most Apple movie editing programs are optimised for it), waaay faster bus speed (the G4 bus speed is a major bottleneck), better graphics, serial ata (hdd speed advantage over G4s), quieter machine, USB 2 (many peripherals use it)

videian28 · Jul 16, 2003, 01:09 PM

should have said the 1.6 or the dual 1.42

can't afford the 1.8

AssassyN · Jul 16, 2003, 01:11 PM

Here's another bit of food for thought...do you need the machine "now"?

If not, wait until the G5's start shipping; 2-3 weeks later you'll already find refurbs. surfacing at online Mac resellers. Get yourself a 1.8Ghz refurb.

videian28 · Jul 16, 2003, 01:12 PM

yah was kinda set on NOW

just sold my 17" PB that price on the 1.42 looks to good

AU_student_iceBook · Jul 16, 2003, 01:25 PM

Originally posted by videian28:
yah was kinda set on NOW

just sold my 17" PB that price on the 1.42 looks to good

Wait for the G5. I really think you will be kicking yourself if you don't.

3.1416 · Jul 16, 2003, 02:02 PM

If you're considering a G4, I'd go with the dual 1.25s at the Apple Store. You can get a Superdrive/512/Radeon 9000 for $1625, less if you get third-party memory instead. The difference between 1.25 and 1.42 isn't worth $500.

AssassyN · Jul 16, 2003, 02:11 PM

Originally posted by 3.1416:
If you're considering a G4, I'd go with the dual 1.25s at the Apple Store. You can get a Superdrive/512/Radeon 9000 for $1625, less if you get third-party memory instead. The difference between 1.25 and 1.42 isn't worth $500.

Great point...and even better, look away from the Apple Store. Buy a Dual 1.25 from a Mac reseller to save yourself from paying sales tax. With that $500 you could easily upgrade your video card (Radeon 9800's released today), upgrade your RAM further, etc. The tests between the two machines showed the speed increase did little in performance as nothing besides the Mhz changed.

videian28 · Jul 16, 2003, 02:17 PM

saving the 9800 for my PC, sold my PB, putting 3/4 to a new mac, and the rest to upgrade my game machine

I should wait to see if how the low end g5's stack up, but itching to get a replacement mac now, considered the 1.25, but this one comes with 512 ram, 120gb drive and 4x superdrive

The Cube · Jul 16, 2003, 02:59 PM

Don't bother with the 1.6 Ghz G5. While it is still worlds better than any Powermac G4, it doesn't come with many things the 1.8 Ghz model has, notably PCI-X slots. and make sure you do NOT get stuck with the nVidia GeForce 5200 FX! It's lousy! pay the little extra money for the Radeon 9000, like u said.