[alanscott]

I'm just about to get myself a new G5.

I'd pretty much decided on the 1.8 GHz single processor plus a 20-inch ADC display.

Now I've been reading this forum over the past couple of days, and many people seem to think that the 2.0 DP G5 is a substantially better performer than the 1.8 SP. The Macworld review seems to back that up. So now I'm thinking about getting that box instead, but it means giving up on the 20" Cinema display, and sticking with my 19" VGA CRT for a bit longer. The CRT is a pretty nice flat-screen monitor, and I've been happy with it, but that cinema display is soooo sexy!!

If I can't squeeze enough $$ out of my wallet for both the display and the 2.0 DP, which one makes more sense to get?

Primarily the computer is going to be for doing some hobbyist home studio recording and Mini-DV video editing. Also, I'm a software developer on the Linux platform, and I'd like to spend some time playing around with Darwin and Cocoa development, just for fun. I don't really play games at all.

I realize that this ultimately comes down to personal opinion, but I'm wondering if people who use a VGA with their G5 are generally satisfied, and how well the G5 works going the DVI -> VGA route instead of ADC.


- alan -

[Commodus]

I would say that the dual G5 is your best bet. The 20" Cinema Display is very cool indeed, but if you're going to be spending that much in one whack you want to be as happy over the long term as possible. To me, that's more likely to be happiness as it pertains to how well your system runs.

[phantomac]

No problems with DVI->VGA here on my G5 DP2GHz. Works like a charm.

The adaptor ships with the G5 by default.

[merp]

I've got a 2x2 G5 that's using the DVI->VGA adapter cable that came w/ the system, and it works just fine. Initial startup video is slow (it inits the ADC port first, but the 10.2.8 ROM update fixed that, it displays the ROM boot logo just fine now) but the system IDs the display properly and it works just fine. I've had some problems w/ older OS9 games that only render to the ADC connector, but an ADC->VGA cable can be had for under $50US. I've already ordered one so I can make use of my spare monitor and get a dual-display system (w00t)

[alanscott]

Thanks for the feedback. I think I'll go with the 2x2 and my VGA for a bit. I can always buy a monitor upgrade later, but I can't upgrade the 1.8GHz to a dual proc.

[sodamnregistered2]

Originally posted by alanscott:
Thanks for the feedback. I think I'll go with the 2x2 and my VGA for a bit. I can always buy a monitor upgrade later, but I can't upgrade the 1.8GHz to a dual proc.

I have a dual G5/2GHz, 64MB video card and a 21" Sony CRT and 19" Sony CRT. I'm pleased. Get the dual.

[Cadaver]

Originally posted by merp:
I've had some problems w/ older OS9 games that only render to the ADC connector, but an ADC->VGA cable can be had for under $50US.

While I don't doubt you've had problems with OS9 games, I suspect that the fact you are using a VGA monitor has nothing to do with it.

When there is only one monitor connected to the computer, be it ADC, DVI or VGA, the application has no control over which port to send the video through. An application cannot choose to send video only to the ADC port and not to the VGA or DVI port (again, when there is only one display connected).

Now, if you had two monitors connected, then you may in fact have issues, depending on which monitor is selected as your primary display. But this would not be the fault of using a DVI-to-VGA or ADC-to-VGA connector, but a bug in the application (i.e., doesn't handle dual monitors correctly).

[reader50]

Go with the Dual G5. Flat panels are catching on, in the long run they are only going to get cheaper. In the meantime, use the money you saved to buy a second CRT monitor.

Going dual monitors is a bit like switching to Mac: once it happens, you do not willingly go back to a single monitor. You really notice this if you do media or development work, where you want to have a bunch of windows open.

[dantley]

I agree with everyone else, get the dual. I was in a similiar situation, but ended up getting both the dual and 20" display.