[LithiumPro]

I been lurking here for years and am now in need of some advice....

Which G5 should I purchase.

I am a Graphic designer, and work on a G5 1.6 at work. My system at home is a B/W G3 400. I love the 1.6 and had planned on buying one - until the rumors came about and now I have the option of the dual 1.8.

I am a casual gamer, nothing too hard core - but want to be able to play the new games as they come out.

My main programs I usedaily are Photoshop, Illustrator, Quark, Flash, and Indesign.

I have around $2500 in my budget, and can squeak some more out if needed.

Should I go with a 1.6 and get the ATI 9600 upgrade and load it with RAM or go with the Dual 1,8 and the ATI 9600 and less RAM? (upgrading the RAM down the line)

And one other question, will they upgrade the video card at an Apple store?

Thanks for the advice guys and gals - I appreciate it in advance!

[Spliffdaddy]

dual 1.8 and less RAM

I think the dual models will retain their value much longer than the singles. Probably a better, um, investment to buy the dual 1.8. If you can use the word 'investment' to describe a computer purchase. Then again, Macs seem to hold their value quite well when compared to any peecee.

[LithiumPro]

Another option is to Buy the 1.6 and get myself a new Apple Monitor. (Since I still have the horrid Big Blue 17")

[Arkham_c]

I'd get the dual 1.8. It will last you much longer than a single 1.6. It's got more RAM slots, it's faster, and it will keep up better under a heavy load (e.g. doing many things at once).

[bil207]

MacMall has the single processor 1.8GHz G5 for $2094.00 which is only $100.00 more than the 1.6 GHz was yesterday.

[3.1416]

At this point I'd say anybody looking at getting a G5 should get the dual 1.8, unless you're a high-end user that can use every bit of speed, in which case go for the 2.0. The 1.6 G5 is still crippled, and if that's the most you can afford I'd consider the dual G4 which will provide equal or better performance in most cases.

[osiris]

I'd go with the dual 1.8, and buy the memory elsewhere.
You'll love having two processors, especially with Photoshop.

[LithiumPro]

Thanks for the comments.

I had some one at work trying to convince me that I would ever need the power of a dual processor MAC - that the 1.6 would be plenty for me and the desktop publishing and web work that I do...

I just need to hear other opinions - I get so confused when it's time to make big purchases....

[Eug]

Dual 1.8, no question. RAM is cheap.

Or else single 1.8.

[willab]

If you are happy with a 1.6 then you might consider a single 1.8 from macwarehouse for 2100. I want the dual 1.8.

[LithiumPro]

My 1.6 here at work screams (upgraded from a G4 400) - I have had no slow downs at all.

But I keep hearing the word "Crippled" assiated with the 1.6 so that kinda bugs me.

[sodamnregistered2]

dual G5 1.8

The single 1.8 made no sense, and now as a dual, it's the hot ticket. I just bought a dual 2GHz. I would buy the dual 1.8GHz if I had to make that choice today.