[k_shehadeh]

It may be too early in the lifetime of the G5 to answer this question, but I was wondering if anyone knew whether or not it's possible to upgrade a G5 1.6 to one of the higher speed models - or even add another processor. Maybe go from a 1.6 to a dual 2.0 Ghz. I ask because I'm considering buying my first Mac and want to make sure that if I drop 2 grand on a computer that I'll at least have some semblance of an upgrade path in the future. I apologize if this topic has been covered earlier (I haven't been able to find it. If it has please send a link)

Thanks,

[-Q-]

At this point, I think it's too early to tell what may happen. I don't think I've come across any detailed discussion about if there will ever be processor upgrades for the G5 models.

[Cadaver]

I can tell you that there is no way to add a second processor to the 1.6GHz model. The connectors and glue circuits are missing from the motherboard.

[sodamnregistered2]

Apple seems to have killed the upgrade market. Upgraded computers kill new sales and Apple is all about new sales.

[Eriamjh]

Every new Apple design gives way to the "no upgrade" sadists. About 18 months later, an upgrade comes out using some clever-but-semi-obvious method to get one working.

Remember the "upgrade-disabled through firmware" G3s? Or the boot-rom on the processor card non-upgradeable models? Or the L2 cache upgrade for nubus macs?

The question is always is it worth it to upgrade.

While it does seem that a G5 upgrade for older G4s is out of the question because of the memory bandwidth issue (it's like putting a 15,000RPM Ultra160 SCSI HD on a SCSI-2 bus), hopefully, even faster G4s will help keep those machines kicking.

It IS too early to talk about upgrades. Perhaps there is info on XLR8YOURmac.com on putting a 1.8GHz G5 into a 1.6? Perhaps, when faster G5s are actually available, it will be possible. For now, it is too early. Wait for the speed bump.

[i_wolf]

I would imagine that eventually there willl be processor upgrades for the G5. Thing is at the moment they are so new, it will be a while before we will see any. Probably from powerlogix. If i were you however i would go with a G5 with a dual motherboard... either dual 1.8's or dual 2.0's.

[k_shehadeh]

Thank you for all the comments and suggestions. I think I *will* probably get a dual G5 since it does seem to have at least more upgrade potential than the single processor G5.

[sodamnregistered2]

Originally posted by Eriamjh:
Every new Apple design gives way to the "no upgrade" sadists. About 18 months later, an upgrade comes out using some clever-but-semi-obvious method to get one working.

I'm just basing my comments on the fact that the G4 upgrades NEVER seemed like a good value proposition. Sure, it was possible, just not worth it.

I put a G3/400 in my 9500/132. That was a good move at the time. The G4 upgrades always seemed too expensive and not very timely.

[Eriamjh]

Originally posted by sodamnregistered2:
I'm just basing my comments on the fact that the G4 upgrades NEVER seemed like a good value proposition. Sure, it was possible, just not worth it.

Actually, I rationalized my first upgrade about 4 months ago.

The wife had a Sawtooth G4 400 with about 800MB ram, airport, GF2MX twinview (from my DP800 QS) running a 19" CRT and we were thinking of getting her an iMac. The new 17" iMac was at 1GHz, cost $1800, $100 more for airport extreme card, and who knows how much more for ram. Instead of a new iMac that would have cost $2000 or more, we spent about $500, put a 1.2GHz GigaDesigns CPU in and dropped in a 120GB HD.

I think the performance difference is nill. We could have bought her a base PowerMac for about the same, but she just didn't need a powermac (she's not really a pro user, just a pro-spender ).

So the moral is if you are moving from PowerMac to iMac, just upgrade the PM.