[ou_bobcat]

I have narrowed down my choices to these two. My question is does Panther utilize both processors? Well I know it does but will it be noticable. I do not run intensive programs that are DP aware, but I do run many apps at once. The price difference is not a whole lot. Will the dual make a noticible difference while multi-tasking?

Thanks.

[Luca Rescigno]

The dual 800 should be noticeably faster in Panther, especially when running multiple demanding applications at once. OS X and most of Apple's applications will take advantage of both processors, and the OS does a good job of distributing the workload over both processors so you always have a little available power to complete the task at hand.

[Cadaver]

Do not even for a second consider the single 867MHz G4 over the dual 800MHz G4.
The dual processor machine is far superior in every way.
Panther will use both processors for multitasking, and many apps are even coded specifically for two processor for even more performance. If you use strictly a single (non-dual processor aware) app at a time, you probably will notice little benefit to a dual processor machine. However, once that second (and third, and forth) app open, you'll notice how the machine doesn't pause/hesitate like it would on a single processor machine.
Once you use OS X on a dual processor machine, you'll never again want a single processor machine.
Also, just of note - when those machines were released, the Single 867MHz machine was the mid-range machine. Something around $2000 or so. The dual 800MHz machine was the high-end and was over $3200 for the base machine alone (I know... I used to have one).

[Eriamjh]

Dual 800. But a Single 1.4GHz might be faster for other things...

[Hydra]

Also did the 867 come with a superdrive like the dual 800 did? I had a dual 800 and if not for my dual 2.0 G5 - I would still be using it. Get the dual 800 for sure, you will have a much tougher time bringing the dual 800 to it's knees than the single 867. I would pick the dual 800 over any single up to about 1Ghz w/o a second thought. The only downside is that once you go dual you will never want one measly cpu again

-Jerry C.

[ou_bobcat]

Sounds like the problem is solved. Now I need to find a little bit more cash. I have barely enough for the computer, and it only comes with 128MB of ram. So I think I may hold off and try to catch a deal on ebay. The one I was looking at from a store was $1079.00 seems like a bit much, or is it?

[djohnson]

I think it is a bit much, especially with only 128MB ram... You need at least 512 to be cool, err I mean productive!

[Lateralus]

$1079 doesn't seem good or bad for a Dual 800. Just seems average.

[ou_bobcat]

Now they have PM 1.25's referbs for 1099, but no superdrive. Decisions. Decisions.

[Link]

The 1.25 is a nice machine, it won't have the wear the dual 800 did.

Having said that the dual g4s are extremely powerful machines and I wouldn't buy a g4 powermac unless it was in a dual config.

In the end SMP is extremely handy, since OS X first came out it's made a noticable difference in just about anything from games to simple SMP enabled apps.

A dual 800 can be roughly as powerful as a single 1.2-1.5 machine (yeah it's an extreme to say 1.5 I think) but they are much much faster than single 800s

Then again the machines also run very hot and sound like hairdryers on medium or low.