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power142 · Apr 15, 2004, 09:54 AM

I'm looking for a new Mac for use as a development web server (basic web stuff and possibly QT streaming) and have been looking at used prices on older (500-800MHz) single and dual processor Power Macs. Now Apple brings the 1.25GHz eMac to the table. I don't care for the screen (it won't get used often), expandability is not in the picture (I just want it to run as a server) and only a 40GB hard disk is OK, I just want to plug it in and go. For $799....

Any thoughts?

Tx.

The Placid Casual · Apr 15, 2004, 09:58 AM

Well, for $800, I suspect you could get a decent dual off eBay... However you get no warranty etc so it is always a chance you take.

However, you have an option of multiple Hard Drives, PCI expansion, CPU expansion etc so to me, it would be a risk worth taking...

sith33 · Apr 15, 2004, 10:31 AM

Keep in mind that for web serving or running quicktime streaming server, you don't need anything nearly as powerful as either of those machines. I run an old PII-300 (PC) running linux that handles many high bitrate streaming clients simultaneously. Similarly, serving webpages really isn't too much of a hit. Many just an old used iMac? Or even a beige g3?

gururafiki · Apr 15, 2004, 02:29 PM

Originally posted by power142:
I'm looking for a new Mac for use as a development web server (basic web stuff and possibly QT streaming) and have been looking at used prices on older (500-800MHz) single and dual processor Power Macs. Now Apple brings the 1.25GHz eMac to the table. I don't care for the screen (it won't get used often), expandability is not in the picture (I just want it to run as a server) and only a 40GB hard disk is OK, I just want to plug it in and go. For $799....

Any thoughts?

Tx.

My step dad is getting an emac just for a server. He is replacing his dell wrokstation so he can use it for other things. I say get the emac, as it can handle web serving and quicktime streaming easily.

power142 · Apr 15, 2004, 03:21 PM

Thanks, folks, I'm leaning towards the eMac, for $799. I have a beige G3 (300MHz) already, which just isn't very snappy when dealing with PHP

I initially considered ZIF upgrades, but once you spend a couple of $100s on a reasonable speed upgrade, you still might as well look at the $799 eMac with 1.25GHz on tap. I'm not likely to upgrade it at all in the future, other than memory and possibly hard disk, it's just going to sit there in the corner and chew.

My only concern is long uptimes - I'm assuming you can't put the screen to sleep without the rest of the machine going to sleep? The screen is largely irrelevant, but I don't want it swallowing power and generating heat all the time. Any other concerns with long-term durability of the eMac vs an older Power Mac?

(Sorry - this should probably not be in the Power Mac forum any longer...)

redJag · Apr 15, 2004, 04:13 PM

What OS is the G3 running? A variant of linux might perform better than OS X for ya

Luca Rescigno · Apr 15, 2004, 04:59 PM

You know, you can get a refurbished 1 GHz eMac with a Combo drive, 256 MB of RAM, a 60 GB hard drive, and an Airport Extreme card for $699 refurbished from Apple. I had the same machine a while ago. The 60 GB hard drive indicates that it is an earlier revision, and it will likely boot into OS 9 (don't know if you care, but the ability is there just in case you need it). Also, if you don't need the AE card, you can sell it for a bit of money. Finally, the 60 GB hard drive included with the older eMacs was a 7200 RPM one, not a 5400 RPM drive like the 40 GB in the current low-end eMac.

Just something to consider if performance is not the #1 issue.

Lateralus · Apr 15, 2004, 06:18 PM

The $699 refurb is a bad deal when you take the updated machines into account.

And no, the 1GHz refurbs will not boot OS 9. My mother picked one up and I tried to boot it from a 9.2.2 disc. No-go.

Luca Rescigno · Apr 15, 2004, 06:43 PM

Yeah, I guess you're right. The new machines are better in *almost* every respect.

However, the reason I thought the refurb might boot OS 9 is because it has a 60 GB hard drive. As far as I know, the only eMacs that ever shipped with a 60 GB hard drive were OS 9-bootable. Still, it shouldn't matter since $699 isn't a very good deal when you take the DDR and the 25% faster clock speed into account.

power142 · Apr 16, 2004, 07:48 AM

redJag: the G3 is running Panther.

Luca/PMM: thanks for the views. I was looking at the tech specs of the new eMac and it's a Powerbook (in a different life?) in almost every way.

I think I could be overdue for a trip to an Apple store to play......

gsxrboy · Apr 16, 2004, 08:30 AM

Originally posted by power142:
My only concern is long uptimes - I'm assuming you can't put the screen to sleep without the rest of the machine going to sleep? The screen is largely irrelevant, but I don't want it swallowing power and generating heat all the time. Any other concerns with long-term durability of the eMac vs an older Power Mac?

You can set the screen to individually go to sleep in the energy control panel, leaving the rest to sleep never.