[Aykew]

I've got a dilemma to ponder. I think 1.8Ghz is going to be my magic number, but which configuration to get? Within the constrains of my budget, I can do either of the following (they are the same price +/- $3):

Configuration 1:
New 1.8GHz G5 (Low end motherboard, no PCI-X, 4 RAM slots)
2.0GB RAM (4x512MB, with stock 256mb left over)
450GB HD (Western Digital 160GB + 250GB, stock 80GB left over)

Configuration 2:
Old 1.8GHz G5 (High end motherboard with PCI-X and 8 RAM slots)
2.5GB RAM (4x512MB + stock 512MB)
360 HD (Western Digital 200GB + stock 160GB)

I don't think I'll add more ram before I get my next upgrade after this, and I can't see myself needing PCI-X. I wouldn't mind the extra HD space, though. My big question is this: Configured identically, will the new 1.8 perform as well as the old 1.8 given it's new, cheaper design? The other question is if I'll miss the extra 512MB in config 2. (I routinely have Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Illustrator, Internet Explorer, Safari, some variant of mozilla, iTunes, Word, and Mail open at the same time)

I hope to run some of my own benchmarks soon when the Tigard Apple Store gets their floor models in, but any speculation/insight/advice would be very much appreciated.

[chrisford]

Hi Aykew -

I'd probably go with option 2 (the older configuration), for two main reasons:

* You can probably pick up a refurb a little cheaper now that new models are out and
* Altho' you may not be considering upgrading RAM at this stage as prices fall (as they invariably do!) it's nice to have the option to bung some more in. I did just this with my dual 450 - I thought at the time that 768 meg would do me for ages. Then prices fell and an extra 512 was too good to pass on!

Good luck with your purchase anyway!

c