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Zoom · Jun 27, 2004, 02:31 PM

Unless there's a headless G5 announced tomorrow, I'm going to order a new G5 1.8DP. I have a couple questions about it...

First, the new drives are SATA drives. I'm assuming that is NOT compatible with IDE drives, but is there an IDE bus connector still on the mobo? I've got an existing G4 with a 120GB ID drive, a drive that I'd like to transfer to the new machine. To support it, I would need to buy a PCI IDE card? If so, would that be a bootable drive?

Second, the new DDR RAM is paired RAM, right? So if the model has 4 slots and comes pre-loaded with 256MB of RAM (which is weak), that means I have two slots left open? And I'll have to buy paired sticks of RAM to upgrade it?

Finally, I noticed that the PM G5 has (according to the tech specs) "three USB 2.0 ports (one on front), two USB 1.1 ports (on keyboard)". Is that to say that there are no USB 1.1 ports on the main unit? Does it also mean that the keyboard is plugged into a USB 2.0 slot but only offers up USB 1.1 ports?

On a slightly different note, I'm thinking of upgrading the graphics card to the 9600XT. Seems like a good deal for $45. Does anyone know if this BTO option will delay the shipment significantly? I thought I read that some of these ATi cards weren't ready yet, but maybe it was the top end card.

There is also the option of buying one of the older refurb'ed 1.8DP or 2.0DP systems, which many people seem to think are better deals. I can't find the damn tech specs on these systems, though - I see no links anywhere off the "special deals" page with any details whatsoever. For instance, do these models have PCI-X? I actually don't want that. What are the SuperDrive specs for the older models? Basically, where can I find the details so I can compare them?

Detrius · Jun 27, 2004, 02:44 PM

Originally posted by Zoom:
Unless there's a headless G5 announced tomorrow, I'm going to order a new G5 1.8DP. I have a couple questions about it...

First, the new drives are SATA drives. I'm assuming that is NOT compatible with IDE drives, but is there an IDE bus connector still on the mobo? I've got an existing G4 with a 120GB ID drive, a drive that I'd like to transfer to the new machine. To support it, I would need to buy a PCI IDE card? If so, would that be a bootable drive?

There is an IDE bus connector on the MLB, but the optical drive is plugged in to it. Your good options are either a PCI card or a PATA/SATA adapter. The PCI card would be bootable.

Originally posted by Zoom:

Second, the new DDR RAM is paired RAM, right? So if the model has 4 slots and comes pre-loaded with 256MB of RAM (which is weak), that means I have two slots left open? And I'll have to buy paired sticks of RAM to upgrade it?

Yup.

Originally posted by Zoom:

Finally, I noticed that the PM G5 has (according to the tech specs) "three USB 2.0 ports (one on front), two USB 1.1 ports (on keyboard)". Is that to say that there are no USB 1.1 ports on the main unit? Does it also mean that the keyboard is plugged into a USB 2.0 slot but only offers up USB 1.1 ports?

Why would you care about USB 1.1 ports on the machine? USB 2.0 is backwards compatible. Yes, the keyboard is USB 1.1.

Originally posted by Zoom:

On a slightly different note, I'm thinking of upgrading the graphics card to the 9600XT. Seems like a good deal for $45. Does anyone know if this BTO option will delay the shipment significantly? I thought I read that some of these ATi cards weren't ready yet, but maybe it was the top end card.

Don't know.

Originally posted by Zoom:

There is also the option of buying one of the older refurb'ed 1.8DP or 2.0DP systems, which many people seem to think are better deals. I can't find the damn tech specs on these systems, though - I see no links anywhere off the "special deals" page with any details whatsoever. For instance, do these models have PCI-X? I actually don't want that. What are the SuperDrive specs for the older models? Basically, where can I find the details so I can compare them?

Check google for specs. It's a good deal because it comes with the same warranty. Of course, you should get AppleCare just in case.

galarneau · Jun 27, 2004, 02:46 PM

I use the site:

http://www.everymac.com

to look up specifications on old macs.

As for the SuperDrive specs, it's a 4x, while the new G5's are 8x

If it were me, I would upgrade the base RAM to 512 (2x256) for $75.

That's actually a decent price for RAM according to www.ramseeker.com

And I would also do as you mentioned and get the Radeon 9600XT. I mean, if it is delayed due to adding the Radeon, what's a few extra days relative to how long you'll keep the machine?

How this helps somewhat.

Kyosho88 · Jun 27, 2004, 02:55 PM

Originally posted by Zoom:
Unless there's a headless G5 announced tomorrow, I'm going to order a new G5 1.8DP. I have a couple questions about it...

First, the new drives are SATA drives. I'm assuming that is NOT compatible with IDE drives, but is there an IDE bus connector still on the mobo? I've got an existing G4 with a 120GB ID drive, a drive that I'd like to transfer to the new machine. To support it, I would need to buy a PCI IDE card? If so, would that be a bootable drive?

Second, the new DDR RAM is paired RAM, right? So if the model has 4 slots and comes pre-loaded with 256MB of RAM (which is weak), that means I have two slots left open? And I'll have to buy paired sticks of RAM to upgrade it?

Finally, I noticed that the PM G5 has (according to the tech specs) "three USB 2.0 ports (one on front), two USB 1.1 ports (on keyboard)". Is that to say that there are no USB 1.1 ports on the main unit? Does it also mean that the keyboard is plugged into a USB 2.0 slot but only offers up USB 1.1 ports?

On a slightly different note, I'm thinking of upgrading the graphics card to the 9600XT. Seems like a good deal for $45. Does anyone know if this BTO option will delay the shipment significantly? I thought I read that some of these ATi cards weren't ready yet, but maybe it was the top end card.

There is also the option of buying one of the older refurb'ed 1.8DP or 2.0DP systems, which many people seem to think are better deals. I can't find the damn tech specs on these systems, though - I see no links anywhere off the "special deals" page with any details whatsoever. For instance, do these models have PCI-X? I actually don't want that. What are the SuperDrive specs for the older models? Basically, where can I find the details so I can compare them?

I just recently bought the NEW Apple G5 Dual 1.8GHz and it's very nice. I only wish Apple included a bigger Hard Drive and more ram. The old Apple G5 Dual 2.0GHz & 1.8GHz does have a PCI-X slots on it, but the new Dual 1.8GHz doesn't have the PCI-X slots. The ram you have to pair them, so the 1.8GHz have 2 DDR128MB. I'm gonna check the prices on Corsair 2GB ram.

Cadaver · Jun 27, 2004, 06:51 PM

FYI, Apple specifically says PATA-SATA adapter devices are not supported. Most won't fit physically and many wont work anyway.

The best option for PATA drives is an external FW800 case. It'll provide more than enough bandwidth for a single PATA drive.

memory-minus · Jun 27, 2004, 07:36 PM

Originally posted by Zoom:
On a slightly different note, I'm thinking of upgrading the graphics card to the 9600XT. Seems like a good deal for $45. Does anyone know if this BTO option will delay the shipment significantly? I thought I read that some of these ATi cards weren't ready yet, but maybe it was the top end card.

The 9600 XT lead time is currently the standard CTO wait time of 5 to 7 business days. Many people in this forum have already ordered and received their Rev B G5 with 9600 XT in about that time frame. I ordered mine with the 9800 XT and got a lead time estimate of 2 to 3 weeks but they shipped after exactly 2 weeks.

In short, yes both cards are in stock and ready to be put into CTO machines.

Zoom · Jun 27, 2004, 08:17 PM

Forgive my ignorance, but what is "CTO"? I know BTO is 'built to order'. What's CTO?

reader50 · Jun 27, 2004, 09:38 PM

BTO was used for the longest time, it means Build To Order and was too easy to remember. They have since upgraded it to CTO (Configure To Order), it is harder to remember and therefore sounds more technical.

About Apple "not supporting" ATA adapters - they do not support CPU upgrades either. I suspect that they do not specifically support 3rd party RAM or HD upgrades optained from someone other than Apple, nor video card upgrades if they didn't come from Apple either. It's a standard non-statement to help you purchase more from Apple, ignore it. Try an adapter, if it fits and works, use it.

booboo · Jun 28, 2004, 04:24 AM

Definitely get the base machine BTO'd with 2x 256MB RAM sticks - 128 sticks are worthless.

Then buy another 2x 256MB (or preferably 2x 512MB) sticks from somewhere much cheaper.

Just to transfer the contents of your existing drive, either FireWire your old machine to your new one, and restart the old one on Target mode (press T at start up) or patch the bare drive into the G5's ATA socket. You'll have to remove the optical drive's connector but that's hardly a big deal.

Make sure the graphics card doesn't have a hideously whiney fan. some ATI's have been notoriously bad in the past.

DaveNinja · Jun 28, 2004, 10:55 AM

I recently got a Dual 1.8 and only upgraded to the ATI 9600. I wish i would have up graded to 512 MB of RAM and from a 80 gig HD to a 160 gig HD. I plan to buy an extra gig for ram (2x512mb for a little less than 200 from crucial) and a 250 gig SATA from newegg for 170-180 bucks.

SafariX · Jun 28, 2004, 11:29 AM

Originally posted by DaveNinja:
I recently got a Dual 1.8 and only upgraded to the ATI 9600. I wish i would have up graded to 512 MB of RAM and from a 80 gig HD to a 160 gig HD. I plan to buy an extra gig for ram (2x512mb for a little less than 200 from crucial) and a 250 gig SATA from newegg for 170-180 bucks.

How do you like your machine so far Dave?