[TommyLeeRoth]

If I were able to swap my Dual G4 800 for a G5 1.6 machine of similar spec with a negligible amout of money changing hands, would it be worth it?

[tooki]

I wouldn't bother. Dual processors have some substantial advantages in many situations (i.e. in keeping the machine responsive while something CPU-intensive is going on).

I'd probably just stick with the dual G4.

tooki

[typoon]

I think it would be. The G5 is a MUCH better chip than the G4. Who would do something like that and exchange a G5 for a G4 Dual 800? I know I would take the deal.

[TommyLeeRoth]

It wouldn't be a straight swap, but it'd effectively end up costing me nothing.

BTW, the subject should obviously read 1.6, not 2.6. This 12" PB needs a backlit keyboard.

[lenox]

I'd keep the dual G4, and use it to make money to buy a dual G5!

[scottiB]

It depends on what you're doing (or planning to do) with your Mac.

I, too, have a DP800 (GF3/1.5GB/3x120 drives) and have been extremely happy with it. I use FCP3, DVDSP 2.0, Cleaner, a little After Effects and Combustion--purely as a hobby. My G4 works well, but a bit slower, with these apps (since I'm rarely under a client deadline--rendering/encoding speed is not as crucial).

With Motion being announced, though--and the taxing graphics of Tiger in the future, I've begun to consider upgrading more quickly than I had planned.

In various benchmarks I've found on the web, the G5 1.6 is around 20% faster or slower than a DP 1.42 G4 in various tasks (which is probably 33% faster, conservatively, than the DP800). Ones that use dual-processors obviously perform better.

Anyway, enough about me. If I were you, I'd do it--like yesterday. With the G5 you get (in no particular order): FW800 (I have a PCI card in mine, but it doesn't support deep sleep--none do); AirPort Extreme, a faster SuperDrive, greater maximum memory potential, a much quieter machine, digital audio, a headphone jack/FW/USB on the front, better memory throughput, and a more advanced graphics card.

If I could get all that without spending any money (or very little), I'd jump all over it.

[Hydra]

I would trade the dual 800 for a single 1.6 G5 in a heartbeat. I doubt anyone anywhere could produce an app that would show the dual 800 superior at anything, unless you need VPC which won't run on a G5 yet. In general a dual system could be expected to be as fast as 80% of the combined speed of both chips but this is only in cases of dual processor aware apps, most aren't including almost all games. The G5 is a better chip all around and has a far far superior bus to the dual 800. I had a dual 800 and loved it but the single 1.6 G5 can hold it's own against a dual 1.25 and 1.42 G4 in most cases. This plus you get Firewire 800 and the more modern architecture of the G5 - I think it a no brainer.

-Jerry C.

[Lateralus]

Originally posted by tooki:
I wouldn't bother. Dual processors have some substantial advantages in many situations (i.e. in keeping the machine responsive while something CPU-intensive is going on).

I'd probably just stick with the dual G4.

tooki

Agreed.

[MindFad]

I'd trade up my dual 800 for a single 1.6 G5 in a heartbeat. If you don't take it, could you refer to the person who wants trade trade up?

[webb3201]

Yes....for a few reasons (non-technology based)

1. The G5 is likely still in warranty, at least its components are younger.
2. You could sell the G5 and purchase a dual g4 800-1ghz, pocketing the difference.

[Link]

xbench tests are single CPU tests -- NOT dual cpu tests.

Tell ya the truth they're pretty much the same. The g5 can hold a better video card and more memory though