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psk-ele · Dec 20, 2004, 12:58 PM

Hey all!!

I am a junior electrical engineering student at the University of Dayton. I am currently selling my 12" PB to buy a new iMac G5. I love my powerbook, but the screen size is just too small for the applications I run, and I need a little more power than this portable has. The programs I need to run are Matlab (release 14), Virtual PC (so I can run PSPice and the like), and any other engineering program that comes up on my classes.

I was wondering if any of you could help me decide between the two 17" models. I don't really need a superdrive (as I have only used mine twice and that was to burn an iMovie for two other people). I don't want to short change myself since this has to last a few more years (hopefully through grad school).

I am hoping to net $1500 from the sale of my powerbook and some extras. While I am eligible for an EDU discount from Apple, I have already used my apple loan once. Which means the next round of purchases will have usage fee that pretty much negates the EDU discount. I can get a small discount from a local Mac retailer that amounts to the cost of tax (which means the cost off the apple online store and the Mac reseller are pretty much the same).

So if you can give me an idea of which model would be better and which options I need to really have I would appreciate it greatly. The only thing I can think of is more RAM ( I hear the iMac G5 works up to 20% faster with a matched set of ram modules). Do I need bluetooth (is it just as easy to use a USB dongle?) Is the ram any different since the iMac has a 64-bit proc??

I guess the crux of the argument is 1.6 or 1.8 GHz, 533MHz bus or 600 MHz bus.

Thanks for your help, I know you have probably seen this thread a hundred times already.

mrgreen4242 · Dec 20, 2004, 02:47 PM

Originally posted by psk-ele:
Hey all!!

I am a junior electrical engineering student at the University of Dayton. I am currently selling my 12" PB to buy a new iMac G5. I love my powerbook, but the screen size is just too small for the applications I run, and I need a little more power than this portable has. The programs I need to run are Matlab (release 14), Virtual PC (so I can run PSPice and the like), and any other engineering program that comes up on my classes.

I was wondering if any of you could help me decide between the two 17" models. I don't really need a superdrive (as I have only used mine twice and that was to burn an iMovie for two other people). I don't want to short change myself since this has to last a few more years (hopefully through grad school).

I am hoping to net $1500 from the sale of my powerbook and some extras. While I am eligible for an EDU discount from Apple, I have already used my apple loan once. Which means the next round of purchases will have usage fee that pretty much negates the EDU discount. I can get a small discount from a local Mac retailer that amounts to the cost of tax (which means the cost off the apple online store and the Mac reseller are pretty much the same).

So if you can give me an idea of which model would be better and which options I need to really have I would appreciate it greatly. The only thing I can think of is more RAM ( I hear the iMac G5 works up to 20% faster with a matched set of ram modules). Do I need bluetooth (is it just as easy to use a USB dongle?) Is the ram any different since the iMac has a 64-bit proc??

I guess the crux of the argument is 1.6 or 1.8 GHz, 533MHz bus or 600 MHz bus.

Thanks for your help, I know you have probably seen this thread a hundred times already.

I can't help you with any personal evidence or results, but from the benchmarks I have seem the matched RAM module speed improvement is a little bit suspect. More RAM is always good, but it looks like the real world performace gain is nil. You can see the benchmarks at http://www.barefeats.com/imacg5d.html ... they show a huge increase in speed for the memory tests, but then no improvement for any CPU or graphics related tests. They do some real work comparisons as well, and it kinda debunked the idea, in my opinion anyways. I would just get as much as you can afford and not overly worry about matching them.

The 1.8ghz is about 15% faster than the 1.6, from looking at the Xbench averages. If you need extra raw power (good for VPC and whatnot) that may be enough for you to decide.

Anyhow, the way I picked my iMac was like you, took my budget, and then figured out the extras that I either needed or REALLY wanted (;-)) and then checked to see how much left over there was for the computer. If you think you are going to get any bluetooth devices, get the internal adaptor now, you won't spend much extra on it compared to a USB dongle, and it'll look better, etc.

Also, look at the refurb store on Apple's site. The iMac refurbs are $200 off, as opposed to the $100 for edu discount. That may be enough to get you into a 1.8ghz.

Good Luck,
Rob

psk-ele · Dec 20, 2004, 02:49 PM

Thanks Rob that helps me out a bunch!

Cheers,
Paul

vsurfer · Dec 20, 2004, 10:02 PM

I went by budget and am not disappointed. Though I imagine you'll want extra RAM.

Just bought an iMac G5 1.6 with a mere 256 MB RAM and it is plenty of machine for the kids and home. I do all the heavy lifting on the TiBook with 1 GB RAM for now but that may change - the G5 is such a delight!

The screen feels astonishingly big for a 17 inch -- feels more like a 19 inch, compared to the 17 inch I have at work.

Crusoe · Dec 21, 2004, 01:42 AM

Best review of a 20" I've seen, similar to what you'd get with the 17" 1.8 though it shows the extra space keeps the system a bit cooler and hence performs a bit better.

http://www.sudhian.com/showdocs.cfm?aid=632

I would go with the 1.8.

piot · Dec 21, 2004, 06:51 AM

Get the 1.8!

I got the whole Bluetooth set-up and personally, I'm not crazy about it. The Apple mouse is a bit heavy going and it still seems odd stopping now and then to switch out batteries.

You can buy a couple of 512 memory sticks for $160.00 from Crucial and (maybe) sell the original 256.

If you can steal some money ..... the 20 inch is loverly!

Randman · Dec 21, 2004, 07:04 AM

Get the 1.8 as you may not need the extra punch now, but you might in the future. It'll also have slighty better resale value if you do decide to trade at some time.
Get as much ram as you can afford. I'd say 1.25GB is the minimum that you'll need.
Bluetooth is nice and more and more things are bt-enabed (such as phones). A dongle is all right but it will have to stick out of the back of the iMac, which defeats some of the space-saving beauty of the iMac.

And remember, don't get what you need now. Get what you might need, at minimum, for a year+ now the road.

psk-ele · Dec 21, 2004, 03:21 PM

Thank you all for the replies. They have helped out immensely. I am just waiting on my powerbook to sell.

Thanks again!!!

MrKlin · Dec 22, 2004, 12:50 AM

Originally posted by Crusoe:
Best review of a 20" I've seen, similar to what you'd get with the 17" 1.8 though it shows the extra space keeps the system a bit cooler and hence performs a bit better.

http://www.sudhian.com/showdocs.cfm?aid=632

I would go with the 1.8.

I agree that it was a good review. The author (PEHowland) is (was) an active participant on Macnn too.