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hardware upgrade advice for a new switcher?
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Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Sep 2008
Status:
Offline
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Hello,
I recently inherited a g5 1.8ghz workstation with os 10.4.11
This is my first mac , and Id like some suggestions as to where my upgrade dollars are best spent.
Current system stats.
1.8ghz
160 gb hd
2g ram (2x 1gig) 8 ram slots total.
OS 10.4.11
I plan on using this computer for the following things.
1. Casual use, email web etc..
2. Programming, Ruby on rails, C and some mysql. I use a combination of Xcode and Textmate. Mysql is just turned on for code testing, its not a production db.
3. The only Game I play is World of warcraft, which is moderately demenading but still based on an old engine.
4. Using VMware to run linux for code testing purposes.
5. Managing large itunes libraries (50-100gb)
6. Currently drives one 1650x1080 monitor, and I may want it to drive 2 in the future.
How should I spend my limited upgrade budget (~200)?
What video card should I get?
Will I notice a difference if I move to 4g of ram instead of 2g?
Should I move to leopard?
Any feedback and opinions would be appreciated.
-MC
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Houston, TX
Status:
Offline
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Number 4 is not going to happen on a PowerPC Mac; VMware is for Intel Macs only.
You're not going to get a PowerPC Mac compatible video card that's much better given your budget.
Blowing over half your upgrade budget on Leopard probably isn't the best use of funds.
$66 for 2x1GB RAM and $65 for 500GB hard drive would probably both be cost-effective upgrades.
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Administrator  Join Date: May 2000
Location: California
Status:
Offline
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I agree, bump the RAM and HD size for your best upgrade value. The stock video card can already drive dual monitors, though game frame rates might be affected from splitting the video RAM. Possible workaround: mirror the displays during gameplay if the dual monitors cause too much added lag.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Truckee, CA
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by mc625569 
Should I move to leopard?
-MC
Absolutely not. OS 10.4.11 is very, very stable while OS 10.5 is iffy with some apps. Especially as a switcher and on a legacy Mac platform, stick with OS 10.4.11.
I agree with Mark's hardware recommendations and I do not think you should invest any more money than that in the G5. If you need more mass storage I would go for a Firewire 800 external. Note that USB2 is very slow on Macs so do not consider USB HD connection.
-Allen Wicks
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Moderator  Join Date: May 2001
Location: Hilbert space
Status:
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Upgrading to Leopard is just fine. There have been some improvements regarding the various built-in *nix components (e. g. Ruby).
Hardware-wise, I'd upgrade the RAM to 4 GB and, if you have money left, get a second harddrive.
BTW, have you ever tried TextMate? The text editor for OS X, particularly when it comes to Ruby on Rail.
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