[addiecool]

Hi

I have a 2nd Gen Powermac G5 Dual 2.0 with Geforce 5200fx model. I have been thinking that if I should sell it and buy a 20" intel imac. Main reasons being:

1. I am in India and the resale value of Mac here is too low. People have come to know about the intel mac and in the near future the value of a powerpc mac will go down further.
2. My main work involves DV-DVD compression, work in imovie, iphoto and FCP. Also my regular work like web, emails etc etc. Since the imac intel is dual core I thought why not.
3. I think that the x1600 ATI card is better thatn geforce 5200fx. is it???
4. I will get an upgrade to a 20" display than my current 17" one.
5. I have not added any PCI cards to the powermac. so that is not an issue

My concerns:

1. Will the imac intel be substantially slower? Though both have same clock speed.
2. Any other speed issues?

Please clarify. I am in much doubt over this.

Thanks

[euchomai]

Don't do it! Wait, I just have a feeling.

[Kerrigan]

I thought that FCP didn't even run in Rosetta?

[Chuckit]

Yeah, Rosetta doesn't support Final Cut Pro. (I'm not sure it doesn't run — they just say it isn't supported)

[goMac]

Final Cut won't run. It has threading issues on the Intels. (I haven't tried, this is what I heard).

However, according to benchmarks the Intel iMac is faster than everything except for the Dual 2.7 G5 (faster than the Dual 2.5 in two core vs. two core action, I'm sure the Dual 2.5 could easily take the iMac using software built to run with all four cores).

[Leia's Left Bun]

I wouldn't do it, it isn't worth it for the small speed increase in SOME native apps.

[mduell]

Originally Posted by addiecool

3. I think that the x1600 ATI card is better thatn geforce 5200fx. is it???

1. Will the imac intel be substantially slower? Though both have same clock speed.
2. Any other speed issues?

3. Yes, by a large margin.
1. Once the apps are native, no.
2. Some apps, like FCP, will not run today (native versions will be out in March).

[addiecool]

Thanks Guys. I think I will wait. More so because I will see how things go with the new intel macs and wait until all my required apps are native.

Also I think I will wait and go in for a intel powermac (or whatever they call it). I know I am a sucker and I will sell my imac again ones a intel powermac comes out.

So wait is better.

[Hawkeye_a]

No.

1. All software currently available and that will be available for the forseable future will be optomized for the PowerPCs. That means unfettered performance without any optomization issues.

2. Apple might claim a quantum leap in performance..... but lets face it, they always do it when releasing any software or hardware. Fact of the matter is, it is a new machine and it will be faster than the older models, but not 2X-4X faster. No computer manufacturer would do something like that cause it's not financially viable.

3. And on speed....are you willing to wait 6-18 months for universal binaries to become available for the new processor ? Lets be reasonable..... it takes developers at least a year to get familar with new technology(thats my best guess). They have been developing for the PowerPCs for about a decade now, and all that know-how will be in every application currently available and in every universal binary once they become available.

4. I work at an Apple store/center. And we(the team) are uninamous in that none of us will buy a genA Macintel. why be a guinnea pig for a total brain transplant ?

5. You have a great machine. use it to it's fullest and in a couple of years upgrade to the then well tested Macintels.

Cheers

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye_a

2. Apple might claim a quantum leap in performance..... but lets face it, they always do it when releasing any software or hardware. Fact of the matter is, it is a new machine and it will be faster than the older models, but not 2X-4X faster. No computer manufacturer would do something like that cause it's not financially viable.

It's not financially viable to release good hardware when you can?

Anyway, Apple never claimed a large increase over the Power Mac.

[Big Mac]

Originally Posted by goMac

However, according to benchmarks the Intel iMac is faster than everything except for the Dual 2.7 G5 (faster than the Dual 2.5 in two core vs. two core action, I'm sure the Dual 2.5 could easily take the iMac using software built to run with all four cores).

Uh, which benchmarks are those? Once again I'll call bullshi†.

[Hawkeye_a]

Originally Posted by Chuckit

It's not financially viable to release good hardware when you can?

Anyway, Apple never claimed a large increase over the Power Mac.

In the timeline of Apple products, it wouldntmake sence for Apple to release a computer thats acually 2X faster than it's predecessor when they could make a lot more money by releasing a machine thats a fraction faster in each increment. Not to mention that a chip and technology thats actually 2X faster than a machine currently on production lines would mena having to charge a premium for the speed, which obviously isnt the case, since both iMacs are still the same price.

I doubt the new iMacCD is as fast as the iMacG5 on encoding music, video, etc. But that will probably change with optomized software.

[production_coordinator]

I wouldn't cross-grade until your current system is simply unbearable.

That's how I roll.