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kevs · Apr 26, 2004, 11:30 PM

I may be getting a new G5 soon, as just want a quick reference as to what to look out for. This is what I remember from the G4: anyway, after you have decided which model of power you want:

Hard drive. I heard it comes with one that is 7500rmp. Someone told me there are hard drives faster at 10,000. Perhaps it's a good idea to get a faster one and use it as your primary drive?

RAM - already discussed this on another thread.

Video card -- this I can't remember much about. What do you get and what should you been looking out for?

What are the other key things I've forgot. thanks!!!!!!!!!

Mac Write · Apr 26, 2004, 11:44 PM

Byte the bullet and add the bluetooth on motherboard option. since you can't upgrade that easily later. Also add the 250GB HD first since you only have 2 HD bays.

tooki · Apr 26, 2004, 11:54 PM

Since Apple doesn't offer 10,000RPM drives, if you want the extra speed they offer, then by all means get the smallest drive Apple offers and then buy the faster one as an aftermarket addition.

As for graphics cards: unless you're a gamer, the stock cards will be sufficient.

tooki

kevs · Apr 27, 2004, 01:04 PM

Any recommendations on 10000 HD? Internal or External? One school of thought says put everything external as it's easier to repair, don't have to open computer and take out. But internal has faster bus, no? works better with computer?

G5 has only two HD slots as compared to G4 which has four?

Don't know much about bluetooth or why I would need it.

olePigeon · Apr 27, 2004, 06:57 PM

Western Digital is the only company I know of that makes 10,000 RPM SATA disks. Otherwise you would have to buy SCSI. SCSI drives go up to 15,000 RPMs with MUCH faster interface and controller cards, but they're relatively expensive.

kevs · Apr 27, 2004, 10:35 PM

Isn't s scsi something from the 80's?

Is Western digital a good HD? IBM does not make the 10000? Heard iffy things about Maxtor performance. Is the 10000 much faster, is it worth it?

Todd Madson · Apr 28, 2004, 08:28 AM

Originally posted by kevs:
Isn't s scsi something from the 80's?

Is Western digital a good HD? IBM does not make the 10000? Heard iffy things about Maxtor performance. Is the 10000 much faster, is it worth it?

SCSI has been around for more than a decade but is quite fast,
certainly faster than IDE and its variants.

Audio and video editors use SCSI RAID setups for their work for
maximum speed.

I have an Adaptec SCSI card in my G4 tower for those purposes.

djohnson · Apr 28, 2004, 11:25 AM

Originally posted by kevs:
Isn't s scsi something from the 80's?

Is Western digital a good HD? IBM does not make the 10000? Heard iffy things about Maxtor performance. Is the 10000 much faster, is it worth it?

All I use are WD drives. However, 2 of the last 3 drives I have bought have had to be RMA'd... As long as you get a newer model drive, they should be ok. Of course this is with experience on the IDE drives, maybe the SATA are more reliable.

Video card: When I get my new computer after then next revision, I am getting the middle line. It costs just a hair more but is worth it IMHO.

Bluetooth: Buy since upgrading is not possible... at least not internally.

kevs · Apr 28, 2004, 01:55 PM

djohnson thanks.
hate to be ignorant, but......:

what is rma'd. ide, and sata mean?

video card, what is apples default they give and what is the middle line you refer to?

How much extra is bluetooth, and what if never go wireless?

djohnson · Apr 28, 2004, 05:45 PM

Originally posted by kevs:
djohnson thanks.
hate to be ignorant, but......:

what is rma'd. ide, and sata mean?

video card, what is apples default they give and what is the middle line you refer to?

How much extra is bluetooth, and what if never go wireless?

No problem.

RMA: This means that you have to return it and get a new one for free. Most drives come with a warranty, 3 years on the 8MB cache Western Digital drives. You should not run into this with a stock drive though.

IDE: This is how hard drives/cd or dvd drives are hooked up.

SATA: A newer faster way to connect hard drives. This is what the G5's use.

Video Card: I would get the Radeon 9600 Pro right now. Only $50 or so more.

Bluetooth: Another $50 or so more. Get it or you cant add it later.

olePigeon · Apr 28, 2004, 06:51 PM

Originally posted by kevs:
Isn't s scsi something from the 80's?

Is Western digital a good HD? IBM does not make the 10000? Heard iffy things about Maxtor performance. Is the 10000 much faster, is it worth it?

Both SCSI and ATA are from the 80s. ATA was made as a cheap, consumer level interface. They're not as fast as SCSI, but they're really cheap. SCSI is the more expensive interface. They're faster than SATA, but expensive.

I wouldn't bother with SCSI unless you have a lot of money to spend. I would suggest sticking with a 10,000 RPM SATA drive.

kevs · Apr 28, 2004, 07:36 PM

Now this is a little off topic, but has to do with the G5.

With both my Epson printers 1280 & 2200, It's been a nightmare printing in OSX. they just have not gotten it down driver wise. I finally sovled this problem completely, and happily, by (annoyingly) booting into OS9. But G5's don't allow this. And this solution does not work well in Classic.

Anyone have opinions advice on this? It almost make me want to stay with G4.

olePigeon · Apr 28, 2004, 08:15 PM

We're using Epson 2200s at my work and haven't had any major problems. Make sure you download the absolute latest drivers. OS X's built in might not work.

The other thing you can do is try using the Gimp Printer Drivers. It's a generic universal driver that might work.

kevs · Apr 29, 2004, 01:06 PM

I may try the Gimp, but I find it a bit complex and the users group has hardly any members to help.

theiliad · Apr 30, 2004, 11:31 AM

For 10000 rpm I would def go for the WD Raptor

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=122429&cks=SER

As for people who say ge the 250Gb first day, they are wrong!!!!!
Apple charge you $125 for the upgrade, you can buy a New 250 Maxtor for that, leaving you with 160 + 250 for the same price!!!

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=119035&cks=PRL

( I'd do the same with the superDrive, if you are confidant you can replace the drive apple charge you $250 extra for the DVD burner when you can get a faster one for about $150)

http://www.lge.com/catalog/prodmodel...&model=NOTHING

Awesome drive, you'll need PatchBurn 2 ( get it at XLR8yourmac.com)

I know most of the above is a european store but I'm sure that you can get the stuff for the same if not cheaper in the US