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EveningSky · May 5, 2005, 10:53 AM

Dear Forum Readers,
I am trying to decide a purchase decision.
With academic discount, approximately a $400 difference in price for baseline models of two PMs listed above.
Which one would you buy and why?
Signed, ES, the perplexed.

powertrippin · May 5, 2005, 11:11 AM

old one. You're not going to notice the 300mhz difference, and even if you are it's not worth $400, especially when it comes time to sell it.

EveningSky · May 5, 2005, 11:53 AM

I tend to agree. Is that the only substantial difference, or has Apple made component/code/intergration upgrades and changes between the old line and new line of dp PMs. Does anybody know?
Yours, ES

RevEvs · May 5, 2005, 12:32 PM

I have a dual 2ghz, it absolutely flies. save the �� and use it to buy memory or hard drives or an ipod

BZ · May 5, 2005, 12:41 PM

You are going to miss out on 300Mhz (2 x 300Mhz really), options for BT 2.0 and the new DVD drive at 16X.

BZ

EveningSky · May 5, 2005, 12:55 PM

BZ, is there a dp 300MHz chip and BT2.0 in the new computers? Yours, ES

powertrippin · May 5, 2005, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by BZ

You are going to miss out on 300Mhz (2 x 300Mhz really), options for BT 2.0 and the new DVD drive at 16X.

BZ

For $400 he could get a new superdrive, sell the old one, and get a hooker.

tobyg · May 5, 2005, 01:10 PM

One other thing to note is the video card. New dual 2.3 will come with a better video card than the old dual 2.0. New dual 2.3 has a ATI 9600, old Dual 2.0 has a Nvidia 5200.

Agent69 · May 5, 2005, 01:20 PM

What's funny is that the Apple Deals page lists the old dual 2.0ghz model as having three PCI slots. I thought it had 3 PCIx slots?

AssassyN · May 5, 2005, 01:21 PM

^ With $400 he could 'bout buy the top of the line graphics card for the Dual 2.

I say get the old one...if you're strapped hardcore for cash you ain't worried about a few minor differences anyway. The new one is the smallest upgrade in PowerMac *history* (Seriously). Get the Dual 2.0

tobyg · May 5, 2005, 01:23 PM

Oh I completely agree, get the old dual 2. I was told both the dual 2.3 and 2.7 have the liquid cooling... and not that I'm saying anything will go wrong with those units in the future, no liquid is always going to be safer than having some sort of liquid in your system!

Kristoff · May 5, 2005, 02:12 PM

get the dual 2.0 and use the rest to buy a X800

BZ · May 5, 2005, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by tobyg

Oh I completely agree, get the old dual 2. I was told both the dual 2.3 and 2.7 have the liquid cooling... and not that I'm saying anything will go wrong with those units in the future, no liquid is always going to be safer than having some sort of liquid in your system!

The new 2.3 is not liquid cooled, only the new 2.7 (and old 2.5) that is partly why I got it.

Yes, the new 2.3 has BT as a BTO, but now that they are not shipping it to till the 12th, I was thinking of just picking up a standard 2.3 from Apple store and having them throw in Airport Extreme. I have a BT dongle.

BZ

tobyg · May 5, 2005, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by BZ

The new 2.3 is not liquid cooled, only the new 2.7 (and old 2.5) that is partly why I got it.

Ok well then strike that up as another wrong answer from the apple "genius" at the apple store. I swear, why do they call them geniuses? Every question I asked he either didn't know the answer, gave me the wrong answer, or had to ask someone else. Or are the general sales people there not considered one of the geniuses? Ok sorry, getting off topic.

The only reason I may stray away form the dual 2.0 is because Apple themselves lists the dual 2.0 as the minimum spec required for HD quality h.264 content posted at http://www.apple.com/quicktime/hdgal...endations.html . Makes me wonder if my Dual 1.8 rig will be able to handle it!

powertrippin · May 5, 2005, 03:48 PM

My dual 1.33ghz g4 plays that stuff just fine. :|

EveningSky · May 5, 2005, 04:11 PM

As far as I can tell, have have NOT heard many reasons to pay the additional $ for the new dp 2.3 GHz (over the older dp 2.0 GHz)!
Are there any significant internal changes not mentioned in the usual consumer oriented info?
Thank you for all of the responses.
Yours, ES

BZ · May 5, 2005, 04:40 PM

Again, if you don't want the extra 2 x 300Mhz, BT 2.0 or DVD 16X and you want to save some cash the 2.0 is a good machine.

BZ

EveningSky · May 5, 2005, 05:33 PM

Thank you BZ. I am trying to ask if there are some deeper changes in the new machine which are not readily apparent in the comsumer specs. For instance, new busses, new internal protocols, new refinements to the G5 chip which the new OS can utilize (which is not present in the previous versions), or similar subtle internal changes in the motherboard. Does anyone know, or are all of the changes simply reflected in the changed specs.
I am inclined to buy the old dp 2.0 for $1900 and save myself approximately 21% $s for something else (based on what I have read up to now).
Yours, ES

BZ · May 5, 2005, 06:29 PM

From everything I have read there are no other internal changes at all.

BZ

jamil5454 · May 5, 2005, 09:14 PM

So is the DP 2.3 liquid cooled or not?

BZ · May 5, 2005, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by jamil5454

So is the DP 2.3 liquid cooled or not?

Not that I know or that anything is published saying so.

BZ

hldan · May 5, 2005, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by jamil5454

So is the DP 2.3 liquid cooled or not?

The DP 2.3 is "NOT" liquid cooled. I just bought one BTO. It has standard cooling fans like the lower models. Only the 2.7Ghz has liquid cooling due to the exessive heat it produces.

doublep · May 6, 2005, 02:51 AM

I confirm that the dual 2,3 is not liquid cooled - it is also surprisingly silent. I'm very happy with my new Mac!

Skypat · May 6, 2005, 04:30 AM

Originally Posted by powertrippin

old one. You're not going to notice the 300mhz difference(...)

Hi
Well I think 300 mhz will make a difference. Maybe not night and day but you should defenetely feel it

powertrippin · May 6, 2005, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by Skypat

Hi
Well I think 300 mhz will make a difference. Maybe not night and day but you should defenetely feel it

No, actually you probably won't. Unless you can tell the difference between a car with 800hp and 830hp.

- Rob