[chitown]

I have the opportunity to buy a single processor and a dual processor G5.
Both units are 1.8ghz with the 8 ram slots.
Single Processor Specs:
1 gig Ram
(2) 160gig sata Hard Drives
1 Wireless extreme card
Superdrive unit.
Nvidia 5200 video card
Warranty good until August 2006
$1300

Dual Processor Specs:
1 gig Ram
140 gig Hard Drive
Combo DVD/CD unit
ATI 9600 and 9000 video cards
Warranty good until June 2007
$1550

So, with all that my question is which system would be better to get for the money and is a dual processor really useful for basic everyday tasks?
The most graphic intensive thing I will do is create a website.
Thanks in advance.....

[OogaBooga]

I say go for the single, and use the money you saved to get a better video card.

[OreoCookie]

Go dual.
This question has been much debated on. The majority voted for duals, as you can't put in another CPU later. Your machine will last longer that way.

[Boochie]

Agreed, go dual CPU. For another $250 you're getting a second CPU and a much better graphics card. The hard drives are about the same size, and you could replace the combo drive with a superdrive if necessary.

I just got my first dual CPU computer, and it's pretty amazing to be able to do more than one CPU intensive thing at a time.

[jasonsRX7]

Definitely go dual. There's not much of a price difference, and you could always add the superdrive later.

[OreoCookie]

Longer warranty is also a big, big plus!

[Todd Madson]

Dual:
-Better performance.
-Operating system optimized for dual processing.
-You'll enjoy it more.
-The warranty is longer so you have more time knowing it will be fixed without
expenditure should a problem develop.
-People having issues with single CPU 1.8s have been posting here for months without resolution.
-Get the dual. Better bragging rights too.

[crooner]

Ditto: Dual!

[tooki]

Without question you should get the dual-CPU model. It won't be twice as fast at any task. But, unlike the single CPU model, it will stay very responsive under load.

tooki

[Todd Madson]

Example: I was working on a large multitrack project in Garageband. The
thing was chugging along just fine and I had 80 simultaneous tracks going,
about a third of which were virtual synths.

My old G4/400 single CPU would bog down at about 16 tracks in GB with
a lot of software instruments and that meant I could run no more apps
of any kind, just GB.

I wondered how much more the G5 could do? I realized at that point that
I was running two instances of Seti at Home, a web browser, iPhoto (I'd
apparently neglected to back out of it), e-mail, as well as other things.

The point is, the machine remained completely responsive and no slowdowns.

You won't regret it if you go dual.

[EFFENDI]

Can I ask where you are going to purchase from? Would I be able to get in on the deal? I am interested in a DP PowerMac G5, but I have been waiting for a good deal or for the prices to come down a bit. $1500 for a DP PowerMac G5 is cheap! If all you are doing is website work, you really wont need the extra power of the DP machine...

[d.fine]

Dual. You think you'll only make websites on it, but when you feel the power and the capabilities of the machines, you'll start doing other things, like maybe 3D rendering, or something like that D

A Dual will go way longer, gives you more headroom, and for that small price difference...

[harrisjamieh]

If its the Rev B of the single, then without a doubt get the dual. The rev B single with a 600 FSB is one of the buggiest macs ever!

[eddiecatflap]

the problem apple now face is sufficiently differentiating the performance gains of a dual pentium from a dual g5 as the dualie is already pretty darn nippy