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Luisc · Apr 24, 2005, 04:27 PM

I want to buy a new Mac but I dont know which

This are my two options:

The new iMac 20" 2.0GHZ and the new Dual 2GHZ PowerMac ( I will have to stay with my Dell 20" CRT )
(Both with 2GB from a third-party company)

How much will the NEW Dual 2GHZ PowerMac cost?

Which of the two should I buy?

I mainly use Photoshop, Illustrator, Video Editing , and I'm learning some 3D

Kristoff · Apr 24, 2005, 05:11 PM

Based on the apps and activities you listed, get a dual CPU machine.
check store.apple.com for prices.
Make sure to check the refurbs too, there's good deals there.

Luisc · Apr 24, 2005, 05:42 PM

I mean in the "Quad-PoweMac" thread the were talking about the new PowerMacs that were 2.0, 2.3, 2.7 Dual.

They havent been released

I cant spend more than $2300.

sworthy · Apr 24, 2005, 05:56 PM

You'll want the powermac over an imac. It's hard to say how much a new dual 2ghz would cost, but I'd hope for at least $100 less than today's dual 1.8.

Kristoff · Apr 24, 2005, 06:02 PM

I just got a refurb dual 1.8 for 1699, it comes with the same warranty as a new one, and I put 2GB of crucial ram and two Western Digital Raptor 10000 RPM SATA drives, and it's pretty damned fast. The total price was well under you target, and it'll last plenty long. That's my .02. hope it helps.

zwiebel_ · Apr 24, 2005, 06:27 PM

I just got a Dual1.8 & a 23inch Cinema display as a job payment, and I love it (stepped up from a trusty G4/933). There is little difference between the 2.0 and 1.8, IMO. And going refurb is a good way to get into the Mac hardware (just get the extended warranty). A Performa 600 was the last new Mac I bought.

Luisc · Apr 24, 2005, 06:37 PM

What HardDrive the PowerMac uses? What is the disadvantage of buying refurb Apple products?

Kristoff · Apr 24, 2005, 07:43 PM

The G5s use SATA drives, mine came with Maxtor DiamondMax, which is ok, but Raptor is faster.

The disadvantage of buying refurb is that you save money. Uh, ....well, I guess that's an advantage, but that's the only difference, really.

Luisc · Apr 24, 2005, 07:47 PM

The PowerMac hard drives run at 7,200 or at 10,000?

I can plug my Dell CRT to the PowerMac right?

zwiebel_ · Apr 24, 2005, 08:04 PM

7200
The PM comes with a DVC to VGA adapter

Luisc · 08:32 PM

Which is the current Revsion of the PowerMac?

Edit: I can install any RAM configuration? Example: 1slot: 512 dimm, 2slot: 256 dimm 3slot: 1GB dimm
( ALL PC3200 )

Kristoff · Apr 24, 2005, 10:04 PM

Dimms in pairs only

PC3200 ubuffered non-parity

EX:
slot 1: 512
slot 2: 512
slot 3: 256
slot 4: 256

etc.

Luisc · Apr 24, 2005, 10:59 PM

What RAM should I use?
I checked at newegg:
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Produ...82E16820145505
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Produ...82E16820141198
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Produ...82E16820145440

Kristoff · Apr 24, 2005, 11:14 PM

Can't say, I always use Crucial, due to quality issues I've had with corsair, kingston, and pny in the past.

gkorsgard · Apr 25, 2005, 04:11 PM

I am looking for a new PowerMac. I have a 1.6GHZ now. Looking to upgrade. Is the Dual 2.5 a noticeable upgrade performance wise?

Lateralus · Apr 25, 2005, 04:24 PM

...you're asking if there is a noticeable difference between a machine with 1.6GHz of processing power and a machine with 5GHz of processing power?

Luisc · Apr 25, 2005, 05:48 PM

Crucial has an execellent quality?

Mafia · Apr 25, 2005, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by gkorsgard

I am looking for a new PowerMac. I have a 1.6GHZ now. Looking to upgrade. Is the Dual 2.5 a noticeable upgrade performance wise?

is it noticeable... gawd yes.

gkorsgard · Apr 25, 2005, 08:09 PM

Thanks for your help. I just walked over to the Apple Store aacross the street and played with each configuration. Hard to decide, especially if something is updating it in 24 hours.