> I am in the market to upgrade to a Power Mac G5. I'm the proud owner > of a G4 MDD Dual 867. I got a little stung by the fan noise issue > which I did not know about at the time. Now I'm about to go for a G5 > are there any quirks between the various models I should know about? > I'm looking at G5 Dual Processor machines from 2Ghz and up.
As an owner of both a dual 1.25GHz MDD and a quad G5, - G5s do use somewhat more power than the MDD, and they can run hot at full tilt. If you're looking for a quieter unit, the G5 isn't necessarily your best choice, especially if you do computationally heavy tasks. - Avoid liquid cooled units, with the exception of the last G5, the quad (this generally uses the Panasonic liquid cooling system and they have much fewer issues than the original Delphi). In reduced power mode, the quad G5 is relatively quiet and quieter than the MDD, but when running in auto or highest power mode, it can be *louder*. - Inspect the unit carefully before you buy for corrosion or other signs of leakage if you buy a liquid cooled machine. Don't purchase if *anything* looks out of kilter; signs of LCS death can be very subtle. - Repair on the G5 can be a nightmare, particularly servicing the power supply. Some specific notes: - The G5 only runs Classic, and cannot boot OS 9, if this matters to you. - If you have PCI cards you have to use, you are limited in the models you can buy. The quad, for example, is PCI Express only. - Support for alternative operating systems on the G5 is generally worse. The G5 does have many benefits over the MDD, though: - The faster FSB means a lot of stuff runs smoother and better, in addition to the clock speed. - If you must run Leopard, the G5 is much better at it than the MDD. - SATA. - Better video card options (though these are usually expensive). I have a 7800GT in mine, which is quite decent. - Massive RAM capacity. Mine has 8GB in it, which is really nice in 10.4. I intend to get at least a decade or more total lifespan out of my quad. -- ------------------------------------ personal: http://www.cameronkaiser.com/ -- Cameron Kaiser * Floodgap Systems * www.floodgap.com * [email protected] -- TRUE HEADLINE: Morning-After Pill Decision Delayed ------------------------- -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
