Trading in a G5 PowerMac for an Intel Mac Mini - any advice or comments?
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From: Nige on 4 Mar 2010 12:41 As a long-time Mac user, I was recently asked to help a friend make the move from a PC to a Mac Mini and found myself wondering why I don't also take a step in this direction... I'm currently using a Dual 2GHz G5 PowerMac which has served me well for several years - mainly for graphics apps (I'm a photographer and writer) - but is starting to show its age with some of the more complex Photoshop processes which, despite 4.5GB memory, can take a while... Until now, I've only seen Mac Minis as 'stripped down' desktop computers (I have a very basic model providing AV services in the living room), but looking at the specs for the newest models, I realise that in several departments they out-perform my G5 by quite a wide margin. I certainly can't afford a Mac Pro at the moment, but I did begin to wonder whether I wouldn't be better off selling my G5 for around 500 quid (which seems to be the going rate on Ebay) and buying an Intel Mac Mini for not much more. I've already got a stack of peripherals (like external hard drives and USB ports) - so I wouldn't have any problems in that area, but I'm still left wondering if I haven't missed something out of the equation... Could anyone offer any advice/insight on this as a worthwhile move? Looking at my G5 and comparing it with the diminutive Mac Mini, it seems hard to believe I'd be 'trading up' - but the spec's speak for themselves... don't they? Nige
From: Andy Hewitt on 4 Mar 2010 13:39 Nige <nige(a)room.fsa.com> wrote: [..] > Could anyone offer any advice/insight on this as a worthwhile move? > Looking at my G5 and comparing it with the diminutive Mac Mini, it > seems hard to believe I'd be 'trading up' - but the spec's speak for > themselves... don't they? A new Mac Mini should comletely blow away your old G5. I changed from a 2x 1.8GHz G5 nearly two years ago, and went with a MacBook 2.2, which internally is similar to a Mini. Even that was an upgrade, and likewise the cost to change was neglible. You'll obviously lose some upgradability - no PCI slots, onboard graphics etc, but the later ones can run two monitors, have FW800, wireless (5GHz), Bluetooth, DVD burner etc. It'll do the job. -- Andy Hewitt <http://web.me.com/andrewhewitt1/>
From: Rowland McDonnell on 4 Mar 2010 13:52 Nige <nige(a)room.fsa.com> wrote: [snip] > Could anyone offer any advice/insight on this as a worthwhile move? > Looking at my G5 and comparing it with the diminutive Mac Mini, it > seems hard to believe I'd be 'trading up' - but the spec's speak for > themselves... don't they? Check the software side of things. Does everything you want to use work on Intel Macs? Would Sheepshaver help (running Classic on Intel). And do check the benchmarks - there's a site out there which I can't recall that's useful for such things. I mention that because I've got a 3.06GHz Core2Duo Intel iMac with the beefy graphics card and 4GB RAM. It's not as snappy UI-wise as my old (dead) 2.5GHz 4G5 and the 4G5 beats the iMac in a few benchmarks. Practically, I've noticed that the iMac seems no faster at handling big graphics files, and is definitely slower when it comes to encoding CDs. Okay, a 2GHz 2G5 ought to be well behind this iMac, but... G5s are *very* efficient at streaming operations - it's the CPU's party trick, y'see. Rowland. -- Remove the animal for email address: rowland.mcdonnell(a)dog.physics.org Sorry - the spam got to me http://www.mag-uk.org http://www.bmf.co.uk UK biker? Join MAG and the BMF and stop the Eurocrats banning biking
From: Debbie Wilson on 4 Mar 2010 14:21 Andy Hewitt <thewildrover(a)me.com> wrote: > You'll obviously lose some upgradability - no PCI slots, onboard > graphics etc, but the later ones can run two monitors, have FW800, > wireless (5GHz), Bluetooth, DVD burner etc. Sorry for the thread hijack - do you think a new Mac Mini will run a 30" Apple screen satisfactorily? I *really* need to upgrade from my dual G4 867 (runs screen OK but sometimes jerky) but can't afford a new Mac Pro. Deb. -- http://www.scientific-art.com "He looked a fierce and quarrelsome cat, but claw he never would; He only bit the ones he loved, because they tasted good." S. Greenfield
From: Andy Hewitt on 4 Mar 2010 14:30
Debbie Wilson <djmaizels(a)mac.com> wrote: > Andy Hewitt <thewildrover(a)me.com> wrote: > > > You'll obviously lose some upgradability - no PCI slots, onboard > > graphics etc, but the later ones can run two monitors, have FW800, > > wireless (5GHz), Bluetooth, DVD burner etc. > > Sorry for the thread hijack - do you think a new Mac Mini will run a 30" > Apple screen satisfactorily? I *really* need to upgrade from my dual G4 > 867 (runs screen OK but sometimes jerky) but can't afford a new Mac Pro. No idea Deb, at least not about 'satisfactory'. I run an external 20" on my MacBook, using the internal as an extended screen, and it doesn't seem to do any harm. -- Andy Hewitt <http://web.me.com/andrewhewitt1/> |