1.8 DP G5 or...

[dwd3885]

I got a friend who is wanting to buy a mac for his digital media ventures. converting videos to ipod, video editing. Well, he wants to either get the powermac refurb or the new intel imac. Maybe the 1299 1.8 DP G5 with 1gig ram, 160gb hard drive from Macofalltrades.com

Or the 17-inch intel imac. Which one should he get? He wants this machine for at least 2 years. But I don't think that should be a problem for him.

Thanks for the advice

 

[Sdashiki]

If you want a powerful professional editing machine, why would you even suggest an iMac? Just because its brand new and stuff dont make it the best choice.

A DP G5 will always kick ass in digital video.

until HDTV is the norm, and its all you will edit, a G5 is perfect.

Get the RAM to over 2GB though, youll need it.

OH and another second HD for a scratch disk.

For $1300, its a steal IMO (as long as its a RevA with the 8 RAM slots and not the Rev B with 4)

 

[dwd3885]

For $1300, its a steal IMO (as long as its a RevA with the 8 RAM slots and not the Rev B with 4)

I did not know they made the 1.8 DP G5 with 8 RAM slots. I should try to find out which one it is. My fear is they put 4x256 in there to get 1gig! Anybody have experience with buying from there before?

edit:nevermind, i see the 1.8s with 8 ram slots now. i don't know if that one is though

 

[mduser63]

I've got a DP 1.8 GHz G5 with 2 GB of RAM (4 x 512) and plenty of hard drive space. It's used almost exclusively for Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro, etc. Other than a fairly wimpy graphics card (which can be upgraded), I have zero complaints about speed. It does just great with all of the video editing that I throw at it.

BTW, it's a 4 RAM slot model. I'm not sure why everyone cares so much about that. I think people are faking themselves out if they think they need more than 4 GB of RAM for video editing.

 

[generik]

But isn't the iMac dual processor now?

Sure, it'd be slightly slower initially, but in the coming months things can only get worse for the G5, and significantly better for the Intel

 

[risc]

Reasons to buy the Power Mac over the iMac (off the top of my head)

1) access to heaps more RAM
2) access to pro apps (all of them) NOW
3) 64 bit PCI or PCI-X support for extra hardware
4) upgradable video card on the Power Mac
5) QuickTime components actually work
6) FireWire 800
7) room for at least 1 more hard drive

Reasons to buy the iMac Core Duo

1) Steve Jobs said it kicks ass

For video editing the iMac isn't really a choice at all.

 

[Heb1228]

Whether or not he has a good monitor should factor in the decision. Personally, I would go for the iMac because the speed is going to be comparable and I like the idea of saving space on my desk. I wish the iMac had FW 800 in case he wanted to use an external HD.

But like I said, it depends on his monitor situation. If he's got a nice, big display, tell him to go with the PowerMac. If hes got no display/a smaller display/a bad display, tell him to go with the iMac.

 

[yoda13]

Well, I didn't seem him indicate one way or the other that he was using Pro level apps. If he isn't I would go for the iMac, because by the time he would want to graduate to pro-level apps, the univeral binaries would be out anyway. Now if he wants to immediately use pro level apps, then the PowerMac is the only way to go right now, but March is practically here, and that is when the universal binaries of the pro apps are supposed to be out, so I think I would still go with the iMac. But that is just me.

 

[alep85]

Whether or not he has a good monitor should factor in the decision. Personally, I would go for the iMac because the speed is going to be comparable and I like the idea of saving space on my desk. I wish the iMac had FW 800 in case he wanted to use an external HD.

But like I said, it depends on his monitor situation. If he's got a nice, big display, tell him to go with the PowerMac. If hes got no display/a smaller display/a bad display, tell him to go with the iMac.

This is a toughy.....

Powermac is the best solution currently, and will probably stay good for a while to come. Also has room for more memory and doesn't use crappy SODIMM laptop memory. I also agree on the ability to upgrade components easier. Although you still can't add much to them besides RAM, Apple should have built the new Intel iMacs to be easier to switch parts out on like the Rev. A iMac G5.

However, if he has a crappy monitor, he should definately buy an apple studio display with that PowerMac.

Intel iMac would be cheaper, would eventually have the Universal Binaries of pro apps and other things he would need (most likely all by this summer for video editing). Also probably would be a little less outdated in 3-5 years compared to the dual 1.8 G5. Good monitor also and its included, yet another money saver. Money saving reasons would be why I might go for an iMac Intel, plus the fact that he's probably not doig anything THAT intensive to require much more than an iMac, unless I'm wrong. Could get a Firewire 400 external drive (I believe having a 7200 RPM drive is MUCH more important than the Firewire 400 vs. 800 issue, the speed of the drive inside the external and the chipset used inside the external drive is much more important, any Oxford 911 or 912 chipset is great to me). Just my thoughts

 

[Sdashiki]

Anyone who says 4GB is enough for serious video editing, is lying.

Have you ever used after effects, Motion? Or anything with a RAM preview?

Keyword, RAM Preview.

More RAM = longer preview, which is always a good thing.

More RAM = having After Effects, Photoshop, FCP, and DVDSP all open, while using iTunes, iChat, Firefox to do MR stuff and of course your porn downloading in the background.

While the last thing might not be you, 8GB of RAM, though rare, is a DAMN good option.

When we all get to HD the 16GB max in the Quad will look appealing.

OH and any HD content on a 4GB will be sluggish if yo are trying to get any type of "smooth" workflow of multiple programs.

BUT yes, I have 2.5GB in my 1.8DP and I wish the RAM previews were longer, but it gets the job done, so yeah a 4 slot model is fine in that respect. But in respect to WHY an 8 slot is "better" and or "worth more" is for the reasons I stated.

side note: if you are doing video editing, dont do it on an LCD.

 

[yankeefan24]

But isn't the iMac dual processor now?

Sure, it'd be slightly slower initially, but in the coming months things can only get worse for the G5, and significantly better for the Intel

no. intel imacs are dual core (or core duo). It is similar but not the same. You couldn't get a DP in an iMac. except maybe an old one (with some serious interior revamping )

 

[Heb1228]

Anyone who says 4GB is enough for serious video editing, is lying.

This guy doesn't sound like he wants to earn his living doing video editing. 2GB is fine for people that do this kind of thing as a hobby.

 

[eXan]

But isn't the iMac dual processor now?

Sure, it'd be slightly slower initially, but in the coming months things can only get worse for the G5, and significantly better for the Intel

No, iMac is not dual processor, its dual core now, but it's not the real problem. PowerMac is BUILT for such things, it has a LOT of room for expanding your system, as mentioned here
Reasons to buy the Power Mac over the iMac (off the top of my head)

1) access to heaps more RAM
2) access to pro apps (all of them) NOW
3) 64 bit PCI or PCI-X support for extra hardware
4) upgradable video card on the Power Mac
5) QuickTime components actually work
6) FireWire 800
7) room for at least 1 more hard drive

But iMac will be fine for mid-low complexity video projects

 

[dwd3885]

I think 4 gigs of ram would be enough for him for what he needs. he is going to be doing some final cut, but really not all that much or that serious enough. i think he'd rather go with the apple store though. that way he can get Tiger and longer warranty options with applecare.

So the question now is this. Should he get the 1299 1.8 DP G5 w/ min. 80gb hd, 256mb ram, PCI, 4 ram slots or should he go the extra buck fifty and get the 2ghz, 160gb hd, 512mb ram, 8 ram slots, PCI-X, for 1449? It appears to me that the 1449 seems like the better deal.

What do you think?

 

[tjwett]

i just sold my dual 1.8 this week and i've been kicking myself for it since. it's a great machine and all the reasons people have already listed make it a better option. i may end up going out and replacing it with another dual G5.

 

[risc]

Should he get the 1299 1.8 DP G5 w/ min. 80gb hd, 256mb ram, PCI, 4 ram slots or should he go the extra buck fifty and get the 2ghz, 160gb hd, 512mb ram, 8 ram slots, PCI-X, for 1449? It appears to me that the 1449 seems like the better deal.

$150 for PCI-X, 2x the RAM, 2x the HDD storage, and an extra 200 MHz per processor. Sounds like a good deal to me.

 

[Sdashiki]

This guy doesn't sound like he wants to earn his living doing video editing. 2GB is fine for people that do this kind of thing as a hobby.

actually

BUT yes, I have 2.5GB in my 1.8DP and I wish the RAM previews were longer, but it gets the job done, so yeah a 4 slot model is fine in that respect. But in respect to WHY an 8 slot is "better" and or "worth more" is for the reasons I stated.

and the word SERIOUS video editing was a key point.

and I was far more interested in explaining WHY the 8 slot is "better" and justifies it costing more than a 4 slot.

anything else, is pure speculation.