Ok, so I'm still deciding on whether or not to buy my Mac, after selling the way too powerful for me Dual 2ghz G5 PM. I'm deciding between a Dual G4 or an HP machine (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1848866,00.asp). I'd be buying the refurbed HP for just $759 after $50 rebate and instead of integrated graphics, it has a low-end ATI X300SE video card, not great, but not integrated either. I'm a college student who does a little audio editing/mixing. I like to use SOund Forge and Adobe Audition, both PC products, but I could use something for the Mac if I go back. I'd like to get this system for under $900. Could I find a Dual G4 for under 900? And have it be comparable to the HP? I'd really need a PVR card or external firewire for it as well, this is something the HP comes with. So budget that in for the Mac. I really like OS X too. Would the G4 dual be good enough for Tiger? I could upgrade video card to anything really couldn't i? I'm seriously considering the PowerMac, but the HP has got many things going for it as well.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Dual G4 PowerMac
- Thread starter dwd3885
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Why would anybody want less processing power? How can a machine have "way too much power"? You want a "less powerful" machine? 
highres said:Why would anybody want less processing power? How can a machine have "way too much power"? You want a "less powerful" machine?
indeed
I have my dual G5 and have yet to have a page out on 2GB of RAM, however i am pretty intense in my photoshop (or i guess i am not if no pageouts)
highres said:Why would anybody want less processing power? How can a machine have "way too much power"? You want a "less powerful" machine?
because why should i pay for the extra power that i won't use? I spent $2000 for the Dual G5, but I can get by with a system that's $800, I can save $1200.
dwd3885 said:
because your dual G5 will last longer (with continually upgrading the programs and the ability to run them)
Than a less powerful machine
Errr...I cringe every time I hear "audio editing" and "PC" in the same sentence. I further cringe when I hear Adobe as a software audio editor. Don't get me wrong, a PC can indeed do audio, but I would never, ever recommend a PC over a mac for doing audio/video production. This is only my personal experience and opinion, so take it as such. That being said, I would look into getting at least a dual 2gig G5....lol just kidding. Seriously, if you can't handle a G5 then get at least a dual 1gig G4.
dwd3885 said:
You should have phrased your OP like this, "I can't afford the G5 because it costs $2000 more than the WinMac or G4 and so I am looking for a cheaper machine that will still run OSX Tiger."
However I would still keep the G5, your G4 will fairly quickly be outdated and will have to be upgraded to run Tiger smoothly on it, and why buy a WinMac which looks pretty good on the surface but if you factor in "cost of ownership" with maintenance and upkeep, etc., then how much cheaper than a G5 PM is it really?
Tiger is just fine on Dual G4s. I suggest you get a powermac G4 (with a AGP4X slot) and get the processor upgrades i think 1.6 Dual card is going at arround 400$. Then you are well under the budget. But from what you say a mac mini might just as well suffice. Just get another if you need to have some thing dedicated for recording and stuff (@400$). Athlon 64 systems and as well as P4s are pretty cheap now. So you might get a very good rig for 500 bucks. see on which system you have the software needed. After running arround and spending enough cash, i realized that computer does not matter nirvana ... (unless it the latest and the fastest thing that i can get!! ...;-) ) ...
