More memory w/out display or less memory w/ 2nd display?

[cgmpowers]

I am in the process of narrowing my purchase of a G5 Quad 2.5Ghz machine. I already own a 22" Cinema Display (2 yrs old, but still in good condition, not HiRes though)..so I am not sure if I should buy a new monitor and purchase less RAM or more RAM and just 'live' with one display (and the older one at that).

My first thing is, I am not convinced I would enjoy a 30" display, as its very large and I sit with the screen close to me as it is. I use 23" displays at school and it seems plenty large for me (as does my 22" display at home).

I'm a soon to be graduated graphic designer...here's the specs I am considering..using the education discount..

G5 Quad 2.5 Ghz
8 GB Non-ECC RAM
GeoForce GT 7800 GT
two 500 GB HDs
Bluetooth & Airport
AppleCare
NO DISPLAY (use my older 22" cinema display)
$5,739

OR use less ram & get a new 23" display (adding hidef & using dual displays)

G5 Quad 2.5 Ghz
4 GB Non-ECC RAM
GeoForce GT 7800 GT
two 500 GB HDs
Bluetooth & Airport
AppleCare
23" Cinema Display
$6,118

There's a $379 difference. Would you spend less to get more memory or spend more for a second display but have half the memory??

Christopher Powers

p.s. This is driving me crazy which would be best for me..

 

[mad jew]

Get the memory. Displays will always get cheaper but memory won't necessarily. Either configuration would be awesome though.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Another vote for more memory.

Then get a LCDs at a later point (or two, and replace the CRT all together ).

 

[26139]

Yeah, but...

Speaking from experience, I can honestly say that 4 gigs versus 8 gigs of ram will not be as useful as having two displays.
I mean, so what if rendering and the like is a little slower when you could most likely get more work done (and be more efficient) with the extra screen space.
I seem to remember that speed gains start to slow down after about two gigs of ram (meaning the diff between 512 megs and 2 gigs is MUCH different than 2 and 4 gigs).
I might be in the minority here, but not having to sort through multiple windows (yes, I know you have a good size display, but the bigger the display the more stuff you will open) is much more convenient than having your programs start or run a few seconds faster.

 

[mad jew]

I seem to remember that speed gains start to slow down after about two gigs of ram (meaning the diff between 512 megs and 2 gigs is MUCH different than 2 and 4 gigs).

Well, in most cases that's right but it really depends on how much RAM you use. I agree that there's no point in getting heaps more RAM than you use though.

 

[OutThere]

Get the second display. I have found repeatedly when doing Graphic Design work that the more screen real estate that you have, the better off you are, and honestly, you won't put 8 gigs of RAM to use very often at all.

There have been several tests (one by MacAddict a couple years ago) that examined how much RAM G5s actually put to use, and the performance gain from it, and time and again the performance pretty much tops out at 3gigs, with no additional gain by adding more memory, even working with Photoshop files in the gigs.

You'll never be sorry about having all that screen space, but you will be sorry about looking in your activity monitor when you have everything up and running, and seeing that it really is extremely difficult to fill up 8 gigs of memory. You can always add more later if apps show up that can actually take advantage of it.

 

[kwajo.com]

I really don't see the need for either right now. 4GB will be plenty for 90% of your graphics work, if not 100% of it. as for your display, it is still a great monitor, no need to replace it, and going dual display should be your only consideration, but I'd say wait on it, you can always pick it up later or save your money for system upgrades down the road