New iMac 2.1 or Dual Core 2.0 Powermac?

[punkmac]

Thinking of getting a new Mac this year. Being on a strict budget I should be looking for the most bang for the buck.

I swore not to buy an all in one again but the New iMac is a damn good deal.
G5 power plus a nice 20" screen all for under 2000 bucks.


I would really like the Powermac for pure processing power, future expansion, and choice of monitor(later on).

Question is: Is the dual that much faster? Any hard numbers floating around the web?

I do alot of H.264 (backing up my DvD Collection and home video) I have lots of Apps open at one time and multiple users logged in. My wife does web design, Photoshop, etc...We both do ALOT of Garageband.

I want to be able to play H.264 HD without a problem( Has anyone tried HD content on the new iMac?) I want to minimize the beachballs!

I understand whatever I get will be leaps and bounds better than what I have now.


Oh, one more monkeywrench, I would love a new powerbook instead. I know this totally goes aginst everything I just wrote.

Help! Your opinions are welcome.


I.

 

[DarkNetworks]

Thinking of getting a new Mac this year. Being on a strict budget I should be looking for the most bang for the buck.

I swore not to buy an all in one again but the New iMac is a damn good deal.
G5 power plus a nice 20" screen all for under 2000 bucks.


I would really like the Powermac for pure processing power, future expansion, and choice of monitor(later on).

Question is: Is the dual that much faster? Any hard numbers floating around the web?

I do alot of H.264 (backing up my DvD Collection and home video) I have lots of Apps open at one time and multiple users logged in. My wife does web design, Photoshop, etc...We both do ALOT of Garageband.

I want to be able to play H.264 HD without a problem( Has anyone tried HD content on the new iMac?) I want to minimize the beachballs!

I understand whatever I get will be leaps and bounds better than what I have now.


Oh, one more monkeywrench, I would love a new powerbook instead. I know this totally goes aginst everything I just wrote.

Help! Your opinions are welcome.


I.

3 Threads?

 

[punkmac]

3 threads

Very sorry...Browser screw up.

Please delete the other 2.


I.

 

[BlizzardBomb]

One thing you got to ask yourself... is this a need or a want? If its a want you probably should wait until the Intel macs come out as once they are released, more and more software will start to only support Intel and not PPC macs.

If its a need, I'd go for the iMac as you are on a budget. Pop some third-party RAM in and you should be fine doing any of those things.

 

[ipacmm]

I would go for the iMac or an older Power Mac and get a good buy on it so you can put the money towards upgrading it.

 

[Skareb]

most bang for the buck.

Athlon X2

 

[punkmac]

Athlon X2

Windows is not an option...;> I'm not really worried about the whole intel thing. Not planning on buying much new software for awhile.

I would say I need another Mac. I have 4 users sharing an iMac G4 with Dual Monitors.

At night my wife and I have to take turns using the computer.

This is the same spot I was in 3 years ago...Dual Processor or Nice Monitor.

I went with a nice all in one unit(my first mac)

Has anyone benchmarked an iMac vs a Powermac Yet?


Thanks keep the comments coming...

I.

 

[bigandy]

dual core PMG5 with 20" screen if it was my choice...

if you're doing H.264 stuff, it'd be far, far faster. plus you can upgrade to 16gb ram