Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

PowerMac G5: World's Fastest Desktop Computer

Status
Not open for further replies.
Alright my last vent of the day:

This G5 looks like a souped up muscle car. If that's what you want, then that's cool.

However, in a time when everything's getting smaller, and how overwhelmingly well regarded the design of the cube was (although expandability was the issue), I would have loved to have seen something sexy. I mean a Porsche 911 is gorgeous, I don't need it to look like a Hummer.
 
Re: A Step Backwards in Expandability

Originally posted by mustang_dvs
Okay, I posted this in the Keynote thread, but as no one has thus far said anything to this effect and I feel it is an important point for discussion, I am posting it in this thread, as well.

I really could care less about the looks of the G5 (though I question the ergonomics of getting rid of the mobo hinge) -- what bothers me is the apparently cramped confines of the interior, which limits us to 1 optical drive and two hard drives, according to Apple's PowerMac 'Expandability' webpage.

Also, it appears that it may be a bit difficult to run cables from PCI cards (e.g., SCSI or ATA expansion buses) into the small hard drive bay.

I just don't understand why Apple decided to take a significant step backwards, especially since PowerMacs have been designed to easily handle more than 2 hard drives since the revision B Blue & White's.
Click to expand...

I think you are seeing the first steps to "consumer server farms" where the CPU is of limited expandability in a particular catagory (ie only 2 HD, only 3 PCI, only 1 Optical drive, etc.

But great I/O for external services (PCI-X Fiberchannel, built-in FW800 and E1000, etc.)

This is the first step to a home media server. even the audio is now high bandwidth digital.

The idea of an all-in-one box is an old one and for general consumers one that may stay alive for a while. But for decades stereo systems have been on the component model and I predict high capacity consumer computers will transition that way too. Server rack in that old useless coat closet?

Let me also echo WOW! and also say THANK YOU MACRUMORS.COM for doing it right all along the way. Support this site. Buy your G5 through the specified channels.

Heck, buy your server farm through their specified channels! I hear the audio guys already have an eye on daisy chaining several G5's through digital I/O and FW800. I do not do audio but one would think some science applications would also benefit from mid-sized server farms with Pooch-like software.

I said early and often RAID everywhere and this release has software RAID stock and dual SATA drives internally and acess to massive external storage through FW800 and PCI-X Fiberchannel. It will be intertesting to see local IP networks transition to FW800 to surpass E1000.

For several years I bought laptops because the speed benefits of a desktop were just not exciting enough for me. But this is a 4-8x improvement and has my attention. I will be looking closely at comments comparing the mid and high end system as the low end has several unwanted cripples for only a $400 cost reduction. I need to upgrade my small farm too.

Rocketman


avatar2.jpg


Hey Steve. You really do rock.
 
I've been pondering the same thing. One does have to wonder when the frontside bus speeds will get out of hand. That is how long can the keep the 0.5 multiplier. There seems to be a very good possibility for system updates before Christmas. If Apple and IBM want ot play hardball agianst the Intel crowd that update will be needed. Significant speed bumps three times a year would keep them ahead of the ball game. My suspicion is that hey would want to hit 2.5 GHz by the Christmas time frame to be ready for the 3GHz machine come this time next year. They have already publicly said that 3GHz is their goal in 12 months, so a revison splitting the difference in 6 to 7 months seems to be a given.


On another note before rushing off to work - Panther looked really slick, if they can continue to rev the operating system this way they will be getting alot of attention from the rest of the world.


Thanks
Dave


Originally posted by starflyer 59
So much for for boxes being at Apple stores marked with signs not to open..... Oh well, I guess August isn't too far away.... Also, the statement that they wil be 3.0 Ghz in 12 months makes me wonder if we will see more frequent updates to the PowerMac line....

Maybe they could do this:
1.8, 2.0 and dual 2.2's in January.
2.0, 2.2 and dual 2.4's in April

and so on.... that would rule. I would love to see mor frequent updates.
Click to expand...
 
Plastic Keyboard and Displays

I don't see how they could come up with this new sleek aluminum case, they same direction they took with the powerbooks, and offer them up with the current Keyboard and Mouse that seems stuck in the nineties. The plastic keyboard will look so dated next to these machines. Same with the displays, but at least they're sold separately. Maybe they'll introduce a new keyboard before these ship in late August?
 
Re: Re: A Step Backwards in Expandability

Originally posted by Rocketman
For several years I bought laptops because the speed benefits of a desktop were just not exciting enough for me. But this is a 4-8x improvement and has my attention. I will be looking closely at comments comparing the mid and high end system as the low end has several unwanted cripples for only a $400 cost reduction. I need to upgrade my small farm too.
Click to expand...

Speaking of laptops - in January did Steve mean this is the "half-year" of the laptops? I agree with you, the speed improvement is very significant and resulted in my putting off the purchase of a powerbook for now.
 
I really do like the inclusion of USB 2.0. That is one thing I think is really missing from the new Powerbooks.

Having Firewire 400, Firewire 800, USB 1.1, AND USB 2.0 really covers your expandability options.

And folks, don't take my previous post wrong. I don't care what they do with the processors, it's the OS that keeps me with Mac (and I like what I see with 10.3!). I just hate flashy ad campains that manage to oversimplify the facts.
 
Re: Pix

Originally posted by czardmitri
Also, what IS in those purported boxes at the Apple stores that said "don't open until June 23"?
Click to expand...

Probably the other piece of hardware/product announced at the keynote...iSight.
 
Originally posted by contempt
Well he did do a demo with Single and Dual Processor PCs. The half that's misleading is that the Single Processor P4 beat the Single Processor G5 in the tests he showed. That's why they're comparing Dual Processors cause of the system is optimized for the dual processors.

Which means nobody should be purchasing a single processor G5. Those specs weren't impressive at all.
Click to expand...

go home contempt....just because the single processors arent as fast as the duals no one should buy them? go smoke another bowl. anyway, anyone who talks **** about these systems are worse off than i am when it comes to being negative. this is a great day, enjoy it while it lasts.
 
Originally posted by beatle888
this is a great day, enjoy it while it lasts.
Click to expand...

Exactly! Apple has just introduced the first 64 bits desktop computer. The fastest fsb for a desktop computer. The best OS for a desktop computer. Maybe even the fastest desktop computer, ever!
This is a gr8 day! We'll remember this day for years to come! Enjoy it. :cool:
 
I find it to be a very, very impressive machine. the best ever from Apple, just i am a little dissapointed with teh case design. And i miss the door, that two layer crappy slide thing is the same as a PC.

Anyways time to save my pennies.

aethier
 
Originally posted by contempt
Oh, since i'm venting, the 8gigs of RAM is awesome. However, it'll still set you back $3700. I would have rather used that real estate in the computer for additional drives. I mean 4 gigs of RAM would have equally been impressive; and yet still out of reach in terms of price.

Also, why did Jobs hype the mediocre Nvidia and ATI cards? Those aren't the best out there. At least the Apple Store has an option to choose the ATI 9800 Pro for $300 more. That card should have been standard. 128mb vs. 64mb makes a huge difference in graphics cards.
Click to expand...

With today HD sizes why would someone need more than two bays? Two bays easily fits a half Terabyte of HD.

I don't think Apple should put in 9800 cards. Maybe 128MB cards but most Mac users are just not big gamers. There's no need to jack the price up for a game card when you'd be better off building a PC based game box.

Great performance. Great price. Bad expandibility. Looks like a big cheese grater.
Click to expand...

Hmmm so having USB2.0 FW400 FW800, 10/100/1000 ethernet, Bluetooth and 802.11g Wireless is now "Bad Expandability" ?? Pray tell.

Steradian:

Don't get too excited about SPEC scores. Notice Apple did not invite an Opteron? Thats cause Apple would have lost.
Click to expand...


Hmmmm not too sure about that. We'll see. It'll be close.
 
Since I only want a Powermac to have fun and to replace my good enough for now G4 450, I will be waiting until they release the new iMac before I fork over 2 grand again for another tower. Since I would want a new monitor as well its just more money than I should pay for the kind of "work" I do with it. At these prices I don't even know if my newspaper will buy these, its more than they payed for the macs we use now. Does Apple expect its stingy pro customers who only buy the bottom end Powermacs to pay more than the Macs they are replacing? Thats my only problem with these new machines. I am sure Apple is working on that problem though.
The entry price on these systems is high enough were they can have a mini pro mac under it at cheaper prices. I would love a cube with a G5 in it.
 
just one thing: why did the VeriTest comparisons not have any AMD processors on it? The stuff with the Poster with G5 vs Xeon was something really funny, but I still would like to see the comparisons with other processors as well.

Also, i'd like to see more than just 2d/3d/audio/video apps tested.

Anyway, I think 8GBs of ram is pretty darn sick (in a good way of course)! :p I don't like the new case as much as the quicksilver, but it has some cool stuff.. and it's so much quieter! the noise this 733 keeps is pretty annoying in a way (i've got used to it though).

great stuff. maybe I'll be starting to use iChat when I get a faster connection than my ISDN and also the camera was really neat.

cool stuff. cool thinking, apple :) thumbs up and massive respect!
 
Re: case design

Originally posted by andrewh
Initially, I was disappointed with the case design. I thought it could have been cooler looking. But, I think it will grow on us. I like the way it looks very industrial -- clean front, no logos, etc. Mesh is awesome. The more I look at it the more I like it. I wonder if it was Jonathan Ives that designed it again.

Anyway I suppose it's what's inside that counts...
Click to expand...


This certainly beats the Performa6100 as the UGLIEST Mac EVER
 
Re: Re: A Step Backwards in Expandability

Originally posted by contempt
This is the exact complaint I have. It's ridiculous to have all this power and not have a case designed intelligently to expand.
Click to expand...
What makes you think that in-case expansion is intelligent? The innards of the new case are nicely laid out, can expand to 8gb chip / 512gb disk easily (new drive just snaps in), comes with a good optical drive... that meets the needs of 99+% of the consumers out there, I'll bet, even the pros.

If I need 2 terabytes of disk, I'll get an XServe. If I need to burn hundreds of CDs, I'll get an automated burner/labeller or 10. I can't think of many cards to get other than communications ones (like the FiberChannel)... what am I missing?

Besides, the old case could get more crowded, but I'll take a 35db computer any day! And if that means that I can't stack a 10,000rpm HD over the memory blocking the airflow to the CPUs (for example) ... oh, well.

-Richard
 
Originally posted by pyrotoaster
1. Yes, it's the 970. Apple's calling it the G5 because it fits with the existing name scheme and because the specific chip (i.e. 970, 980) will change more frequently than Apple wants to change the name.

The 980 should come out some time next year. Apple doesn't want to have to call that something else. They'll just call it the Dual-Core G5, or something like that (assuming Apple even uses the 980).

2. That person was probably talking about the 980, or some other successor to the 970.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot. its just that i didn't see 970 mentioned anywhere.
Also, i think i was just so surprised that someone would be after a g6 when the g5 is only 5 hours old. im going to wait for a rev b anyway, maybe that will be the 980 g6? Thanks again.
 
Originally posted by fuge
Probably the other piece of hardware/product announced at the keynote...iSight.
Click to expand...
Nope. I was at an Apple Store. iSight won't be available until later this week.

I'm not sure there were boxes with any new product at all (there was an almost identical rumor back at MWSF that turned out to be nothing).
 
I just wanted to mention a few things really quick, not that it will probably get much attention right now:

You install this ram in pairs (at least on other computers) because it is dual-channel ram. These machines have a FSB of 800-1000 mhz. The ram speed is 333-400 (i believe, off the top of my head) They make it dual-channel to increase the effective speed of ram as a whole, to lessen the ram bottleneck. this means you need the same exact ram installed in pairs for this to work. My pc will still work when not installed in pairs, but i will have a large bottleneck in the ram.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back