New G5 iMac or Dual 2Ghz PowerMac?

[Mhaddy]

Hi guys,

Well, a couple of months ago I posted in the OS forum asking for advice regarding a PC user going Mac. The conclusion that I ultimately came to at that point was that I wasn't ready for a Mac -- money was a major issue -- and the fact that for the same price (or cheaper), I could build a comparatively faster PC.

However, time has passed and I've mulled the decision over and I've come to the conclusion that a Mac is the right thing for me... the only challenge now is, which one?

The new iMac G5's boast some pretty impressive (to me) specs, once customized: gorgeous 20" widescreen LCD, 1GB DDR2 RAM, 250 SATA HDD, 128MB PCI-E Radeon X600 XT, 2.1Ghz G5 for just under $2000 CDN. The downside is that you can't upgrade and that if anything happens to the monitor is toast.

Then there's the Dual 2Ghz PowerMac G5 (others are out of my price range): 1GB DDR400 RAM, 160GB SATA HDD, 128MB AGP Radeon 9600, for just over $2400 CDN. The downside here is the extra $400, no DDR2, and no PCI-E.

I was also reading another thread on the new iMac G5's asking about if anything was going to happen to the new PowerMac's (upgrade-wise, now that the iMac's were upgraded). The conclusion was... inconclusive, however.

Would anyone be able to tell me the performance difference (even roughly, I don't care whether I get x more flops in x application... I want tangible differences! ) between the Dual 2GHz PowerMac G5 and the new 2.1GHz iMac G5? I like the "all-in-one" essence of the iMac, along with its DDR2 and PCI-E (though I couldn't upgrade in the future even if I wanted to, correct?), but I don't like the idea if something happens to the monitor, it's toast. I also like the upgrade options and [what i would think] a faster machine from the PowerMac.

Gah, I'm rambling now... anyhow, please let me know what you guys think: new iMac or PowerMac. Thanks!

Edit: Another question: if the decision is made to go for the PowerMac over the iMac, should I even go for a current PowerMac? I was on the Buyer's Guide / Mac Rumours website and there are rumours that on upgrades will be announced for the PowerBook / PowerMac line on the 19th of this month. I'm all for the rumoured DDR2 / PCI-E / dual core(?) upgrades, but what will happen to price? I'd like to keep things under $2500 CDN. That is all .

 

[LiekOMG]

Whatever you do, wait for the 19th to see what happens. Even if you don't end up purchasing one of the new Powermacs, at the very least they will lower the prices of their refurbrished units on their site so you can get better bang for your buck.

 

[eXx08]

Dude seems like your worrying to much. Just get a PC and build it yourself. If you like the mac OS so much I think you can install it on a PC (I'm Pretty Sure) Then you can customize it, and get whatever you want. Make a new thread saying your getting a new Top of the line machine for about $2000 CND and they will post.

*****If you post it, they will reply******

 

[Mhaddy2]

DOACleric: That makes sense. I just wanted to make sure that when the 19th rolls around with the expected updates, I'd still be able to purchase one of the old ones (in case the new ones are too expensive).

thekillerjks: I've decided to go Mac - there's no swaying me . And I'm not worrying [much], I just want to make sure that I get the right Mac for me, ya know? And in regards to Tiger running on a PC, older builds were able to do that (with a little hax0ring), but Apple / Intel has plugged the newer builds.

 

[n0cmonkey]

I wouldn't get an iMac for myself.

 

[miketheidiot]

i would wait to see for the dual core, or otherwise go for dual cpu.

 

[Mhaddy2]

Well I've decided. With the new upgrades announced today, I'll be getting the new Dual 2Ghz PowerMac. I'm going to upgrade the GeForce 6600 128MB LE to the 6600 256MB for $55, and put another 512MB RAM in there for $110. That's about $50 more expensive than what I could get at my local PC shop, but I'd like to go this route to make sure that everything works, ya know? Orr... would I be safe with Crucial RAM?

 

[LiekOMG]

Crucial should work just fine.

 

[Mhaddy2]

Thanks DOACleric. I took the plunge and bought the dual 2Ghz PowerMac last night (should be here in a few weeks). I ugpraded the video card for $55, but kept the RAM as 512MB. Hopefully today I'll go pick up a 512MB stick of Crucial at that PC Shop and cross my fingers that it'll work .