Buying a new G5, what do I need to know?

[OVERNIGHT]

I know these kinds of threads are boring for the old timers but help a brutha out. I've decided to put the MacIntel idea on the shelf for a year or two and buy a solid stop gap for the studio. It has to be good but not bleeding edge. I'm going to be running Logic 7 along with Reason, BFD, ESX 24 running some symphonic stuff and maybe protools M-Powered for mixing down the road. Mostly indie rock, indie pop, dance and some hip-hop for general as well as some general commercial audio applications.

With PC, there's all kinds of chip sets and motherboards and buss arrangements that have to be considered. I don't know about that stuff as it applies to G5's. I'm commited to a MAC as some of the folks I'm going to be passing projects back forth from (with plugs etc) are all MAC's. It's just easier so MAC/PC war please.

I'm thinking for starters:

G5 Dual 2.0
2Ghz RAM
160GB Serial ATA; 7200
External 400gig FW Drive

Are there better/worse RAM types with MAC?
I want to run 2 monitors, is there a prefered card?
Anything else I should Know?

Leaving out the external drive I'm thinking I could do this at or near 2K. Correct?

Thanks in advance.

[jdunn]

The G5 itself w/o a screen will cost about $2,000. I guess you might be able to shop around and save a few hundred bucks, but I'm not sure where.

For dual monitors check out Double Sight.

SATA is better than Firewire IMO. A lot of people aren't crazy about firewire. I'm using a Seritek system which is a PCI card that hooks up to an external SATA enclosure.

You can get a matched pair of 1 gig ram sticks (1GB x2) from OWC. Cost me about $233. They have the Seritek products too.

Someone was selling one of those Seritek setups in the Second Hand section recently.

I already had a monitor, so w/o a monitor my setup cost around $2,700 or so.

My setup:

G5 Dual 2.0
2 GB OWC Ram
Seritek PCI/SATA w/ 2-bay drive enclosure
Western Digital 74 GB Raptor 10,000 rpm SATA drive

[jslevin]

My main advice would be to wait until later in the year. With the exception of Pro Tools HD systems, I believe MacIntel towers will be ready for serious pro audio work a lot sooner than people think. But if you must move now ...

The standard card will support dual monitors, and if you're not gaming, there's no reason to upgrade it. By the way, not that you asked, but I highly recommend Dell LCD monitors. Yes, with your Apple. Absolutely. And get 19-inchers, so you can actually see the screen across your console. 19-inch LCD's are easier to read than 20-inch LCD's. You could look it up. Apple monitors are more slutty, Dells are more functional.

I was surprised you didn't mention a second internal drive. The G5 supports a second SATA drive. Go get a huge Seagate and install it yourself. No need to pay the huge Apple markup to get it shipped with one. G5 towers are really easy to install stuff in.

For RAM issues, rather than trying to master the subject yourself, your best bet is just to buy your Mac RAM from a Mac-oriented dealer -- you can rely on the fact that they wouldn't carry RAM that isn't rock-solid on Macs. Try Small Dog Electronics, www.smalldog.com. Competitive pricing (if not rock-bottom) and outstanding service.

Your basic specs look fine. There really isn't that much to know, that's one of the advantages. They don't give you too many options, so you don't have to figure them out.

[G-Dawg]

Originally Posted by OVERNIGHT

2Ghz RAM

Originally Posted by jdunn

(1gHz x2)

2 gHz OWC Ram

ram is not measured in hertz. it's measured in bytes.

[OVERNIGHT]

Originally Posted by jslevin

My main advice would be to wait until later in the year. With the exception of Pro Tools HD systems, I believe MacIntel towers will be ready for serious pro audio work a lot sooner than people think. But if you must move now ...

Any idea's as to when specifically? Maybe I just buy a G4 or something way cheap just to work with for the moment and wait. If it's June it's one thing, if it's late August it's another.
...so confused. A really crappy time to be switching to MAC.

[jdunn]

Originally Posted by G-Dawg

ram is not measured in hertz. it's measured in bytes.

Yes I know that. Thanks for pointing out my error anyway. I'll change the original post.

The first poster used the term Ghz to describe ram, which is what threw me off. Not that I'm perfect or anything..........

[OVERNIGHT]

Hey quick question.... when buying used are there any tell tale signs something has been either refurbed or is hot? I see G5's on craiglist and I know it's safer than ebay because I can go actually look at the thing prior to purchase. But I want to know what to check for... suggestions?

[gsilbers]

i am also interested in finding out how the macintel towers going to be. and if ill ever need a Pro Tools HD.


your choice of G5 is good, go for it. apple.com has refurbished deals that are good, just type refurbished in the search.


most dual 2.0 + has up to 8gig in ram. get like 1 gig and then buy more ram at memorysolutions.com. like $100 per gig.


the mac monitor is kinda expensive so go for the dell.

[jdunn]

There's a dual 2.3 G5 right here in the Gearslutz Second Hand section now. It was there earlier anyway.

[FFTT]

Buy your G5 new or refurbed directly from Apple!

The dual 1.8 and 2005 Rev C 2.0 used the prosumer 4 DIMM PCI motherboard.

The earlier 2004 Rev B 2.0 Dual Processor with the pro 8DIMM PCI-X motherboard is what I bought after 10 months of research and waiting.

If you buy new dual core now, you're getting a great machine but you're also buying PCI-Express expansion, so your audio card selection is limited for a while yet.
Dual Layer DVD's aren't exactly cheap media, so that's another consideration.

The type of expansion connectivity you choose determines how you'll be able to operate with current audio hardware cards.

It's probably going to be fall 2006 before you can actually get your hands on any new
Intel based Apple Tower.

If you're going for a great hold over machine, try to find a 2004 Rev B 2.0
or a 2005 2.3 dual processor with PCI-X.

Buy your RAM from either Datamem, OWC or Crucial.
You want 2 GB at least.

OWC Samsung factory RAM is highly desirable.

Buy a pair of internal Seagate 250 GB SATA Baracudas.
about $110 each at NewEgg

Waiting sucks, but if November is simply impossible for you, then your options are
greatly limited.

$1599 for a 2.0 G5 dual processor (8DIMM)
$225 ish for 2 GB RAM
$220 ish for 2 250 HD's

Dell 24" 2405 FPW will spoil you rotten for audio.
$800-$900

Yeah 'tis a really bad time to be investing heavily in a workstation by any manufacturer.


I really like my system, but this late in the game, so close to a major revision,
you're going to have to be very comfortable spending $2000 as a hold over measure.

I'm thinking a well equipped 20" iMac may just be a better deal for you if you
build it properly.

Logic Pro UB is nearly ready and Reason will come around soon enough.

Slap a Segate 500 in the iMac with 2 GB RAM and that's nothing to sneeze at.

[sharky]

Originally Posted by OVERNIGHT

Hey quick question.... when buying used are there any tell tale signs something has been either refurbed or is hot? I see G5's on craiglist and I know it's safer than ebay because I can go actually look at the thing prior to purchase. But I want to know what to check for... suggestions?

Look for it to have original boxes. That is my main thing. A lot of pretty good G5's (or whatever the current era's power-house mac is) come around in my area (Southern Cal) because writers and such get them to do ill-fated Final Cut projects and then sell them.

While its NEVER an absolute great time to grab a Mac, I think right now is as good as any to get one of the Dual 2.0/2.5 models. I probably wouldn't get a new one right now though...

I bought one a few weeks. From ebay. I'm happy.

You probably are already, but really check and ask for the serial # and find out how many/what type of PCI slots are in the machine. On a lot of models the video card will encroach on one of the few available slots. And some cards don't play well with certain Mac's. I'm sure you're aware of that already.

Make sure and get Samsung ram (should be able to get it for 1/2 as much as from Apple by buying somewhere else).

As far as monitors... I have a couple Dell 19" LCD's and I agree they are great... but I use the Apple 23" LCD. Its pretty slutty. The 30" is uber-slutty.

Definitely throw a second internal drive in. Its pretty cheap and really useful. I run 2 160 GB internals along with whatever firewire drives I have.

[jdunn]

I wasn't concerned with either PCI-X or having 8 ram slots when I bought my Dual 2.0. It depends on what cards you'll be running, and do you really need that much ram?

[OVERNIGHT]

I don't need that much ram but I am planning on 4 gigs. I'm probably just going to continue using the Fireface and maybe switch over to the Ensemble if the 7 or 8 hundred after sale is justified. I really like the FF though and have been incredulous with the claims of total superiority by apogees lovers. Anyway, sidetrack.

Thanks everybody for the tips. I've got a job at the end of April so yea, I've got to move now and the G5 is it. The heads up on the RAM types and drive brands etc is exactly what I was looking for.

Is there any worries with the apple refurb stuff?

[gramps]

buy a refurb. at least with those you're pretty much going to get one that will work out of the box. plus they sweeten the standard rig offering with extras like extra ram, better video card and or dvd upgrade.

g

[unsilpauly]

Originally Posted by OVERNIGHT

I don't need that much ram but I am planning on 4 gigs. I'm probably just going to continue using the Fireface and maybe switch over to the Ensemble if the 7 or 8 hundred after sale is justified. I really like the FF though and have been incredulous with the claims of total superiority by apogees lovers. Anyway, sidetrack.

Thanks everybody for the tips. I've got a job at the end of April so yea, I've got to move now and the G5 is it. The heads up on the RAM types and drive brands etc is exactly what I was looking for.

Is there any worries with the apple refurb stuff?

hi there. ive bought both a powerbook and an imac g5 off the refurbished section of the apple store website and have been totally pleased. same applecare warrantee and on the powerbook i saved 600.00 and on the g5 i save 300.00. i wouldnt hesitate. when i bought my imac i was supposed to get a 160gig hard drive and they shipped a 250gig . ive heard of other people getting better components going the same route. check it out.