-
Upgrade from G4 to G5 now or wait for Intel chip
I’m not in a rush but I’d like to use FCP 5.0.1 some time in the next century. However, my tired but sturdy G4 500 dual coprocessor is beginning to show signs of its age. At the same time I’m reading about the big wind shift to Intel chips at Apple. Seems like a good thing to wait until an Intel-run G5 that can run my edit needs is on the market. I have looked back through old posts and see that some are guessing that this magical item might come on the market in August. But wait, some think it would be wise to hold off and let others be the lab test rat for bugs before taking the leap. Does that mean the consensus states it is not safe to buy a G5 with plenty of zoots under hood until the end of the year? Is that how long I would have to hold my breath for safety? What say you all?
-
11 Replies
-
Judging by Intel’s chip roadmap, there won’t be a 64 bit chip based on the Core Duo archetecture before December. Unless Apple decides to go with the Xeon chip, which would not be low powered and therefore couter to their reasons for swithing in the first place, I wouldn’t expect a “Pro” Intel Mac before then.
On the other hand, I understand that running FCP on Intel systems is siginficantly faster than on current PPC systems.
Alan Hirshberg
Chief Engineer
Mojo, LLC.
ahirshberg@mojohouse.com
https://www.mojohouse.com -
If you need a faster machine now, buy it and get working. If you can wait until at lesat August to see if the Intels are released at the WWDC, then wait.
I have two Dual 2.0’s and last month I needed a faster machine for an After Effects render so I want to the store and picked up a Quad. It was paid for on the first job and as soon as the Intels come out, I’ll replace the 2.0’s and keep the Quad.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.comDirector, “The Rough Cut”
https://www.theroughcutmovie.comNow Posting “Good Eats” in HD for the Food Network
“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters
-
If someone is an “update every year” kind of person with their computers then I might still suggest buying a G5.
But you seem to be on the “update every 5 years” plan.
Nothing wrong with that but I wouldn’t suggest getting a G5 now if that’s the kind of person you are. You should probably wait for the Intel Powermacs, whenever they come out.
And the “wait out the bugs” people have the right idea but you don’t have to wait for an entire 2nd version to come out. Watch these boards for the first people to actually GET one and then wait 6 weeks from that date to order one. That’s enough time for serious issues to pop up and be corrected. The Macbook Pros were updated several times the first few weeks they were out to fix small issues without the information on the Apple site changing at all.
-
I agree with Walter. We bought a Quad recently and it already has paid for itself several times over. And the darn thing just screams. It works, it works now, and it is solid as a rock. If you have a job that is needing the horsepower, get the quad and run it hard for a few years. By then, who knows what will be out.
Scott Witthaus
Senior Editor/Post Production Supervisor
Greybox, LLC
Richmond, VA USA
http://www.greybox.cc -
Maybe wait until August as Walter suggested, but on the other hand any flavor of G5 PowerMac is a HUGE step up from where you are now. Last August I upgraded my 867 Quicksilver for a Dual 2.3GHz G5. There’s no comparison. I do a lot of After Effects work as well as FCP editing, and renders that used to take 6 hours suddenly were taking just over 1 hour. Chew on that for a minute.
If you went with one today, you’re bound to still be giddy by the amazing speed increases even when the latest and greatest Intel box is released.
No matter what route you take, don’t forget at least 4GB of RAM! That is the true secret to performance!
Good luck!
Jon
TreeLine Productions
Fort Collins, CO USACurrently producing these popular podcasts:
-
If I were going to buy a G5 right now I would not hesitate to get the Quad as it will have a lot of value productivity-wise for a good while yet. Other than that, I would wait but don’t plan on being able to purchase anything for at least 4-6 months with Intel h/w in it.
-gl
-
The Quad is very fast! We really don’t know how fast the Mac Pros will be, but I bet their fast!
I would get the Quad now, or wait for 2nd gen Mac Pros.
Jason
-
Frank….
Here’s something you REALLY need to consider. When the Intel boxes finally come out, there are sure to be a whole lot of problems with software. I would guess that it will take about a year for the software to catchup with the machines. So…. my advice is to go ahead and get a Quad G5 and wait a couple of years before buying an Intel box.
But that’s my two cents worth…..
_______________________________
Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
http://www.schazamproductions.com -
Wait, don’t buy it a G5 now, the Macbook Pro is already faster than the dual G5 2.0.
And the reality is that if your just doing editing it won’t matter that much, unless your doing many many effects and multilayering.
Everyone always talks about how much faster a computer is, the reality is that if your just editting it isn’t like your going to save that much time.
I have a G4 1.25 and I am waiting for the Next generation G5 or what ever they decied to call it, the Intel Desktops will be leaps ahead of the current G5s -
I hear what you are saying but the fact is that rarely does anyone just do editing on their system. It involves so many tools now that it’s just not realistic to go forward with that expectation. Also, there really is a large productivity boost going from a G4 to a dual G5 – especially a quad.
On the MBP, I know that they are close to a dual G5 in performance however, FCS is the only thing native and I am finding Photoshop and Illustrator to be tolerable in Rosetta but just barely. I wouldn’t even consider running AE so I just don’t see the MBP as a good workstation replacement until CS3 arrives next year.
-gl
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up