[Mitchji]

Hi,

I don’t think it matters if you install the hardware first or later. Maybe run the system for a few minutes just to make sure there are no obvious problems with the bare system. Before the software might be good because if there are any problems it might be better if they crop up doing installs than doing production work. If the system doesn’t already have Tiger I would erase and zero the drive (zeroing maps any bad sectors). Zeroing might be overkill but it is a little safer. Then do a fresh install of Tiger. Repair permissions after the OS install, once or twice while you are installing your applications and after you finish installing applications.

Best Wishes,

Mitch

[Mitchji]

Hi,

A stand alone one to three or one to five tower is one way to go. You can purchase the parts and assemble yourself if you want to save a few hundred.

Best Wishes,

Mitch

[Mitchji]

[Nick Westbridge] “I’m not even sure whereabouts to look for refurbished machines in my area. I live up in Vancouver (in Canada). The apple.ca store doesn’t sell refurbs, and I haven’t been able to find a local store with a good deal. Any suggestions at all? :)”

Hi Nick,

Barefeats has a list of the most desireable models here:
https://www.barefeats.com/quick.html

You might want to consider the Macconnection deal posted by Jaser below. One thing to be aware of is with Apple refurbs there is a 12 month waranty. With third party refurbs the 12 month’s starts the first time the system was sold (if it was sold and returned) so you would probably have a little less waranty coverage.

Amazon has a $150 rebate good on some Dual G5’s that expires tomorrow.

Expercom, Smalldog and Powermac sell Apple refurb’s but Powermac Apple refurbs are rare from sources other than Apple.

Apple stores sometimes sell demo models (fully waranty). Sometimes the prices are better than Apple online refurb prices and sometimes they are worse. You can call all the stores within driving distance.
Several places to check:
https://dealmac.com/categories/44.html

https://www.macprices.com/powermactracker.shtml

https://www.zones.com/cgi-bin/zones/site/list/?id=-17845

https://www.macmall.com/macmall/promotions/custom4.asp?p=blowout_deals&AID=5837831&PID=691165

https://www.clubmac.com/clubmac/promo/custom.asp?s=blowoutdeals&i=1

Best Wishes,

Mitch

[Mitchji]

Hi Graeme,

I agree that the chip architecture is not that big a deal, I just thought I would point it out.

I think Apple wouldn’t have done this unless they are pretty sure that in the future that they are going to be able to get more powerful and/or cheaper chips from Intel. In the long run this will be good for Mac users. In the short term there will probably be some bumps in the road for power users.

Best Wishes,

Mitch

[Mitchji]

[Graeme Nattress] “Are Intel processors better? – No, not inherently, but will Intel deliver on their promises? Don’t know, but by that time, all new mac software will run on PPC and Intel because of the FAT binary. All old software will run on the PPC anyway. If IBM do deliver and Intel don’t, it’ll be an easy switch back. If XYZ company makes a new chip that’s even better still, it will be a quick job to port across, keeping backwards compatibility going.”

Hi Graeme,

Actually the architecture of Intel Chips is worse. I did some Intel assembly language programming and author of the reference book stated something like “there are two kinds of Intel assembly language programers, those who say the chips suck and liars”. I also believe Alta Vec is more powerful than the corresponding Intel technology. On the other hand G5’s consume more power.

Two issues aside from the performance of the CPU are:
1. How will applications that are optimized for Alta Vec perform on Intel Chips?
2. How long will it be before these applications are optimized for Intel Chips (as opposed to merely running reliably)?

I think in the long run the move to Intel chips will be good for Mac users because Intel can afford to pour a lot more into R & D than IBM can afford to spend on PowerPC development.

In the short term this the situation is not as clear for users. What if you need a new computer and (for example) FCP screams on the Intel but AE (Adobe might take longer to optimize their Mac code for Intel) is slower than on a G5. What is your Dual G5 going to be worth if Apple reduces the prices on Intel based Power Macs by 20%, they perform better, plus the Apple Intel hype factor?

Best Wishes,

Mitch

[Mitchji]

Hi,

Some of the issues that will effect resale value of G5’s are not known. Will they cost less than similar G5’s (probably not a lot less). Will the performance be a lot better? Even if the real performance is not a lot better will they have a much higher clock rate that Apple will hype as being faster?

I think for a few month’s to a year after the OS and all the major applications are Intel Native it will make sense to stay with a G5 for video production rather than be a beta tester.

By the time you are sure its safe to move to an Intel based Mac for video production I think there will be a substantial fall in the resale value of G5’s but I don’t think it will be massive. Your best bet (financially) would be to get a good deal on a mid range dual G5. If you get a refurb, preferably of a previous mode, you should be able to get the basic system for about $1,500. Even if there is a big price drop you won’t take too big a hit.

Best Wishes,

Mitch

[Mitchji]

Hi,

If this is not the RAM it must be the motherboard. If there is an Apple store within a reasonable distance take it in and explain the problem. Ask them to fill it up with new RAM for testing and see it the problem still exists. If so you have just proven that its a problem with the computer. If not you know you have bad RAM. If there is no Apple store nearby you might find someone else who works on Mac’s (or maybe even PC’s) to help you test this.

Best Wishes,

Mitch

[Mitchji]

Hi JAK,

If you are not in a hurry you can wait for refurbs to show up at the Apple Web Store or call local Apple stores for demo models. These will come with full waranty and the savings will be substantial. The biggest savings would be on a DP 2.5 (discontinued) if they offer any in a reasonable time frame.

Currently at the Apple Store (I would not buy this modle, at a minimum get a model with PCI-X and 8 RAM slots):
ower Mac G5 DUAL 1.8GHz/ 256MB/ 80G/ SuperDrive/ PCI/ GeFr5200/ GigE/ 56K – Apple Certified Refurbished

[Mitchji]

Hi,

Sounds like a RAM problem to me.

RAM is cheap right now. I would purchase 2 gigs from Crucial (about $200), remove the other RAM and install the Crucial RAM. If it works you have solved the problem. If not send it back to Crucial (its not working) and complain to Apple. It does work you could then try adding in your other RAM (first try one set of chips, then try the other).

BTW I have a DP 1.8. Started with 1/2 gig of Apple RAM plus a Gig of Crucial. Never any problems. Recently added a second gig of Crucial still no problems (YMMV).

Best Wishes,

Mitch

[Mitchji]

Hi,

File permissions look like this (root-owner-group):
-rw-r–r–
-rwxr–r–
drw-r–r–

d is a directory, r is read, w is write, x is execute.

So if you want to protect a file from reading you remove the group r
So if you want to protect a file from writing or deletion you remove the group w

For directories if you want the directory not to be able to be deleted you remove the group w
I think that would also protect the files inside the directory but I’m not sure.
I think removing the r would mean that others could not view the contents of the directory

You can change the permissions with chmod (man chmod for help)

Best Wishes,

Mitch