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    iMac G5 (Secondhand) thoughts before purchase

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by iRis9091, Aug 23, 2010.

  1. iRis9091

    iRis9091 Notebook Consultant

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    hey guys, i was looking at getting a G5 iMac 17incher for my desktop to complement by 13inch MPB and it use for doing the basic stuff such as torrenting, music, movies, uni stuff, i was thinking about getting the the G5 iMac which has the following specifications;

    PowerPC 2.0Ghz CPU
    17" 1440x900
    1.5GB SDRAM
    9600 ATi Pro
    OS X 10.5.8
    DVD/CDRW
    Airport Extreme
    and the usual cool stuff apple includes

    price comes to about 399AU$

    what would be the major downsides of going with a machine such as this, it has been company refurbished and includes all the original software disks

    my next option would be the same G5 running a core 2 duo 2.0Ghz cpu but its around 100 dollars more...

    need your input guys

    thanks
     
    iRis9091, Aug 23, 2010
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  2. wave

    wave Notebook Virtuoso

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    Go for the Core 2 Duo if you can find the money.

    The downside of the PowerPC macs is that the the new versions of most software will be optimized for Intel CPUs. The newest version of OSX is already Intel only. So you can't install Snow Leopard in the PowerPC. Most software will run in the PowerPC but some of it only using emulation which makes things slow.
     
    wave, Aug 23, 2010
    #2
  3. Budding

    Budding Notebook Virtuoso

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    An extra $100 for a Core2Duo CPU is definitely worth it, since the PowerPC architecture is no longer supported by many new applications.
     
    Budding, Aug 23, 2010
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  4. iRis9091

    iRis9091 Notebook Consultant

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    thanks guys, i guess i'll be going with the C2D option but what are the downsides of owning one of these as compared to a windows desktop or one of the new iMac's
     
    iRis9091, Aug 23, 2010
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  5. doh123

    doh123 Without ME its just AWESO

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    there is no emulation for running Intel Mac apps on PPC Macs. If you have an app that requires an intel Mac.. there is no way to run it on a PPC Mac.... newer software isn't just optimized for Intel CPUs, its often written only for Intel CPUs making it unable to ever run on PPC Macs.


    don't do it!!!!

    There is really no good reason to buy any PPC Mac anymore to use for any purpose what-so-ever.
     
    doh123, Aug 23, 2010
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  6. iRis9091

    iRis9091 Notebook Consultant

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    alright thanks guys, i guess i might just get a windows desktop if i don't find a good second hand deal for one of the newer iMacs
     
    iRis9091, Aug 23, 2010
    #6