System memory is so fast (533 MHz RAM on a 1.25 GHz bus) and the level 2 cache so large that Apple doesn’t bother with a level 3 cache.Ī headphone jack, a USB 2.0 port, and a FireWire 400 port are located on the front of the G5 for easy access, and there are three USB ports on the back, up from two on previous G5 Power Macs. The motherboard architecture uses HyperTransport technology. The 2.7 GHz Power Mac remains available for those who need PCI-X slots or can’t wait for the Quad to ship in November, but the quad-core 2.5 GHz model is from 20% to 75% faster, according to Apple’s tests.
There’s a small price to pay for this power.
There isn’t even an ATI option for this machine. This is the first time Apple has included an Nvidia graphics card as a standard feature on its leading-edge model since the Digital Audio Power Mac G4 was introduced in January 2001. Other improvements include the adoption of PCI Express (PCIe) architecture and a 16-lane Nvidia video card, 533 MHz DDR2 memory, and a 16x dual-layer SuperDrive. In addition to the 2.5 GHz Quad, Apple also offers 2.0 GHz and 2.3 GHz models with a single dual-core CPU. Not since the Daystar Genesis of 1996 have Mac owners had a four-processor option.Įach core has 1 MB of level 2 cache, twice as much as earlier G5s, which further boosts computing power. One of the first Macs to use IBM’s new dual-core G5 CPUs, the Quad uses a pair of them, which means Power Mac owners now have access to four cores. Pretty sure they still do that for iPods, but like I said, don't know if it is for Macs or not.Sometimes a computer with a lower GHz rating can outperform one with a higher speed rating, and that’s especially true for the 2.5 GHz Power Mac G5 Quad. I don't know if it's still the case, but I know that at one point Apple offered a 10% discount on the purchase of a new Mac if you brought in an old one to trade in for recycling. Personally, in the end I decided to keep mine and use it as a central server for my house so that I could save hard disk space on my MacBook by linking to the G5 for my iTunes, documents that several different local computers are going to want access to, and such. If you know any serious artists, you may want to see what they're willing to offer you, they'll probably give you the best price of anyone. Depending on the graphics card it has installed, it could be rather valuable (I think it's the Radeon card he was looking for, but I forget). One of my artist friends immediately made an offer to me for my G5 tower when I first got it back. then suddenly your computer may cost more for me to have in-hand and working than a more expensive one that comes ready to work (and I don't have to mess with it).įor what it's worth: Mac2Sell offers online estimates for used Apple Macs If I have to buy a drive, pay shipping, etc. Factor in what it'll cost somebody to buy one. If you're providing a set of retail OS discs, well you could probably get near new value for both Tiger and Leopard retails discs. You're legally required to include them or to erase the upgraded OS. If you're going to sell it with an upgraded OS such as Leopard make sure the buyer gets those discs. If I have to pay $40 for shipping, well, I might just look for a computer that is abut $40 more expensive locally since it's all the same in the end (and locally I can at least see it before buying). Also consider what somebody will have to pay to get their hands on a working computer. Never owned a computer as young as 2 years.Īs for selling, check value on places such as e-bay and Craigslist (CL is good for getting local prices). I recall hearing about schools that basically aren't interested in anything that's older than two years, which makes my jaw drop since I have
For many anything older than two years is considered on its way to obsolete. I believe there is somebody on the forums who refurbishes old Macs and donates them to schools - maybe a Discussions search might turn up the name. I doubt Apple is interested in anything as old as a G5.