Expert’s Rating
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Our Verdict
Apple adds a dual - nub processor — two processing units on a undivided chip — to its Power Mac melodic line . The new desktop also add PCI Express , a high - performance interface that ’s particularly appealing to video pro . ( To that ending , the Power Mac phone line offers several picture notice build - to - order option above the Nvidia GeForce 6600 LE that comes standard on this model . ) Also novel : a dual - level SuperDrive , two Gigabit Ethernet ports , and quicker DDR2 RAM .
“ Choose a Power Mac G5 Dual or Power Mac G5 Quad and prepare to be botch up away , ” Apple ’s online storage boasted when the new pro desktops went on sale .
The copy writer may have a point about the Quad , but when it comes to the 2GHz and 2.3GHz dual - magnetic core example , a couple of grains of saltiness are in order : In terms of overall performance , these novel machines look , feel , and perform pretty much like the models they supersede . But they have more memory capacity than ever ; a new , superfast double-decker for expansion placard ; and graphics capabilities that are certain to appeal to gamers and animators , as well as many scientist and engineers .
Speedmark 4 scores are relative to those of a 1.25GHz Mac mini, which is assigned a score of 100. Adobe Photoshop, Cinema 4D XL, iMovie, and iTunes scores are in minutes:seconds. All systems were running Mac OS X 10.4.2 with 512MB of RAM, with processor performance set to Highest in the Energy Saver preference pane. We converted 45 minutes of AAC audio files to MP3 using iTunes’ High Quality setting. We used Unreal Tournament 2004’s Antalus Botmatch average-frames-per-second score; we tested at a resolution of 1,024 by 768 pixels at the Maximum setting. The Photoshop Suite test is a set of 14 scripted tasks using a 50MB file. Photoshop’s memory was set to 70 percent and History was set to Minimum. To compare Speedmark 4 scores for various Mac systems, visit our Apple Hardware Guide .—Macworld Lab testing by James Galbraith and Jerry Jung
1×2 = 2×1
The new machines feature CPUs with two G5 processing engines on a undivided sliver of atomic number 14 — each treble - nub central processor has two of everything that define the G5 , let in its Velocity Engine . That ’s something completely raw for the Mac , though IBM , Advanced Micro Devices , and others have been using a standardized approaching on other cow chip for several years .
The approximation of combining two processing engines to boost execution , however , is not at all new to the Mac . The first dual - central processing unit Power Mac appeared way back in 1997 , and Apple has systematically offer such system for the last five age . ( call back the slogan , “ Two brains are good than one ” ? )
The difference is that this benefit used to need two freestanding , all over CPUs ; now , with dual - essence processors , Apple can include two Einstein on just one cow chip . Put plainly , G5s with one dual - nitty-gritty central processing unit supervene upon G5s with two unmarried - core group processors ; in the novel dual - core models , even the clock f number are the same . OS X apparently does n’t see much conflict : Apple ’s System Profiler report two central processing unit , just as in threefold - processor systems , and the Activity Monitor works the same mode with two cores as it does with two mainframe .
( The Power Mac Quad , by contrast , has two C.P.U. with a duple core each , or four processing engines in all — doubly as many as any previous Mac . That ’s the system that really might blow us all forth , but it was n’t usable for brushup at press time . )
Adding it all up
tack from two-fold processor to a dual - core single CPU presumptively saves Apple a picayune money , though the company is n’t yet passing any savings on to customers : at $ 1,999 and $ 2,499 , respectively , the 2GHz and 2.3GHz Dual models are price the same as the two - processor Power Macs they supersede .
The switching also saves place and simplifies the challenge of cooling the machine , but here , too , the benefits are n’t yet apparent : the dual - center models have the same self-aggrandising enclosure as their predecessors , with the same elaborate thermal - direction system . In fact , there are still two large fans mount in the front of the processor mental faculty , even though there ’s now only one chip inside .
Of of course , there aresomedifferences between the new and honest-to-god designing . Each core now has 1 MB of Level 2 ( L2 ) cache for itself ; in the late Power Mac generation , each CPU had only 512 K of L2 cache . On the other side of the ledger , each CPU in the dual - processor models had its own high-pitched - pep pill frontside bus for fetching and devolve data and instructions ; now the two core on a single chip have to share the same bus .
To add one more varying to the equating , the new Power Macs also take advantage of the latest in DRAM technology . They use 533MHz DDR2 ( dual data point rate 2 ) , also known as PC2 - 4200 , computer storage , liken with the 400MHz DDR chip shot of the previous model .
The nett consequence of all these changes on genuine performance ? overconfident but nothing to drop a line domicile about , allot to our benchmark tests . In our Speedmark 4 suite and in most of our other received tests , the 2.3GHz dual - core Power Mac G5 outpaced the 2.3GHz threefold - processor , but only slightly ( see the benchmark chart ) . Comparing the raw 2GHz double - core model to the former 2GHz dual - processor model produced interchangeable results .
New slots and new graphics cards
The one test in which the 2.3GHz dual - core group organisation leave its 2.3GHz dual - central processor predecessor in the debris — and even outperformed the 2.7GHz double - CPU model — was our Unreal Tournament 2004 systema skeletale - per - indorsement run ( see the benchmark chart ) . These stellar results do n’t seem to have anything to do with the new G5 processors — they’re really a function of the new graphics cards that amount with the dual - kernel systems and the new mellow - speed slots they sit in .
In the case of the new 2.3GHz Dual ( as well as the Quad ) , the standard card is the Nvidia GeForce 6600 with 256 MB of television RAM . The bare - down Nvidia GeForce 6600 LE , with 128 megabyte of memory , is received in the new 2GHz Dual , but if you order from Apple ’s online shop , you’re able to upgrade to the full reading for just $ 50 . Both card have two DVI connective , one of which is the three-fold - connectedness variety that ’s required for Apple ’s 30 - inch Cinema HD Display .
If that ’s not good enough , Apple is offer two other Nvidia upgrade choice : the GeForce 7800 GT ( $ 400 for the dual - core 2GHz and $ 350 for the double - effect 2.3GHz ) , which promises even riotous movement graphics and vivification ; and the Quadro FX 4500 ( $ 1,700 for the 2GHz and $ 1,650 for the 2.3GHz ) , which has 512 MB of retentivity andtwodual - link ports , plus an extra connector for stereo 3 - 500 goggles .
All these cards take vantage of PCI Express ( PCIe ) , a new ( to the Mac ) industry - received computer architecture for add - on cards . The fresh slots offer much better throughput and greater flexibility than the AGP , PCI , and PCI - ten slots they replace .
The problem is what to put in them . Besides the Nvidia television cards , Apple sell a PCI Express ( PCIe ) Fibre Channel card , andBlackmagic DesignandAJA Video Systemshave released high - bandwidth PCIe video - seizure cards for the new Macs . Digidesign says it plan to release PCIe - compatible Pro Tools|HD organization by the end of November . Other card , particularly for television and audio , but also for 10 GB Ethernet and other demand applications , will doubtlessly seem before long . But for now , there are n’t nigh as many choices as Mac professional have been used to with former - generation Power Macs .
And do n’t even think about transferring your existing PCI and PCI - X board . Although its name make up PCI Express auditory sensation like an evolutionary heir to the venerable PCI standard , it ’s actually a essentially different technology , and there ’s no compatibility between old cards and the new slot . Apple is following its usual abrupt approach to technology transitions : out with the honest-to-god , in with the new . ( For the great unwashed who take compatibility with PCI - X , Apple is maintain the 2.7GHz duple - processor Power Mac G5 on the market , at least for now , at the reduced Mary Leontyne Price of $ 2,799 . )
With regard to package , the PCIe standard was design to cause no compatibility issue , but a few app program that specifically look for an AGP graphics cards wo n’t run on PCIe system . One notable example is Apple ’s own Final Cut Pro , interpretation 4.0 through 4.5 . Apple ’s gives you only one solvent — upgrade to version 5.0.3 , for $ 399 !
Wait, there’s more
Other notable changes in the raw Power Macs include :
512 MB of memory is stock , but you may now further entire memory all the way to 16 GB , double the previous utmost . ( That start for both Dual models — for a change , Apple has n’t imposed any artificial restriction on the lowest - priced version . ) And the machines can take advantage of ECC ( wrongdoing - correct code ) retentivity , an expensive form of RAM that can mechanically correct certain retentiveness error — a technology some government , corporate , and academic customers take a firm stand on for mission - decisive and computer - intensive app .
The inner 56 K modem , made optional in the last Power Mac generation , has now disappear altogether ; if you need dial - up capability , your only choice is an external USB modem ( Apple ’s costs $ 49 ) .
In telephone exchange , both dual - center models havetwoGigabit Ethernet connectors , so you’re able to dedicate one to a reposition - area meshwork ( SAN ) or an separated management connection in addition to a formal meshing . Both ports support an advance throughput - hike up networking technology bang as Jumbo Frames ( packets of up to 9,000 byte ) .
Both Dual systems get with Apple ’s four - clit Mighty Mouse .
Dual-Core Power Macs Tested
good results inred . Reference system of rules initalics .
Speedmark 4 scores are proportional to those of a 1.25GHz Mac mini , which is assign a grade of 100 . Adobe Photoshop , Cinema 4D XL , iMovie , and iTunes score are in minute : seconds . All system were running Mac OS X 10.4.2 with 512 MB of RAM , with CPU performance arrange to Highest in the Energy Saver preference pane . We converted 45 minutes of AAC audio files to MP3 using iTunes ’ High Quality setting . We used Unreal Tournament 2004 ’s Antalus Botmatch average - underframe - per - instant musical score ; we tested at a resolution of 1,024 by 768 pixels at the Maximum mount . The Photoshop Suite test is a circle of 14 scripted tasks using a 50 MB single file . Photoshop ’s storage was sic to 70 percent and History was set up to Minimum . To compare Speedmark 4 scores for various Mac systems , impose our Apple Hardware Guide .—Macworld Lab testing by James Galbraith and Jerry Jung
Macworld’s buying advice
compare with their predecessors , the Power Mac G5 Dual models put up an array of new workstation - family capableness , including impressive improvements in graphics , advanced networking , tremendous memory capacity , and state - of - the - fine art expansion slots . Between the two good example , the 2GHz political machine , even with video card and hard driving upgrades , is a slenderly secure bargain . Of course , you give up a bit of speed , but I distrust that users who demand the ultimate in Mac performance will be save their penny for a Power Mac G5 Quad anyway .
[ Henry Norr is a former editor ofMacWeek . He has been reviewing Mac system since 1986 . ]
