Looking forward to Intel Powermacs? at DVinfo.net

Matt Ludwig · May 2nd, 2006, 07:57 AM

I've been browsing threads here for a while and can't seem to find an answer to my question. I'm pretty sure within the next year I'm going to be switching over to a Mac so I can work with FCP.

I want to get a Power Mac, but I'm not quite sure how to deal with the whole Intel thing. Are people looking forward to Powermacs becoming intel? Should I make a point of waiting till they come out or go with the Powerpc ones now? Thanks! And just FYI I'm using premiere now with a P4 3.4ghz tower.

Nick Hiltgen · May 2nd, 2006, 08:44 AM

I believe most mac guys whether they admit it or not are looking forward to the intel macs, if anything because it's faster processors that are updated regularly, which should make a fast operating system really shine. So yeah intel powermacs (Intel Mac pro's?) will definitely be pretty cool.

If you should buy a g5 now or wait is up to you. Since you're a PC user you most likely will need to get all new software anyhow, so the switch to a universal binary isn't too huge of a deal I would imagine. However there are still a number of appllications that are recompiling code and what not so they aren't quite optimized on the intel processor. On the other hand the g5's currently run ALL of the mac software though it will probably be significatnly slower then the intel's when they are released. While no one knows exactly when apple is going to do anything, there are a couple of rumor sites that will give you their best guesses.

Mike Phan · May 2nd, 2006, 01:12 PM

From what they (Steve Jobs) initially said was that the PM Intel will be coming out in the 3rd quarter. So towards the end of summer 2006. I got the Dual 2.5. Was planning to get another one and deciding if I should go with the Quad 2.5 or wait for the intel. I will have to see. I may end up buying the quad and then sell my old 2.5 for the intel who knows.

Nick Jushchyshyn · May 2nd, 2006, 02:04 PM

I'm using a Dual 1.25 G4 and holding out for the Intel based workstations (Macdesk Pro?, Macstation Pro?, Macbox Pro?) to come out before upgrading.

Laptops are just too "closed", expensive to upgrade, for me to jump into right now with so much HD compositing and 3D work to do. Want to basically be able to upgrade drives, memory and video board at will.

I'll keep my old 2.1Ghz Compaq laptop alive to access web-based email on the road. ;)

Mark Sloan · May 2nd, 2006, 06:41 PM

Intel is supposedly releasing chips earlier than expected:
http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2006/...28112857.shtml

While the G5 is a kick ass chip, the processor itself ends up getting "starved" because of the rest of the components. In essence, the G5 is continually waiting on the rest of the computer to give it stuff to do. The Intel machines will be nice, for sure, and show big improvements. It will be another year at least before things get optimized, so you'll probably see a speed boost over time! Odd as that sounds. 2 reasons, optimizing for the new processor, and continuing updating of OS libraries to make applications like FCP 64 bit native completely. Those 2 things make the next year or 2 really exciting in terms of performance.

Beware the bugs in the meantime! :-)

Craig Terott · May 2nd, 2006, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Ludwig

Are people looking forward to Powermacs becoming intel?

Actually I think they are dropping the "PowerMac" name. "Power" is supposed be dropped entirely from every new model (I think).

I'm looking forward to the Intel towers (whatever they call 'em) with BLURAY drives. Not buying nothin until they have BLURAY drives.

Aaron Koolen · May 2nd, 2006, 07:32 PM

Why wouldn't we? They'll smoke the aging G5 off the planet. I'm even contemplating selling my 5 month old Dual core 2.0GHz G5 for an intel iMac. It's just as fast and it comes with a display and is cheaper. ONly down side is 2GB RAM only and considering I only have 1.5 at the moment and I'm fine it's a non issue. Combined with the fact that my wife gets my hand me downs (She's on a mac mini now) she'd prefer an iMac to Powermac anyway.

Matt Ludwig · May 2nd, 2006, 09:09 PM

Ok, thanks guys! I'm excited to see what Apple comes out with and will probably buy one in the near future. Any ideas on price differences?

Mark Sloan · May 3rd, 2006, 11:10 AM

I'd expect the prices to be in line with what they are today. If the iMac, Mac mini and Macbook Pro are any indication, Apple likes their price points. And Craig, if you are waiting for BluRay you will be waiting a bit for both the price of drives to come down AND the price of media. We're talking cutting edge. Apple isn't going to put those drives into their machines until the retail price gets lower... maybe like $350 retail. (that's a wild guess, anyone have the price point when they started putting in DVD-R drives?)

If you get an Intel machine though you can always add an external burner later...

May 2nd, 2006, 07:57 AM	#1
Matt Ludwig Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 51	Looking forward to Intel Powermacs? I've been browsing threads here for a while and can't seem to find an answer to my question. I'm pretty sure within the next year I'm going to be switching over to a Mac so I can work with FCP. I want to get a Power Mac, but I'm not quite sure how to deal with the whole Intel thing. Are people looking forward to Powermacs becoming intel? Should I make a point of waiting till they come out or go with the Powerpc ones now? Thanks! And just FYI I'm using premiere now with a P4 3.4ghz tower. __________________ Matt Ludwig MSL Productions - www.freewebs.com/mslpro

May 2nd, 2006, 08:44 AM	#2
Nick Hiltgen Trustee Join Date: May 2003 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 1,427	I believe most mac guys whether they admit it or not are looking forward to the intel macs, if anything because it's faster processors that are updated regularly, which should make a fast operating system really shine. So yeah intel powermacs (Intel Mac pro's?) will definitely be pretty cool. If you should buy a g5 now or wait is up to you. Since you're a PC user you most likely will need to get all new software anyhow, so the switch to a universal binary isn't too huge of a deal I would imagine. However there are still a number of appllications that are recompiling code and what not so they aren't quite optimized on the intel processor. On the other hand the g5's currently run ALL of the mac software though it will probably be significatnly slower then the intel's when they are released. While no one knows exactly when apple is going to do anything, there are a couple of rumor sites that will give you their best guesses. __________________ I have a dream that one day canon will release a 35mm ef to xl adapter and I'll have iris control and a 35mm dof of all my ef lenses, and it will be awesome...

May 2nd, 2006, 01:12 PM	#3
Mike Phan Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Elk Grove, CA Posts: 93	From what they (Steve Jobs) initially said was that the PM Intel will be coming out in the 3rd quarter. So towards the end of summer 2006. I got the Dual 2.5. Was planning to get another one and deciding if I should go with the Quad 2.5 or wait for the intel. I will have to see. I may end up buying the quad and then sell my old 2.5 for the intel who knows. __________________ PowerMac G5 Dual 2.5 2.5GB RAM/500GB/9800 256 Radeon/DeckLink Pro FCP HD/AE 6.5/DVD Studio Pro/Motion Canon XL2/Glidecam 4000/SteadyStick Sony PVM-1350 Monitor

May 2nd, 2006, 02:04 PM	#4
Nick Jushchyshyn Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA Posts: 548	I'm using a Dual 1.25 G4 and holding out for the Intel based workstations (Macdesk Pro?, Macstation Pro?, Macbox Pro?) to come out before upgrading. Laptops are just too "closed", expensive to upgrade, for me to jump into right now with so much HD compositing and 3D work to do. Want to basically be able to upgrade drives, memory and video board at will. I'll keep my old 2.1Ghz Compaq laptop alive to access web-based email on the road. ;) __________________ Nick Jushchyshyn Matchmoving, Compositing, TD imdb

May 2nd, 2006, 07:32 PM	#7
Aaron Koolen Trustee Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,727	Why wouldn't we? They'll smoke the aging G5 off the planet. I'm even contemplating selling my 5 month old Dual core 2.0GHz G5 for an intel iMac. It's just as fast and it comes with a display and is cheaper. ONly down side is 2GB RAM only and considering I only have 1.5 at the moment and I'm fine it's a non issue. Combined with the fact that my wife gets my hand me downs (She's on a mac mini now) she'd prefer an iMac to Powermac anyway. __________________ My Website Meat Free Media

May 2nd, 2006, 06:41 PM	#5
Mark Sloan Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 346	Intel is supposedly releasing chips earlier than expected: http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2006/...28112857.shtml While the G5 is a kick ass chip, the processor itself ends up getting "starved" because of the rest of the components. In essence, the G5 is continually waiting on the rest of the computer to give it stuff to do. The Intel machines will be nice, for sure, and show big improvements. It will be another year at least before things get optimized, so you'll probably see a speed boost over time! Odd as that sounds. 2 reasons, optimizing for the new processor, and continuing updating of OS libraries to make applications like FCP 64 bit native completely. Those 2 things make the next year or 2 really exciting in terms of performance. Beware the bugs in the meantime! :-)

May 2nd, 2006, 09:09 PM	#8
Matt Ludwig Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 51	Ok, thanks guys! I'm excited to see what Apple comes out with and will probably buy one in the near future. Any ideas on price differences? __________________ Matt Ludwig MSL Productions - www.freewebs.com/mslpro

May 3rd, 2006, 11:10 AM	#9
Mark Sloan Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 346	I'd expect the prices to be in line with what they are today. If the iMac, Mac mini and Macbook Pro are any indication, Apple likes their price points. And Craig, if you are waiting for BluRay you will be waiting a bit for both the price of drives to come down AND the price of media. We're talking cutting edge. Apple isn't going to put those drives into their machines until the retail price gets lower... maybe like $350 retail. (that's a wild guess, anyone have the price point when they started putting in DVD-R drives?) If you get an Intel machine though you can always add an external burner later...