Computer purchase dilemma...

B

Black Morty Rackham

Supreme [H]ardness
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Jan 8, 2004
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Yeah, I know, this is an old topic, and it's really hard to help someone with such things, and in the end, it's still my decision, yadda yadda, but I'll post this anyway.

I need a new computer. Ever since my 400MHz Yosemite died in january (or whenever it was), I've been stuck with a) an original iMac with 192 megs of RAM and b) a 733MHz P3 that gets BSODed a few times per day, and often doesn't even start up at all. Not too fun, and I really want a computer of my own again.

Generally, I can't say I do all that many demanding things with the computer, but the main reason for me not playing computer games is probably the fact that I currently can't. But playing games is not important enough for me to base the entire purchase on it... It is still a factor, though, and with the iMac's shoddy graphics card, I really don't know what to do.

Other than games, I'd love to start with 3D graphics again (something that's very hard to do on a 233MHz iMac), and I'm working on a real-time physics simulation engine with a friend of mine. So I'll definitely want a G5. Coupled with the fact that I don't really need a portable, I'd say the new iMac and cheapest PowerMac are the only options. No, there is no chance in hell I'm switching to Windows/*NIX, price be damned.

Multiple processors would be very nice indeed, but the PowerMac would cost me about 800 dollars more than the iMac, and should I decide that the iMac is not powerful enough, I could buy an x86 computer for the price difference and probably get better game performance than the PowerMac would give me (chances are the performance in the physics engine would be worse, though, what with dual processors, AltiVec, etc). I already have a monitor, and a good one at that, so that's not an issue (though I'd prefer a flat one).

Quite frankly, I have no idea what I should do. If money wasn't an issue, I'd get the PowerMac... but money is an issue. I'm currently studying, and I'm rather low on funds. But I could definitely still afford one, if I tried. It's not like there are many other things I need to buy (or hell, even want to buy).


Argh. :(
 
why not go with the microsoft line and a dual processor and run unix and have a lil taste of both worlds and dual boot... :rolleyes:
 
Ohh... Several reasons.

Windows sucks. *NIX sucks.

There are no good apps for my every day stuff for either.



(When I say "sucks," I obviously mean "sucks for me." I'm sure your Beowulf cluster loves your highly optimized GNU/Linux OS, and that your gaming box runs like charm with Windows XP, but for me, it just sucks, plain and simple. I could give a whole bunch of reasons why I don't like either, but let's just say I'm a disproportionally demanding user, and let that be the end of it.

I will not abandon Mac OS X. Two computers, one with OS X for my surfing and other such general stuff, and one Windows box for gaming and rendering tasks, sure, that might work when I can afford it.)



Besides, if I needed help on picking an x86 system, why would I post it in the Apple forum? I need help deciding on whether I should get a PowerMac or an iMac (or even wait for something "New And Improved"), nothing else.
 
Well, since you have the monitor it makes sense to go with the G5. On the other hand, if you are happy with the performance, you could sell the monitor and use the extra cash to max out a G5 iMac.

Decisions, decisions ;-)

Orc
 
I would:

Grab the iMac G5. Save the rest of the catch if you need it.
 
lopoetve said:
Then OSX sucks...
Click to expand...

*NIX doesn't suck for technical reasons, it sucks because I'm a disproportionally demanding user, and frankly, I'd hate to have to put up with all the... fuzziness of just *NIX. Aqua, Cocoa, etc, makes all the difference. :p

And like I said, when I say it sucks, I mean it sucks for me, not for anybody else.



Anyway, that's a bit off topic, so...


The problem with getting the iMac to save money is that I really want to start gaming again. The iMac's shoddy graphics card is a real bump in the road. Had it had a 9600Pro, I'd definitely would've gone for the iMac, but it doesn't and in my opinion, a 5200Ultra is not good enough. So basically, I can either...

A) Buy the iMac now, add some extra RAM, and buy an x86 computer later, or...

B) Buy the PowerMac now (or in a near future).


Advantages with A:
  • I can buy the iMac as soon as it ships.
  • iMacs are sexy, and the monitor is probably better than the one I have. Better resolution, anyway, and TFTs are easier on the eyes than CRTs.
  • Building (and modding, overclocking, etc) my own system would be fun.
  • I'd probably get better gaming performance with the Windows box (+ iMac) than with a PowerMac.

Disadvantages:
  • Shipping problems with the iMac? Apple might run low on G5s, etc. Could I count on getting it within a reasonable amount of time?
  • For the total price of those two systems, I could probably buy a dual 1.8GHz system with the beefiest graphics card. (that might be the deal breaker)
  • I really dislike using Windows. But you don't notice that much from inside a game...


Advantages with B:
  • See the disadvantages with A list...
  • I could get a rather beefy PowerMac for the price of an iMac + x86.
  • I can go Mac OS X only, which I would prefer.
  • Dual 64-bit processors with a great SIMD unit = awesome for my physics project.
  • Dual 64-bit ... = awesome for 3D graphics, which I'd like to start with again.
  • Aside from gaming, the PowerMac option would probably give me the best performance out of the two options.

Disadvantages:
  • See the advantages of A...
  • Two is greater than one. Having a redundant system is nice.
  • I don't get to build my own system.
  • Worse gaming performance (depending on how much I spend on the graphics card, I suppose). This is not a big issue, though, since it would probably be able to run any game I want at the highest settings without a single hickup.
  • Price. I probably can't afford the PowerMac right away. On the other hand, the iMac + x86 would probably cost more in total.




I really need some feedback here... Did I forget anything? :p
 
Yeah, Apple isn't a gaming platform (don't even try it, it isn't. Out of my 150 games, less than 1/4 ever got ported. Sorry.) :p
 
Guess your question comes down to:
Is your physics model project more important than playing games?

Faced with that decision I'd probably end up going with the iMac and PC setup, since you're splitting the two over a longer period of time.. it's easier to get the money together and you can get to work on your project right away instead of having to wait until you have the money together.
With the iMac shortage issue, get your order in soon and don't worry too much about it. The Dual 1.8s will be affected by any processor shortages as well. The processor shortage is pretty much over on the 1.8Ghz as that was why the iMacs were being held back to begin with.
Production normally ramps up slowly, while demand is always high, so I would expect about a 3-4 week wait.
 
On the whole, I'd say 3D graphics + physics engine and such are more important than games. I'm not really a gamer, as such. It's just that I'd love to be able to play new games again. I borrowed my brother's computer a while ago and played Halo, and realized I actually missed playing games. A lot. But it's not really a deal breaker for the iMac/PC setup, since I miss doing graphic more. On the other hand... The iMac would probably be powerful enough for almost anything I'd do, including the physics engine project. Having two computers for this doesn't really matter, since a dual processor G5 has multitasking capabilities from heaven. It could easily handle both rendering and anything else at the same time, I'd bet.


Why couldn't they just have put a 9600Pro in the iMac? Argh. :(

Anyway... Game availability is a problem (when is Doom 3 coming for Mac OS again?), but like I said, I'm not a gamer. I'm very picky about what I play, and the best games often get ported anyway, even if it takes a few months.

I can afford a PowerMac right away, but it would probably result on living on ramen for a few months. But I like ramen, so that's not a big issue... Sure, I'd like an iPod and a digital camera, but such things can wait, and other than that, there aren't many "luxury products" I'd even bother purchase.
 
Ahhhh, bah, I think I'll have to wait until the iMacs arrive at Mac stores and I'll go play around with one, see how I like it, etc.
 
Black Morty Rackham said:
Ahhhh, bah, I think I'll have to wait until the iMacs arrive at Mac stores and I'll go play around with one, see how I like it, etc.
Click to expand...

I know a lot of you guys like to play games on the PC, but why not get a beefed up iMac, and an XBox?
 
I have access to a PS2, a GameCube, an N64, a SNES, a NES, and probably a few others... But I generally prefer computer games, since I mostly play first person shooters and strategy games. Such things tend to work better with a mouse and keyboard. Plus I don't really want to spend money on a machine that can't do more than play games.
 
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