WTB G5 Mac - PCI

[The Tasmanian]

Anyone have a good G5 dual processor PCI mac that they want to get rid of? (obviously non intel/non PCI-X)
PM me if you do - or have any leads on a good second hand refurbisher/ dealer mob.
OR - a Hackintosh if anyone is selling one
I'm upgrading backwards.
Thanks

[Manning]

Wow, I didn't even know there even was a G5 with PCI.

However there are four models, a 1.6, a 1.8, a 1.8DP and a 2.0DP.
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/p ... ac-g5.html

[toddd]

mind telling us why chris? i'm intrigued...

[The Tasmanian]

I'm going to keep my HD PCI setup going for at least the next 5 years - and run modern versions (not 10) of pootools on my lappy - and backwards save to mix
No need for all the new bullshit as I mix through analog gear, have 32 i/o hundreds of tracks, Mytek convertors etc.
- but my old G5 is having problems now - the graphic card is going - and it is so bloody noisy - may have to do a hackintosh after all........
I wont give Avid anymore money for hardeare - ever again, and software I'll wait and see....

[Manning]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the first gen HD cards will go into either a PCI or a PCI-x machine (but not into a PCIe obviously). PCIx was always backwards compatible with PCI. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI-X)

Based on that, you aren't limited to the G5s with PCI - you can go up to the 2.5DP with PCIx.

I'll be offloading two of these G5 2.5DPs (as a pair) in a few months, one which works beautifully and the other which has a fried motherboard (but is otherwise great for parts). Can't help you before then sadly.

[The Tasmanian]

I was told years ago that PCIx Macs would not work with HD PCI cards - but I could be wrong.......

[Manning]

Well mine's been running quite happily for several years. My Digidesign Expansion HD box also has PCIx slots, not PCI. (I believe the Magma does as well).

[mylesgm]

I'm pretty certain Atlantis runs PCIx hd cards in macs.

[The Tasmanian]

Well - that is good news - but I must check on this - as I was sure I was told a PCIx machine we had at BJB could not accommodate the PCI cards....
But again maybe I am mistaken - I may have been led astray by an "expert" who knows they may have read it somewhere...
I hope its true so I can get more life out of my HD
Still considering a Hackintosh though....

[Manning]

Sometime people confuse "PCI Express" (PCIe) with "PCI Extended" (PCIx).

PCIe and PCIx (or PCI) have nothing in common physically, and are not interchangeable.

PCI and PCIx on the other hand, have identical physical designs and are completely interchangeable. A PCI card will run perfectly in a PCIx slot. A PCIx card will even run in a PCI slot, although at a lowered bus speed obviously.

[Text_Edifice]

FWIW a Hackintosh can be a lot of work fiddling round with the right combination of parts to make the OS happy. Also you'd have to run an intel version of OSX this may force a tools upgrade (depending on what version you're using currently).

Why not run an older PC with XP (rather than a G5)?

I love OSX but if the machine's just going to be functioning as a recording device do you really need a Mac?

[JamesM]

I was told years ago that PCIx Macs would not work with HD PCI cards - but I could be wrong.......

there's three different slots

PCI original

PCIx these are PCi slots with more bandwidth all pci cards should work in them

PCIE - these are the new slots and are completely different than PCI/PCIx

Its a bit confusing because PCIx is not PCI xpress, PCIExpress is.

Hope that helps

[The Tasmanian]

Thats really good news about PCIX
run a PC? - never - a hackintosh would be as close as I could go - but even then I am very reluctant. I want stability - And after 15 or so Mac's running music software with 99.9% stability over decades - I could never go to the other side......

[Text_Edifice]

If stability and a setup that *just works* is what you're after I would recommend avoiding a Hackintosh setup unless you're really confident you can get it setup and maintained with a minimum of fuss.

[The Tasmanian]

I agree Dave-
hackintosh makes me very nervous when I am doing this as a profession - I cant have clients fly in and deal with unreliable computer bullshit
I just found a G5 dual processor 2.5ghz/4G ram/PCIX for $350 in my local gumtree.
looks like its only had after hours home use - cant go wrong really... unless it too sounds like Sydney Airport with the 9 fans going.......geez they are noisy!
If it is also noisy - I might have to buy a second hand dog kennel and line it with a tontine, chuck it under the house and use long leads.

[Text_Edifice]

Just thinking out loud but I guess the other thing to consider with a G5 is redundancy and spare parts etc.

Might be worth stockpiling parts / extra machines (esp given they're quite cheap).

I'm sure you've thought of that though.

[The Tasmanian]

That's what I'm thinkin - buy a few cheapies for parts
see if I can get at least 5 years pro work out of it - hopefully 10!
Something in my gut tells me that within 5 years computers and hardware will change so much - that investing in new hardware and a new computer now could be a foolish move for the wallet.
but i do like a newish laptop on hand - and I love my ipad2

[The Tasmanian]

The funny thing is only a few years ago these dual G5 2.5ghz machines were the bomb - every studio in the world wanted to have one for their HD systems.
feels nice to go backwards for once....

[Aearth]

Theres a few on eBay,

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Apple-Powerm ... 133wt_1215

nIC

[The Tasmanian]

Thanks Nic - but postage to Tas will be pricey as they are so heavy, so I am trying to find one closer to me

[Aearth]

Ive noticed that there are some in Melbourne on eBay.
Then you could buy a PCIe quad model and get a expansion chassis for the PCIx cards. Then you can run a heap of RTAS pluggers.
nIC

[Manning]

Ive noticed that there are some in Melbourne on eBay.
Then you could buy a PCIe quad model and get a expansion chassis for the PCIx cards. Then you can run a heap of RTAS pluggers.
nIC

I've got a Digi expansion box sitting around doing nothing.

[The Tasmanian]

Good idea - but no need for many plugs at all - I'm 95% analog mixing -
just the odd EQ filter or cut/maybe a gate, limiter etc in tools - but all main eq & compression, mix buss is OTB.

[Manning]

I think the reason for considering going to an expansion box is not about additional processing power, but to get onto a PCIe bus with your old cards. The most recent G5 with a PCI/PCIx slot is from early 2005, and they die. I've still got a G5 2.5 running, but without the spare I found to cannibalize I'd have been sunk. There are plenty of pre-Intel PCIe Macs from 2006-2008 going around very cheaply.

[Aearth]

I think the reason for considering going to an expansion box is not about additional processing power, but to get onto a PCIe bus with your old cards. The most recent G5 with a PCI/PCIx slot is from early 2005, and they die. I've still got a G5 2.5 running, but without the spare I found to cannibalize I'd have been sunk. There are plenty of pre-Intel PCIe Macs from 2006-2008 going around very cheaply.

Yes the PCIx model machines are getting dated, tired andy slow compared to the newer Macs.

nIC

[The Tasmanian]

Not for me
Fast enough to mix a killer album
Fast enough to record 32 inputs at once with no latency

[Aearth]

Hi Chris
Im glad everything is working out for you mate.

nIC

[Hookemeister]

Hi Chris,

I'd recommend buying 2 as they do have power supply problems and electrolytic cap problems on the main board.

A mate of mine had one go down recently with a power supply problem, worked out cheaper to buy another one than have the power supply repaired.

They're pretty cheap these days so it would be worth having the extra one as a safety.

Good luck

[Manning]

Ditto - getting a second one is more or less essential. The motherboard went on my G5, and they're impossible to get repaired.

[The Tasmanian]

I "inherited" this Mac from a certain studio - it was a G5 PCix dual 2.5ghz after all (doop!)
I found another yesterday locally for $300 with monitor - put all cards/drives in the new one and its rocking - so I have one for spares - and I should look for another working one for spares.
Thanks Gents for all your help and tips.