I recently bought one of the new dual core PowerMacs. Having used the machine for a couple of weeks, I thought I would share some of my observations and feelings about it. First, let me get my biases out in the open. I have, for about four years, very happily used Linux on my desktop. Doing so has made me very comfortable with the UNIX environment in general, and with GNOME specifically. During that time, I have used OS X machines on a regular basis, so I am quite comfortable in that environment as well. Since I switched to Linux, I have not used Windows for anything more than the occasional bit of software testing or lab work, and generally feel quite uncomfortable with it. Thus, this article is very much written from the perspective of someone who finds OS X and Linux pleasing on principle. I implore the reader to make his own value judgments based on my comments.
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Member since:2005-07-07
They wouldn't add value in terms of performance. They would add value in terms of component quality.
If you say so. As long as the memory works and keeps working where does the qaulity show. So the colors on your display become more vivid. The mp3s sound cleaner.. where?
A Lamborghini also uses very expensive Brembo brakes that cost as much as a small Kia. If the Lamborghini used the same brakes as a Ford Taurus, then we'd have a problem. And that's exactly the case here. The PowerMac has the reputation of a Lamborghini, but uses mostly the same parts as a Ford Taurus-like Dell.
A Lancer Evo uses the same brakes I think. The koni FSDs can be put in a jetta or 3 series Bimmer. That would be analogous to your example of the hand built X2.
All chips manufactured on the same design are not equal, due to manufacturing variability. The chips that can run at tight tolerances are higher-grade chips. Even if you run them at regular tolerances, they are still higher-grade chips that are less likely to fail.
I don't see the point here about less likely to fail. I am guessing that all the slow bin parts intel sells rated at the slower clock rate are inferior parts. They are cheating customers then because they are more likely to fail that their high bin couterparts at the rated tolerences???
You are now speaking out of you nether regions.
Yes! This is, for example, why Burr Brown sells "K" grade DAC chips for a premium. Some chips on a manufacturing run just turn out better than others.
Let's not get into Audio. MIT sells $30000 speaker cables. An that is another whole rathole discussion. I am an Audiophile and have spent my fair share on cabling.
The X2's memory controller handles low-latency DDR and ECC DIMMs equally well. I see no reason why the case would be different for DDR2.
The X2s memory controller handlers ECC DIMMs... news to me.
Patriot. I said it yesterday in a reply to Japail.
Sorry missed it. Why didn't you pick patriot for the G5 upgrade and why crucial?
Member since:2005-07-06
If you say so. As long as the memory works and keeps working where does the qaulity show.
It's peace of mind. If you know the memory is built better, you know that it's likely to last longer. You know it's not just the same generic stuff you find in every machine.
I don't see the point here about less likely to fail. I am guessing that all the slow bin parts intel sells rated at the slower clock rate are inferior parts.
If you don't see why a part running at the margin of its performance and with a lower quality PCB is more likely to fail, then I don't see what I can do to explain things any better. Let me give another example though. Why will most people tell you to stay away from ECS motherboards? Functionally, they use the same northbridge as an Asus, same southbridge, etc. Yet, people pay a lot more for an Asus board. Why? Because the latter are just plain better built. They're built on better PCBs with better wire routing. They use better capacitors and better resistors. These things make them more reliable in the long run.
The X2s memory controller handlers ECC DIMMs... news to me.
All Athlon64s and Opterons can run ECC memory. An Opteron 175 and an Athlon X2 are identical chips, they are just packaged differently.
Sorry missed it. Why didn't you pick patriot for the G5 upgrade and why crucial?
I was worried about compatibility. I saw that all the folks on macnn.com were using Crucial in their machines, so I went with the herd.
Member since:
2005-07-06
Please don't post out of context. The value add discussion was pointed at the fact that using Corsair's high performance DIMMS in a G5 would add value. It clearly doesn't.
They wouldn't add value in terms of performance. They would add value in terms of component quality.
Apple charges a premium because they need to make a profit.
I don't disagree with this point. However, I can't number of times I've heard "Apples are more expensive than PCs because they use better parts". I'm sure you've seen that in these forums. I explicitly pointed out that this was the myth I was trying the debunk. The idea that I was trying to say the G5 is a low quality machine is entirely your fabrication.
Your X2 is a piss poor example of a quality machine from a manufacturer because you built it.
Did I really say it was? I said the PowerMac's parts were lower in quality than my X2's. Nothing more, nothing less. Oh, and you could build a PC using premium parts. Boutique PC shops do this all the time. The simple truth is, that the quality of these boutique PCs is apparently higher than the quality of the PowerMac. That's all I intended to point out.
A lambhorgini Gallardo and uses koni FSD shocks and brembo brakes does that mean it isn't worth the price premium because you can find those same components in the market and put in your car?
A Lamborghini also uses very expensive Brembo brakes that cost as much as a small Kia. If the Lamborghini used the same brakes as a Ford Taurus, then we'd have a problem. And that's exactly the case here. The PowerMac has the reputation of a Lamborghini, but uses mostly the same parts as a Ford Taurus-like Dell.
The permium components are only binned to run at lower latencies. What good is it in a G5?
All chips manufactured on the same design are not equal, due to manufacturing variability. The chips that can run at tight tolerances are higher-grade chips. Even if you run them at regular tolerances, they are still higher-grade chips that are less likely to fail.
Really. So a top speed bin P4 say able to clock at 3.8 ghz running @ 3.4 Ghz is a higher quality chip than a P4 of the exact same model binned to run at 3.4Ghz @3.4Ghz??!!!
Yes! This is, for example, why Burr Brown sells "K" grade DAC chips for a premium. Some chips on a manufacturing run just turn out better than others.
Apple has to support both types of memory. I am not aware of a memory contorller that can handler both low latency DDR2 and ECC DIMMs equally well.
The X2's memory controller handles low-latency DDR and ECC DIMMs equally well. I see no reason why the case would be different for DDR2.
<i?What brand did you buy for crying out loud? I have asked you many times already. You didn't even mention it in the article. [/i]
Patriot. I said it yesterday in a reply to Japail.