New (or used) Desktop advice...?

seachto7

Hi all,

I picked up a used Power Mac last year, and it's ok. It's annoying that I can't use it for a few things it now turns out I could do with on the machine.
I need the latest browsers for work purposes, but can't use them on the Mac (PowerPC). I also can't watch Netflix on it, it won't install the latest Flash player. I recently cancelled Sky so would be watching a lot more tv online.

So I am on the look out for a desktop machine.

I am open to a Windows or Mac machine......Would be interested to see what Windows machine people would recommend...

I have a monitor already. Here are the specs for the Mac, I wouldn't mind getting similar RAM if I could. I would buy new or used, but really not sure what to go for:

Mac Specs:

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: Power Mac G5 Quad
Model Identifier: PowerMac11,2
Processor Name: PowerPC G5 (1.1)
Processor Speed: 2.5 GHz
Number Of CPUs: 4
L2 Cache (per CPU): 1 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 1.25 GHz
Boot ROM Version: 5.2.7f1

I am thinking that 2GB Ram could be enough, but wouldn't mind more if I could....

deconduo

If you wanted to go for a custom build:

Item|Price
Total build cost: €416.69 + €30 shipping
Intel Core i3-2120 Box, LGA1155|€107.27
ASRock H61M-HVS (B3), Sockel 1155, mATX|€41.67
4GB Patriot AMD Entertainment Edition PC3-12800 1600MHz|€18.24
Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB, SATA II (HD502HJ)|€73.00
FRACTAL DESIGN Gehäuse Core 1000 black|€33.00
Samsung SH-222AB bare schwarz SATA|€15.91
Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 450W|€41.49
MS Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SB-Version Englisch|€86.11


Or cheaper with a small HDD and no OS:


Item|Price
Total build cost: €233.06 + €30 shipping
Intel Celeron G530 Box, LGA1155|€36.62
OCZ Vertex Plus 60GB SSD SATA 6,4cm (2,5")|€61.94
4GB Patriot AMD Entertainment Edition PC3-12800 1600MHz|€18.24
ASRock H61M-ITX, Sockel 1155, ITX|€64.25
Thermaltake Element Q, mini-ITX, 200W-Netzteil|€52.01

seachto7

I should have mentioned I am open to getting a Windows machine as well, so I am more in the dark about what Windows machine to get?

I wouldn't know where to start with a custom build.

I think just getting a new/used desktop would be my preferred option, possibly would go back to Windows...

Skerries

if that Mac is an Intel based one you might consider using dual boot

seachto7

Nope, it's not an Intel machine, it's a PowerPC

deconduo

seachto7 wrote: »

I should have mentioned I am open to getting a Windows machine as well, so I am more in the dark about what Windows machine to get?

I wouldn't know where to start with a custom build.

I think just getting a new/used desktop would be my preferred option, possibly would go back to Windows...

If you're based in Dublin I'd put a custom build together for you no problem. If not, there's plenty of people around the country willing to help wherever you are, just ask in B&U

seachto7

Hi,

Not up in Dublin I am afraid, I never thought about a custom build, but will have a look over on that forum.

I wonder could the mods transfer this thread?

aidan_walsh

Moved to B&U.

seachto7

cheers mod

uncle_sam_ie

seachto7 wrote: »

Hi,

Not up in Dublin I am afraid, I never thought about a custom build, but will have a look over on that forum.

I wonder could the mods transfer this thread?

It's really not as hard as you think building your own. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPIXAtNGGCw

The hardest part is getting all the right bit's you'll need to build it. But, that's were we come in. deconduo won't steer you wrong and his builds are always solid.
You'll save yourself a lot of money in the end. And, you could always build a hackintosh too if you want to still use OSX.

seachto7

See, this is my problem lol...

I am not swayed with Mac over PC. I notice the advantage of Mac when I am using recording software, in that it is seamless to use.
My main problem is that it's a PowerPC, and not Intel. That means I am goosed for Flash and the latest browsers, which I would like to have in order to use some Firefox plugins for example....
So if someone could butcher my Mac, then I would say "work away", but it seems it PowerPC is the issue....

uncle_sam_ie

I'd go over to Macrumors and look on their PowerPC forum and see how others are getting around this issue. http://forums.macrumors.com/forumdisplay.php?f=145

seachto7

Think I might move away from Mac altogether...

Serephucus

If the only advantage of the Mac is that it's fast at rendering stuff, wouldn't that mean you could just get a Windows machine with a decent processor? If you don't use anything that only works on Mac, why not go for Windows?

Anyway, if you decide to, fill this out and we'll spec a build for you.

seachto7

Serephucus wrote: »

If the only advantage of the Mac is that it's fast at rendering stuff, wouldn't that mean you could just get a Windows machine with a decent processor? If you don't use anything that only works on Mac, why not go for Windows?

Anyway, if you decide to, fill this out and we'll spec a build for you.

Yup, you're right there. I will fill it out over the next few days. (Who do I send it to?)

Serephucus

LOL, just post it here. :P

seachto7

Is there an idiot button I can press?

Serephucus

Good enough? :P

seachto7

1. What is your budget? €400, SImilar to what I paid for the PowerPC Mac at the time, so would like to keep it at this, or under if possible!

2. What will be the main purpose of the computer? Work, which is SEO/PPC, so I would be running some software on it to run reports, analysis etc, some low level website maintenance.
I would also use this for watching tv online.
I would also use it to do some low level music recording, which would involve using some software plugins, but nothing too taxing...

3. Do you need a copy of Windows? Yes

4. Can you use any parts from an old computer? Not sure, I don't think I could.

5. Do you need a monitor? No

5a. If yes, what size do you need. n/a

5b. If no, what resolution is your current monitor and do you plan to upgrade in the near future? [1152x864] [Not upgrading anytime soon]

6. Do you need any of these peripherals? No

7. Are you willing to try overclocking? Not sure....

8. How can you pay? Credit Card/Laser. Would prefer Laser..

9. When are you purchasing? No timeframe...

10. If you need help building it, where are you based? Limerick

Serephucus

I'd go with deconduo's build from the first page. If you want to save a bit of money, Software4Students does Windows 7 for €45.50 vs. HVWS's €85. Should bring you to your €400 budget.

seachto7

Cool, so this is something I never did before, do I just order all of it separately...?

deconduo's suggestion was for a Mac if I am not mistaken? So it would just involve gutting my existing machine?

Serephucus

You order the parts from HWVS as-is. If you want them to assemble it for you (I'd give it a go yourself, it's not hard, and people here will gladly help) chuck this in your cart as well. You order Win7 from S4S as-is as well, and install* it when you get the computer.

*To install Windows, you boot into your BIOS (press delete on start up), and set your DVD drive as the default boot device. You then pop your Windows disc in, and it's very similar to a regular application install from there on. Because the version from S4S is an upgrade (that's why it's so cheap) there's a bit of an extra step, which basically means you do this twice (don't worry, the whole process is only about ten minutes, twenty in your case), but there's plenty of guides online for how to do this. If you don't want this extra step, you'll have to fork out the extra €40 for the full version from HWVS.

seachto7

I just clicked on the link, what is "Rechner - Zusammenbau"

Serephucus

As to what it means, I couldn't tell you, but what it is the assembly service that HWVS offer done as an "item", if you like. Allowing you to add a custom set of components together, and getting them to assemble it.

Edit: Google Translate tells me it means "Calculator - Assembly".

deconduo

If you're based in Dublin I could build it for you and install Windows etc.

seachto7

Not based in Dublin, but would not be a problem..
Leave it with me...:)