Power Mac G5

[Bubbles_TPB]

I kinda suddenly want a Power Mac from th3 2005ish era. idk what striked this but i seemed kinda interested. It would kinda work as a good VM/Render server for sorta "low end" stuff. One i would want to get would have 2 Power-PC processors at i believe 4c/8t each at around 2.9ish GHz i believe...............ANYWAYS, would what your recommend? Should i save up for one or no?

 

 

Edit: Im kinda a collector so this could add to that being older

 

Edit 2: nvm. each processor has 2 cores. making it a quad core total.

[Radium_Angel]

7 minutes ago, LukeTheCoder05 said:

I kinda suddenly want a Power Mac from th3 2005ish era. idk what striked this but i seemed kinda interested. It would kinda work as a good VM/Render server for sorta "low end" stuff. One i would want to get would have 2 Power-PC processors at i believe 4c/8t each at around 2.9ish GHz i believe...............ANYWAYS, would what your recommend? Should i save up for one or no?

 

 

Edit: Im kinda a collector so this could add to that being older

I had one. Totally useless in modern day. G5 software is non-existent 

[Turtle Rig]

9 minutes ago, LukeTheCoder05 said:

I kinda suddenly want a Power Mac from th3 2005ish era. idk what striked this but i seemed kinda interested. It would kinda work as a good VM/Render server for sorta "low end" stuff. One i would want to get would have 2 Power-PC processors at i believe 4c/8t each at around 2.9ish GHz i believe...............ANYWAYS, would what your recommend? Should i save up for one or no?

 

 

Edit: Im kinda a collector so this could add to that being older

 

Edit 2: nvm. each processor has 2 cores. making it a quad core total.

Do not do this, it is going to be soo slow that if you had a SSD it would trip out and explode hehe.

[Bubbles_TPB]

Just now, Radium_Angel said:

I had one. Totally useless in modern day. G5 software is non-existent 

I would probably use it as a old mac gaming rig. Just to mess around with. I also could have another harddrive (or SSD) with linux in there as a VM server to swap to.

[Bubbles_TPB]

Just now, Turtle Rig said:

Do not do this, it is going to be soo slow that if you had a SSD it would trip out and explode hehe.

Yeah i don't mean to use it as a every-day PC.

[Bubbles_TPB]

I guess as a hobby machine.

[Radium_Angel]

1 minute ago, LukeTheCoder05 said:

I would probably use it as a old mac gaming rig. Just to mess around with. I also could have another harddrive (or SSD) with linux in there as a VM server to swap to.

G5-based software, especially VM tools and Linux distros, are non-existent. 

They are fun as a fancy table, nothing more (and I say this as someone who had a dual G5 system and maxed it out, only to find out it wouldn't even browse the internet properly these days...because, you guessed it, G5 software is non-existent....)

[Bubbles_TPB]

Just now, Radium_Angel said:

G5-based software, especially VM tools and Linux distros, are non-existent. 

They are fun as a fancy table, nothing more (and I say this as someone who had a dual G5 system and maxed it out, only to find out it wouldn't even browse the internet properly these days...because, you guessed it, G5 software is non-existent....)

Well... This software, it would just be for the PowerPC processor? Because after apple released this, they basically made another one just with intel CPUs.(Probably xeons) What if i went with that?

[Radium_Angel]

3 minutes ago, LukeTheCoder05 said:

What if i went with that?

Going with the Xeon-based version brings you into the proper world and opens up a world of possibilities.

HOWEVER.......

 

They were water cooled, and by this point in time the cooling leaks pretty badly on those systems, so watch out for that...

 

 

"

Early versions of dual processor G5 computers have noise problems. The first one is ground loop-based interference,^[6] which sometimes causes noise leaks into the analog audio outputs. This bug was fixed in Rev. B G5.

 

The second noise problem came from the 'chirping' sound, which can be triggered by fluctuations in power draw. For example, using Exposé causes a brief chirp.^[7] A widely-circulated work-around is to disable the CPUs' "nap" feature using Apple's CHUD Tools, but this was not recommended by Apple. This noise problem was not fixed until the dual core generation of G5s was produced, however it did not affect the "Late 2004" model (at least there have never been any reports). The power draw fluctuation was later attributed to the lack of power management features in the single-core processors.^[8] Apple eventually posted the chirping bug information on its support site.^[9]

 

Although the noise problems did not prevent the affected computers from working, they were problematic for audio professionals and enthusiasts, especially for the liquid-cooled models, which had been expressly designed as mechanically quiet for discerning listeners.

A common problem amongst single processor G5s was that the plate of metal soldered to the Logic Board connecting all eight of the RAM slots would, over time, expand and contract in such a way that the computer could not boot properly, as it would not detect any RAM. The only way known to fix this problem is for someone to re-solder the plate themselves or expose the other side of the Logic Board to heat from a Heat Gun. The latter of these two options is far easier, as to access the plate of metal one would have to totally take out the Logic Board of the computer, whereas all one has to do to expose the other side is remove a fan.

 

All 2.5 GHz dual processor and all 2.7 GHz dual-processor and the 2.5 GHz quad-processor variant had a liquid cooling system that consisted of a radiator, coolant pump, and heat exchangers bolted to the processors. The cooling system was made by Delphi Automotive, a former Harrison Radiator Division of General Motors. This was a bold step for Apple, and should have allowed the use of very fast processors, giving Apple an advantage in both the performance and reliability race, but the system turned out to be subject to coolant leakage.^[10] If not caught in time, the leakage could destroy the processors, logic board, and even corrode the aluminium casing itself. While leakage was sometimes detectable by drops of green coolant in or beneath the machine, in many^[vague] machines the seepage is so slight that it was almost impossible to detect without dismantling the entire computer. Later models (only the 2.7GHz) were equipped with a Panasonic liquid cooling system which was much more reliable.^[11]

 

The liquid cooling system fits into the case where the heat sinks would normally go, so there is no easy way to distinguish the liquid-cooled versions from the air-cooled, although most, but not all,^[vague] of the liquid-cooled machines have a sticker inside warning about the possibility of leakage."

 

From wikipedia stuff

[Bubbles_TPB]

1 minute ago, Radium_Angel said:

Going with the Xeon-based version brings you into the proper world and opens up a world of possibilities.

HOWEVER.......

 

They were water cooled, and by this point in time the cooling leaks pretty badly on those systems, so watch out for that...

What was it called? If the loop failed, it could be possible to slap the corresponding air cooler on the CPU or fix/replace the loop.

[Zando_]

4 minutes ago, LukeTheCoder05 said:

Well... This software, it would just be for the PowerPC processor? Because after apple released this, they basically made another one just with intel CPUs.(Probably xeons) What if i went with that?

That's a Mac Pro my dood. Also eh, it's LGA 775 Xeons, and you can't really replace them without butchering the gorgeous Mac (I tried and failed on my one). I had both a PowerMac G5 and the 2006 1st gen Mac Pro, you want at least a second gen, IIRC those onwards can run the latest software. 

[Zando_]

1 minute ago, LukeTheCoder05 said:

What was it called? If the loop failed, it could be possible to slap the corresponding air cooler on the CPU or fix/replace the loop.

Nope it's not a loop. Quite different from those, it looks like an air cooler but there's liquid in there somewhere. Like I said above they're absolute hell to open up without destroying them and replacement parts will be hard to find. Plus they're Macs, you can't just buy an air cooler off eBay and stick it on there, due to the way the mobo and CPUs are set up that'd either be super jank and ineffective or not work at all. 

[Bubbles_TPB]

Just now, Zando Bob said:

Nope it's not a loop. Quite different from those, it looks like an air cooler but there's liquid in there somewhere. Like I said above they're absolute hell to open up without destroying them and replacement parts will be hard to find. Plus they're Macs, you can't just buy an air cooler off eBay and stick it on there, due to the way the mobo and CPUs are set up that'd either be super jank and ineffective or not work at all. 

balls.

[Bubbles_TPB]

@Zando Bob What could i do then? Should i get one cause i actually would like to. Maybe put a 8800GT in there...

[Zando_]

Just now, LukeTheCoder05 said:

balls.

What you could do is stuff a mackintosh inside one... IIRC @DrMacintosh did that with some kit and it's awesome. Keep the functionality of a model PC/Mac with the awesome look of the cheese grater cases. 

[Bubbles_TPB]

2 minutes ago, Zando Bob said:

What you could do is stuff a mackintosh inside one... IIRC @DrMacintosh did that with some kit and it's awesome. Keep the functionality of a model PC/Mac with the awesome look of the cheese grater cases. 

I kinda want a original on tbh. Have you seen the youtube channel @Druaga1? He kinda inspired me to get into this "old mac" stuff.

[Zando_]

Just now, LukeTheCoder05 said:

I kinda want a original on tbh. Have you seen the youtube channel @Druaga1?

IDK about that YT channel. And if you have an original one it will work and be awesome but also do nothing since no software supports it. 

[Bubbles_TPB]

1 minute ago, Zando Bob said:

IDK about that YT channel. And if you have an original one it will work and be awesome but also do nothing since no software supports it. 

I'd do old gaming stuff thats period correct that would run well on there.

[Zando_]

1 minute ago, LukeTheCoder05 said:

I'd do old gaming stuff thats period correct that would run well on there.

Do you have download links to any old games that run on PowerPC? There's the PowerPC archive: http://ppcarchive.dyniform.net but they don't have much for gaming at all. 

[Bubbles_TPB]

1 minute ago, Zando Bob said:

Do you have download links to any old games that run on PowerPC? There's the PowerPC archive: http://ppcarchive.dyniform.net but they don't have much for gaming at all. 

Ok. If i got one which OS should i install? I'm not one to know the names and everything.

[Zando_]

2 minutes ago, LukeTheCoder05 said:

Ok. If i got one which OS should i install? I'm not one to know the names and everything.

Latest it supports is uh... Leopard IIRC: http://lowendmac.com/2015/remembering-the-final-powerpc-macs/

 

Apparently Tiger is really dank too, I dual booted both on my PowerMac. 

[Bubbles_TPB]

1 minute ago, Zando Bob said:

Latest it supports is uh... Leopard IIRC: http://lowendmac.com/2015/remembering-the-final-powerpc-macs/

 

Apparently Tiger is really dank too, I dual booted both on my PowerMac. 

ok. thanks. i'll look for one.

[DrMacintosh]

The only thing those PowerPC Processors are good for is generating heat. 

 

The G5 is eye candy, not a functional computer anymore. I wouldn't get one unless you wanted to do a case mod and put a real computer in it (like me), or you just want to have one because you collect Macs. 

[Ashleyyyy]

as @DrMacintosh has said it's only good to look at. i own a 2004 dual-core 2.0ghz PowerMac G5, which i still plan to use for a very specific thing. 

 

it won't be connected to the internet or anything. i'm not stupid. 

 

i plan to use mine with an old MIDI keyboard that was made in the PowerPC era, which means that the drivers have issues on Intel Mac's. 

 

but yeah if you don't have a decent collection of some era appropriate hardware that you plan to use with it a G5 is basically useless now.

 

it would be stupid to use it online becuase Leopard had it's last security update in 2009 so it's super duper insecure by now.