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Thoughts on a G4 or G5?

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Vito

Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2003
Location
Iowa
I have an oportunity to buy a G4 dual 1.25 from a friend who doesnt need it. ( His work purchased a newer one- the G5)
Anyway.....is it worth looking into? How do they perform with games?
Or is this a can or worms 'cause you cant put just any 'ol hardware in these rigs? I've never done a Pepsi challenge with a pc dualie & poweMac daulie.
 
Well in general i've never viewed mac's as being the big gamer. Regardless of specs. Just my two cents though.
 
The main issues with Macs are hardware upgradability and software availability.

Hardware:

While the G4 has pci slots and uses a standard IDE drive and SDRAM, that's basically the extent of the mods/upgrades you'll be able to do with this machine. Forget overclocking. Forget processor upgrades, with the exception of a few kits. Forget case mods. Forget Motherboard upgrades. Forget any cooling solution other than stock.

Software:

Check to see if the game(s) of your choice have a version for Macs. Chances are, they do not. In their defense, however Macs do have some extraordinarily good (albeit expensive) video and audio editing suites which are exclusive to their platform.

On a final note, consider that with the exception of those industry-standard components referred to above, parts for Macs are very expensive and difficult, if not impossible to obtain.
 
hafa summed it up pretty well
basically go for it if your all abour video editing/image editing
otherwise i wouldn't
 
While the G4 has pci slots and uses a standard IDE drive and SDRAM, that's basically the extent of the mods/upgrades you'll be able to do with this machine. Forget overclocking. Forget processor upgrades, with the exception of a few kits. Forget case mods. Forget Motherboard upgrades. Forget any cooling solution other than stock.

You can overclock PowerPCs. I can't imagine what Apple could do to stop you from taking a dremel to their case or putting some crazy new cooling system inside. Its not like on the PC side people design cases for that, people just do it.

Check out www.xlr8yourmac.com
 
My Mac is overclocked. Works great. It has a software interface that goes with the CPU card I got. You can drop a Mac's mobo & other parts into a PC case if you want. Its not that hard to do. All you have to do is drill holes for brass mounting studs since the motherboards are pretty close to the ATX spec but the PCI slots are located too close to the edge of the motherboard so the motherboard must be moved back some. I keep saying I'm going to do it but then I find something else to spend money on like girls lol. If I ever do it I will also get a water block for it (probably for a video chipset since the G3 CPU makes less than 15W of heat) & water cool it. It should be a lot of fun.

As for games, you wont be seeing Half Live 2 on the Mac any time soon but Doom 3 should be coming out soon & the Mac & PC versions of Halo 2 will be coming out simultaneously or so I've heard (it would be nice considering Halo 1 was supposed to be a Mac game that was supposed to come out in 1999-2000ish ;)). There are a few games that get headlines because of their impressive graphics but don't have too much fanfare after the next big game comes like Far Cry. Games like HL2 will always be talked about because its a really major game. Its really the only major FPS that will not see the Mac. Doom3 & Quake4 will for example. The majority of simulation games are on the Mac as well. Some of the best games like Marathon (another Bungie creation) & Myst started on the Mac.

Basically what it comes down to is if you like the Mac OS you can use your Mac to play games as well. I have a PC only because I have no job & the most I could afford was about $200 for a new gaming machine & so I put together my current rig in August. Its only purpose is to play Halo on & Fold really.

If I had ~$1600 I would put together a nice Single Processor 1.8GHz G5 & game on it instead. It would replace both my Mac & PC for the most part. I'd probably keep the PC around for Folding@Home & for PC only apps & games which I occasionally run into. It would also be good to have a secondary machine for Lan parties (which I never go to) & stuff since the G5's case is pretty heavy :D (my mom has a DP2GHz G5. (Its freakin' awesome)
 
The issue for MAC's and games is

1. the game often come out a year or more after the PC version - if time isnt a factor then great

2. There selection is far far less then the PC market - you are often stuck with only a few major titles and if you dont like that genre u are S.O.L.

3. Your selection for video cards to use on a MAC are considerably limited - it seems either u can get a readeon 9600 or a radeon 9800 PRO 256mb... I guess i am just used to making decisions with alot of options, but ia m sure those IBM CPU's eat up games much like AMD does.
 
hafa said:
The main issues with Macs are hardware upgradability and software availability.

Hardware:

While the G4 has pci slots and uses a standard IDE drive and SDRAM, that's basically the extent of the mods/upgrades you'll be able to do with this machine. Forget overclocking. Forget processor upgrades, with the exception of a few kits. Forget case mods. Forget Motherboard upgrades. Forget any cooling solution other than stock.

Software:

Check to see if the game(s) of your choice have a version for Macs. Chances are, they do not. In their defense, however Macs do have some extraordinarily good (albeit expensive) video and audio editing suites which are exclusive to their platform.

On a final note, consider that with the exception of those industry-standard components referred to above, parts for Macs are very expensive and difficult, if not impossible to obtain.


Tell that to
these guys. They have been overclocking and modding macs for years. Anything we do, they can do as well. Stop being narrowminded.
 
corrosion231 said:
okay, stop being misinformed. :p


i dont think it is being miss-informed, it is just difficult to locate that information, for years when MAC debates come up i jump right in and people who say they can be O/Cd' never provide links like you did - as in there could never back up their claims.

But thank you for that link, it is nice to see that MAC user reach beyond the stereo typical lable of someone who does not know how to use a computer so they use a MAC because it is so easy.
 
Mr.Guvernment said:
i dont think it is being miss-informed, it is just difficult to locate that information, for years when MAC debates come up i jump right in and people who say they can be O/Cd' never provide links like you did - as in there could never back up their claims.

But thank you for that link, it is nice to see that MAC user reach beyond the stereo typical lable of someone who does not know how to use a computer so they use a MAC because it is so easy.

And the overclocking they do is some hardcore crap. I dont see any of us soldering points on a pcb to overclock
 
Just because you can't provide links doesn't always mean something. I don't have a webpage or anything but I do crap with computers that people say doesn't seem possible some times. Such as removing all fans, sealing up the case, and filling it with vegitable oil and having a pump turn it all. It was fun... but messy as hell. Had to wash it off and put it in the oven for 3 days at lowest temp to clean it all off.
 
Basically what it comes down to is if you like the OS go get a Mac. You can indeed game on it but you wont be able to play some games on it like HL2. You can mod/overclock it if you want as well but don't buy it if you are looking solely for a computer to do that. If you like being able to run around the internet not having to worry about Spyware, Viruses, etc then get a Mac if thats a concern (well there are still some Mac users who get all scared over proof of concept viri for the mac :D). If you like the Mac look & feel then get a Mac. If you like the extra horse power PPCs have in content creation apps get a Mac. The latter two reasons why I have my Mac. I like OS X much better than Windows. I just couldn't build a low end Mac gaming machine for $200 back in August so here I am with my low end Athlon box ;).

Also one last nice thing about Macs is they last a long long time. The Mac I'm typing this on right now was purchased in December of 1998. It was a new model back in 1997. Thats nearly 8 years of life out of the platform & it still is ticking. The only major & necessary upgrade to the machine has been a new CPU in 2003. PM G4s should have even more life as Freescale (formerly known as Motorola's CPU department) is releasing the PPC7448 G4 which should hit 2GHz (90nm process) right off the bat (current 130nm PPC7447s are hitting 1.7GHz).
 
samuraisam said:
Your link's give a timeout error at the apple store.

-Sam
damn apple. Anyways here is the list from the apple website

Featured Mac OS X Games

* 3D Hearts Deluxe
* 3D Spades Deluxe
* 4x4 EVO 2
* A Tale in the Desert II
* A-OK! The Wings of Mercury
* Active Lancer
* Activision Anthology
* Adventure Inlay [NEW]
* Age of Empires II: Gold
* Age of Mythology
* AirBurst Extreme
* Alchemy
* Alias Underground
* Aliens vs. Predator 2
* American McGee’s Alice
* America’s Army
* Androkids
* Andromeda Online
* Another War
* Arcane Arena
* Argonaut
* ARR!
* Arthur’s 1st Grade
* Avalanche
* Avernum 3
* BabelBloX
* Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn
* Baldur’s Gate II: Throne of Bhaal
* Battlefield 1942 Deluxe Edition
* Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of World War II [NEW]
* Bejeweled
* The Belt
* Big Bang Backgammon
* Big Bang Checkers
* Big Bang Chess
* Big Bang Mancala
* Big Bang Reversi
* Big Money Deluxe
* Billy Frontier
* Birdie Shoot
* Black & White
* Black & White: Creature Isle
* Blades of Avernum
* BloodRayne
* BombSquad
* Bongo Boogie
* Bounce Out Blitz
* Bridge Construction Set
* Bubble Trouble X
* Bugdom 2
* Burning Monkey Casino
* Burning Monkey Mahjong Solitaire
* Burning Monkey Solitaire 2005 [NEW]
* Burst
* Call of Duty
* Call of Duty: United Offensive [NEW]
* Candy Cruncher
* Captain Bumper
* Chainz
* Championship Manager 01-02
* Championship Manager 4
* Chessmaster 9000
* Civilization III - Game of the Year Edition
* Clive Barker’s Undying
* Collapse! Crunch
* Coldstone
* Command & Conquer Generals
* Cosmic Encounter Online
* Cro-Mag Rally
* CrossCards
* CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
* CyberExtruder
* Dark Horizons: Lore
* Deimos Rising
* Delta Force: Black Hawk Down
* Diablo II*
* Digby’s Donuts
* Dominions II: The Ascension Wars
* Doom 3 [NEW]
* Doulber Gold
* Dragon’s Lair 3D
* Drip Drop
* Duke Nukem 3D*
* Dungeon Siege
* Earth 2140
* Enemy Engaged
* Enigma
* Enigmo
* Episilon Tahari
* Equilibria
* Escape Velocity: Nova
* Europa Universalis II
* EverQuest
* F/A-18: Operation Iraqi Freedom
* F1 Championship Edition
* Fallout 2
* The Feeble Files
* Finding Nemo Games
* Fly! II**
* Ford Racing 2
* Forma
* Freedom Force
* Galactic Patrol
* Geneforge 2
* Germs
* Ghost Master
* Ghost Recon: Game of the Year Edition
* Giants: Citizen Kabuto**
* Gish
* GLTron
* Gorky 17
* Green Machine
* Grizzly Adventure
* Gutterball 2
* Halo: Combat Evolved
* Harpoon 3
* Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
* Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
* Hearts of Iron
* Heavy Metal F.A.K.K.2*
* Helix
* Heroes of Might and Magic IV
* High Roller
* Homeworld 2
* Icewind Dale**
* iConquer
* The Incredibles
* The Incredibles: When Danger Calls
* Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb
* Islands Mini-Golf
* iPuppets Presents: Colin’s Classic Cards
* James Bond 007: Nightfire
* Jeopardy! 2
* Jinni Zeala
* The Journey to Wild Divine [NEW]
* Kelly Slater’s Pro Surfer
* Kick Off 2002
* Kiki the Nano Bot
* Knights and Merchants*
* Law & Order: Dead on the Money
* Legion
* Lineage
* Links Championship Edition
* Little Soldiers
* The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
* Lua Lua
* MacPuyo 2
* Mah Jong Medley
* Mahjong Solitarus
* Marble Blast Gold
* Massive Assault
* Master of Orion III
* Max Payne
* Maximum Pool*
* Maya Personal Learning Edition
* Medal of Honor: Allied Assault
* Medal of Honor: Breakthrough
* Medal of Honor: Spearhead
* Men of Valor
* Mind Rover
* Monster Fair [NEW]
* Monster’s Inc. Games
* MTX: Mototrax
* Mummy Maze Deluxe
* Mutant Storm
* Myst III: Exile*
* Myst IV: Revelation
* Myth III: The Wolf Age
* Nanosaur II: Hatchling
* NASCAR 2003
* Neverwinter Nights
* Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark
* Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide
* NHL Eastside Hockey Manager
* NoLimits Rollercoaster Simulation
* No One Lives Forever 2
* Oni*
* Only Mortal
* Orbz
* Otto Matic
* Owari
* Payback
* Pillars of Garendall
* Player Manager 2003
* Pocket Tanks
* Ponere
* pop-pop
* Power Chips
* Project Nomads
* QBz
* Quake*
* Quake II*
* Quake III: Gold*
* Railroad Tycoon 3
* Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield
* Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
* realMYST
* Red Faction*
* Republic: The Revolution
* Return to Castle Wolfenstein
* RHEM
* Riddle of the Sphinx II: The Omega Stone
* Rise of Nations: Gold Edition [NEW]
* Ruckus Buck’s Dangerous Mines [NEW]
* Sacrifice
* Scramble
* Second Life
* Seven Seas Deluxe
* Shadowbane
* Shadowbane: The Rise of Chaos
* Shape Shifter
* Sheep*
* Shrek 2
* Sim Theme Park*
* SimCity 4
* SimCity 4: Rush Hour
* Simon Extreme
* Simon the Sorcerer II*
* The Sims*
* The Sims: Hot Date
* The Sims: House Party*
* The Sims: Livin’ Large*
* The Sims: Makin’ Magic
* The Sims: Superstar
* The Sims: Unleashed
* The Sims: Vacation
* Sin Gold*
* Slope Rider
* Slots from Bally Gaming
* Snowball Run
* Solace
* Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix
* Solitaire Till Dawn X
* Space Colony
* Spelvin
* Spider-Man 2
* Spin Crisis
* SpyHunter
* Star Trek: Elite Force II
* Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds
* Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds: Clone Campaigns
* Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
* Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
* Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
* StarCraft*
* Stronghold
* Super Collapse! II
* Super GameHouse Collection 2
* Super GameHouse Solitaire 3
* Super Jigsaw Puzzles
* Super Jigsaw Butterflies
* Super Mah Jong
* Super Pop&Drop
* Super SpongeBob Collapse!
* Survivor
* Sveerz
* ThinkTanks
* Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003
* Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword
* Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell
* Tomb Raider: Chronicles
* Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness
* Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4
* Total Immersion Racing
* ToySight
* Tranquility
* Tron 2.0
* Tropico: Mucho Macho
* True Crime: Streets of LA
* Universal Hint System
* Unreal Tournament 2004
* Uplink
* Vector3 (Chess)
* Vendetta Online
* Victoria: An Empire Under the Sun
* Virtual Grand Prix 2
* XIII
* Wakeboarding Unleashed
* WarBirds III
* Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
* Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne
* Warrior Kings
* Wheel of Fortune 2
* WingNuts 2
* Wipeout 2097**
* Word Up
* World of Warcraft
* World War II Online
* Worms 3D
* Worms Blast
* X-Plane
* X-Words Deluxe
* X2: Wolverine’s Revenge
* Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates
* Youngs Modulus
* Zoo Tycoon
* Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania


All games that came out on pc.
 
Mr.Guvernment said:
The issue for MAC's and games is

1. the game often come out a year or more after the PC version - if time isnt a factor then great

2. There selection is far far less then the PC market - you are often stuck with only a few major titles and if you dont like that genre u are S.O.L.

3. Your selection for video cards to use on a MAC are considerably limited - it seems either u can get a readeon 9600 or a radeon 9800 PRO 256mb... I guess i am just used to making decisions with alot of options, but ia m sure those IBM CPU's eat up games much like AMD does.

About the games, that is simply not true. The most we have ever had to wait is 4 months. Some come out simultaneously and others within just a couple of months. Did you know you can buy any video card that has a mac version and flash the bios? The hardest part is finding the bios. You can always buy a mac version card, take the bios to put on your own card, and sell the mac version on ebay.
 
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