04-17-2010, 11:18 PM

I've had a iMac G5 isight for the last 4 years. Overall, I've loved it but it has had some major issues. Less than a week after I got it refurbished from apple, the logic board failed. I also had to have the power supply replaced, and the logic board a second time. Well after two years of trouble free use, this week it just wouldn't boot up, and on running a hardware test, I get this logic board failure code:

2STH/1/2:CPUT-Diode

I took it in to apple, and they said that if it's the logic board again they wouldn't cover it. They would cut me a deal on the repair for only $500, but I think it's time to upgrade.

I loved this mac, and my wife loves her 20" intel imac that she uses at work. But I am a little hesitant to go down this road again. I got this mac so that it would last. Well, it didn't. It sounds like a lot of the issues with heat and the logic boards have been resolved. But after looking over the boards all evening, it looks like there are still some issues, but nowhere near what they were a few years ago.

So if I did get a new iMac, I think that the 21.5" is more than enough screen for me. Would getting the better processor make any difference in the longevity of the machine? I mainly use it for photos, photoshop, dreamweaver and web.

The only other idea I have is to buy an older used mac tower. I've seen some on e-bay and craigslist for around $600. That way I'll have some $$ left over for a nice screen, and any upgrading that would need to happen. Could I keep this kind of open system up and running for at least five years?

I'd love to get some advise.

Thanks! - Ryan

04-18-2010, 01:41 PM

A small update. One of the Mac Pros I'm looking at is a Apple Power Macintosh G5 2.0 DP (PCI-X 2). Not yet sure what kind of hard drive, RAM, and OS is on it, still waiting on a reply form the seller.

04-20-2010, 07:26 PM

I'm really leaning towards an older Power Mac now. The previous one I found online didn't work out, but there are a lot of these out there. Any thoughts on if a 5 -7 year old Power Mac tower can keep running and still be relevant in 5 years?

The models that fit in my budget are a 1.8 GHz PCI, a 1.8 GHz PCI-X, and a 2.0 GHz PCI-X.

Thanks,

-Ryan

04-20-2010, 07:44 PM

I frankly think you're nuts to consider a G5 if you want the machine to last and remain relevant. A G5 is only marginally relevant NOW.

Don't get me wrong, the G5 was nice -- but its best days are long behind it now, and its already obsolete (and will soon be unserviceable).

The move to Intel was, in terms of quality, the best thing Apple has done in years. No, the Intels aren't perfect -- but as their financial statements, Consumer Reports rankings and growing empire show, Apple has plenty of evidence that today's Macs are of significantly higher quality than in years past (which is not to say the old ones sucked -- they were and are better than most Windows PCs -- I'm just saying the gap is getting wider).

You'd be far wiser, particularly in terms of wanting to get the most life out of your machine, to invest in something good now. An iMac is probably your best bet at the moment, since you really can't get the kind of high-quality screen they are using in them for much less than the cost of the entire computer.

In short, trying to "cheap out" now will see you back here in a year or two with fresh complaints. You're certainly not going to get five years of "relevance" out of a machine that's already past its prime, can't be upgraded to current OS standards and (as of 2012) won't have service parts available.

04-20-2010, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by mojoday

I loved this mac, and my wife loves her 20" intel imac that she uses at work. But I am a little hesitant to go down this road again. I got this mac so that it would last. Well, it didn't. It sounds like a lot of the issues with heat and the logic boards have been resolved. But after looking over the boards all evening, it looks like there are still some issues, but nowhere near what they were a few years ago.

So if I did get a new iMac, I think that the 21.5" is more than enough screen for me. Would getting the better processor make any difference in the longevity of the machine? I mainly use it for photos, photoshop, dreamweaver and web.

The only other idea I have is to buy an older used mac tower. I've seen some on e-bay and craigslist for around $600. That way I'll have some $$ left over for a nice screen, and any upgrading that would need to happen. Could I keep this kind of open system up and running for at least five years?

I'd love to get some advise.

Thanks! - Ryan

As far as iMacs & problems. Remember that the postings you read about folks having problem are probably like 0.1% of all owners...or maybe even less. 99.9% of iMac owners (just a "guestimate" on my part)...are totally happy with their iMac.

The 99.9% of happy/satisfied iMac owners don't really have a reason to post!

As far as a G5...$600 bucks is VERY high...depending on the model of course. If you're talking a Powermac G5 dual 1.8 or dual 2.0 ghz model...these are selling for about $250...$300 at most. Anything higher is overpriced.

Like "chas_m" mentioned...the G5's are starting to get a bit old now...since they were discontinued in 2006. So if you want to stay current, and Intel Mac model of some sort would be best.

Good luck,

- Nick

04-21-2010, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by chas_m

I frankly think you're nuts to consider a G5

I think that maybe I am! HAHA!

Thanks for the honest opinions! I know the big draw back of getting a PPC based system is that at some point, it will become irrelevant. My thinking was that since I already had the software that I use the most, and cannot really see the need to upgrade any of it, I'd be OK.

If I did get another iMac, would a refurbished model be a safe bet? Saving some money is great, but if even a slightly older machine won't last as long, I'd rather just go new.

-Ryan

04-21-2010, 11:06 AM

I just bought my first refurbished Apple computer (MBP) a couple of weeks ago, and besides the fact that it comes in a regular brown/white box (not a pretty Apple one), it's exactly like a brand new computer. I will always buy refurbished Apple products from now on. I saved an instant $200 dollars on it. I can then throw the money I saved towards AppleCare, if I feel the need too.

The refurbished products come with the original discs and even the 1 year warranty. So as long as you can find one with the specs that you want, I see no reason not to. The only reason my iMac wasn't refurbished was because I bought it when they first came out, so I wasn't able to get a quad-core processor as a refurbished model at that current time.

On the other hand, there are people who want to know that their computers are brand new. The first Apple computer I bought back in 2006 was brand new, I didn't get it refurbished. It's completely up to you.

04-21-2010, 11:14 AM

I would go refurbished in a heart beat if it hadn't been for this last iMac I got refurbished. I know with Apple Care (I will get it) that I'm covered for 3 years. I just wonder why a fairly new model computer was returned? Maybe the previous owner just didn't want it, maybe there was a small problem that is now fixed and will stay fixed, or maybe the thing is cursed! HAHA!

I need to mull this over a bit before I figure out what I'm doing.

-Ryan

04-21-2010, 11:25 AM

Do with whatever your comfortable with. Some times there isn't a problem with the machine at all, they just simple return it for a different model or computer. There isn't really any way to tell.

The first time I bought a Mac, I didn't want a refurbished. I spent the extra money to get a brand new laptop. I think the reasoning behind this was because it was my first Mac and I never really knew how well Apple's customer support was.