09-13-2005, 08:42 PM

Hello all, I'm new...don't yet own a mac, but looking into it as I work a lot with graphics, 3d animation, web design, etc. I'd really like a laptop, but I think I may end up going for a Powermac G5 simply for the speed factor (unless someone can convince me a 17" powerbook will work the apps very well). Here are a few questions I have:

Is a mac compatible with the new Dell Ultrasharp 24" widescreen monitor? (I don't see why it wouldn't be)

If I buy a new Powermac, is it easy to add in extra components aftermarket, like HDD, GPU, etc?

Which leads to my next question: Do I have to buy "mac" hard drives, or can a, say, Maxtor DiamondMax install and work with a mac?

Could I upgrade the graphics card at another time? Does the G5 use PCI-X for its cards, so could I get like a nVidia 7800GTX and install that into it...or maybe an ATI FireGL card?

Are there any really high quality soundcards that support 5.1 or 7.1 and have an external input bay, much like the new Soundblaster X-Fi Elite Pro...also, would that Soundblaster card work in a mac?

Sorry for all the questions, but I want to get EXACTLY what I'll need/want. Thanks for reading and answering!!

09-14-2005, 03:39 AM

Hello all, I'm new...don't yet own a mac, but looking into it as I work a lot with graphics, 3d animation, web design, etc. I'd really like a laptop, but I think I may end up going for a Powermac G5 simply for the speed factor (unless someone can convince me a 17" powerbook will work the apps very well). Here are a few questions I have:

Welcome.

Is a mac compatible with the new Dell Ultrasharp 24" widescreen monitor? (I don't see why it wouldn't be)

I don't see why either.

If I buy a new Powermac, is it easy to add in extra components aftermarket, like HDD, GPU, etc?

Yes. Open the side, remove weird clear plastic air scoop thingy, slide in new HD and connect the wee connectors and bobs-yer-uncle. No fiddling around with screwdrivers involved at all.

Which leads to my next question: Do I have to buy "mac" hard drives, or can a, say, Maxtor DiamondMax install and work with a mac?

Nope, you can put any old rubbish in there.

Could I upgrade the graphics card at another time? Does the G5 use PCI-X for its cards, so could I get like a nVidia 7800GTX and install that into it...or maybe an ATI FireGL card?

You DO need a Mac specific Gfx card, IIRC there is an X850 for the Mac but I'm not sure what is available on the Nvidia front.

Are there any really high quality soundcards that support 5.1 or 7.1 and have an external input bay, much like the new Soundblaster X-Fi Elite Pro...also, would that Soundblaster card work in a mac?

Getting the drivers would be the main problem but I find the on-board sound (I use the optical digital out and feed it into a Yamaha TSS-10) perfectly adequate for my needs.

Amen-Moses