Mac Mini vs. Power Mac G5?

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I recently was given a used Power Mac G5 that was clean as a whistle. I currently have a Mac Mini that I've been working on. Question is: which machine would it make sense for me to build upon and make my primary Mac? Seems like the Mac Mini is the superior machine, but perhaps the G5 is a better bet for the long run? (I've included specs for each machine below)


Model Name: Power Mac G5
Model Identifier: PowerMac7,3
Processor Name: PowerPC G5 (3.0)
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of CPUs: 2
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
Memory: 1.5 GB
Bus Speed: 1 GHz
Boot ROM Version: 5.1.8f7
Serial Number (system): G84424E5QPM
Hardware UUID: 00000000-0000-1000-8000-0011242DFDFE




Model Name: Mac mini
Model Identifier: Macmini6,1
Processor Name: Intel Core i5
Processor Speed: 2.5 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 2
L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 3 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Boot ROM Version: MM61.0106.B03
SMC Version (system): 2.7f0
Serial Number (system): C07JK1KXDWYL
Hardware UUID: F0D3AB05-69A5-5C31-BDC4-A3D4BAE7BFBC
 
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Your Mac's Specs
15" 2014 MacBook Pro, i7 2.5Ghz, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD; iPad 3, iPhone 6
The Mac Mini is far faster, and a much better bet for the long term as well. The G5 was a great machine in its day, but that day was 10 years ago (for your model). In theory it could still be a decent work horse for some things, such as audio recording or as a server running older software, but it's limited by only being able to run Leopard as the latest OS, cannot run any of the latest applications that are Intel only (such as FC Pro, Logic 9 or X, any of Adobe's latest offerings or the latest most secure web browsers).

If I had more time and room, I'd get a G5 just as a hobby, but it's not a great investment as a primary Mac.
 
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fstjohn
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thanks! that's what I suspected, but looking at the two of them side by side gave me a "naw... can't be!" kinda feeling - I appreciate your help!
 

pigoo3

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Your Mac's Specs
2017 15" MBP, 16gig ram, 1TB SSD, OS 10.15
The Mac-Mini is DEFINITELY the better computer!

The BIG Powermac G5 case is just better for expansion compared to the Mac-Mini. The Powermac G5 can be as old as 2003 (10+ years old)...the Mac-Mini is from "Late-2012"...and is actually a currently selling model.

Another way of looking at things. The Geekbench benchmark score for each computer:

- 2003 Powermac G5: 1692
- 2012 Mac-Mini: 6643

The 2012 Mac-Mini is practically 4x faster than the Powermac G5.

So a "Late 2012" (practically new) Mac-Mini EASILY beats a 10+ year-old Powermac G5!:)

- Nick
 
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Your Mac's Specs
Silver M1 iMac 512/16/8/8 macOS 11.6
Really a non-event. The days of the PowerPC are long gone as operating systems later than Leopard OS X.5 simply will not install.
 
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fstjohn
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appreciate the help, oh well - I'm sure I can find some use for it (the machine really is immaculate!)
 
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Your Mac's Specs
Silver M1 iMac 512/16/8/8 macOS 11.6
Know where you are coming from. Very disappointed when my G5, the very last model with 2.3GHz Dual Core had to go. Particularly when sold and the carrier dropped it 'because it was so heavy' and smashed into seven pieces.
 
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Your Mac's Specs
L2012 Mini, i7 2.6Ghz, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD(fusion), BenQ 32" 2.5k QHD Display
While amazing as the power pc processors where, they don't hold up to modern Intel or AMD CPUs. Like everyone pointed out. The Mac Mini is much faster..
 

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