What Mac To Buy?, I am wondering if a quad intel is necessary or whether a dual g5 can c Options

[JonRaven]

Hello there,

first time visiter, first time poster here...

I am currently using a powerbook 1.25 and I want to move into the ability to use some robust virtual instruments like toon track's "ezdrummer" and spek's "atmosphere", along with interested in the new east west quantum leap app called "gypsy" and the like.

My powerbook just wont cut it of course so I am thinking about getting a desktop mac.

Can anyone tell me from real world knowledge whether I could do everything I want with a used dual g5 or whether I really need to bite the bullet and get the new quad 2.66 intel?

I know ram is a big thing so I will upgrade either machine wiith atleast 4 gig ram.

I will be looking to do realistic backing tracks for my songs with virtual instruments and then adding say 16 tracks of audio tracks as well to the track.

Any ideas? Of course the music stores and the mac store are just out to sell the newest greatest of everything so you can't really get any honest opinions based on personal experience so I came here.

Can anyone discuss this with me?

Thanks and glad to be part of the group.

[hahaworld]

Hello, friend!

I have had lots of problems with my G5 pre-Intel 2.5GHz Quad. Slow disk errors, out-of-memory problems, etc. I run Logic 7.2.3 with 6.5G RAM. From what I gather, the pre-Intel Mac Quads don't cooperate well with Logic 7 because of a 32 vs. 64 bit phenomenon. Apparently, Logic doesn't recognize all the power in the Quad, nor does it recognize or necessarily care how much RAM you have installed. To give you some perspective, I scored an entire movie on my 1.33GHz G4 laptop with 2G RAM last year without a hitch using EastWest's Platinum Symphony, Spectrasonics Stylus RMX and the built-in instruments that come with Logic. When I fire up my Quad, I can barely have 2 virtual instruments going at once. This is heartbreaking, but I unfortunately did not consult the forums before I bought the Quad. Hence my current pathetic story. You are doing the right thing by consulting this forum, because these users rock! Unfortunately, I have no experience with Intel Macs, but I'm sure someone 'round here will. Good luck!

HaHaWorld